Reference: IC-125224-D8T9

Date: Public Authority: Address: Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA) Decision notice 25 July 2022

Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council Town Hall Edward Street Stockport Cheshire SK1 3XE

Decision (including any steps ordered):

1. The complainant has requested information about the Covid-19 pandemic funding that Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council (‘the Council’) received from central government. The Council cited section 14 (Vexatious request) of FOIA to refuse to comply with the request.

2. The Commissioner’s decision is that the Council was not entitled to rely on section 14 of FOIA to refuse the request.

3. The Commissioner requires the Council to take the following steps to ensure compliance with the legislation.

• Issue a fresh response to the request, which does not rely on section 14 of FOIA.

4. The Council must take these steps within 35 calendar days of the date of this decision notice. Failure to comply may result in the Commissioner making written certification of this fact to the High Court pursuant to section 54 of FOIA and may be dealt with as a contempt of court.