TfL Ref: FOI-0013-2324
Thank you for your request of 1st April 2023 asking for information about the planning of events on Clapham Common in August 2021.
Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act and our information access policy.
Specifically you asked:
“My request relates to correspondence between Lambeth borough council and TfL regarding Lambeth Events Festival Republic event on Clapham Common in August 2021.
A report from Lambeth council called : OFFICER DELEGATED DECISION REPORT 16 AUGUST 2021, refers to concerns raised by TfL Surface Events about the number of events on Clapham common and special provision needed by TfL to service them. The Lambeth report notes what appears to be a second meeting to review these concerns was to be held.
I would like to ask for all correspondence between TfL and Lambeth council about service provision to Clapham Common during the festival period Aug 27-30, 2021, covering the planning period July and August 2021, and the clear up period until September 9 2021.
By correspondence I mean any letters, emails, phone messages, minutes of meetings, agreements, relating to these events.
I would also like to ask for an account of any costs incurred by TfL in providing services outside the normal for the Festival period, including records of any station closures, bus diversions, extra staffing, or cleaning up operations.
I can confirm that we hold the information you require.
Please note that Lambeth Council was largely responsible for the planning of events on Clapham Common over this period - as evident from the material attached. That material addresses your request for “all correspondence” between Lambeth Council and TfL. A number of redactions have been made to the material, and some documents attached with the emails are being withheld altogether, under the following sections of the Freedom of Information Act:
Section 40(2) - which relates to the unfair release of personal data. The contact details of TfL staff have ben redacted, and the names and contact details of any external staff have been redacted;
Section 38 - which relates to prejudice to Health and Safety. Material has been redacted where release may compromise health and safety, for example, there is discussion about security at the event including with regards to terrorism. This material has been redacted / withheld as release of information under the FOI Act is considered to be to the world at large rather than the individual applicant. Discussions and details about security at such events would be of benefit to anybody looking to disrupt the security of any similar events in the future, and would hence prejudice safety;
Section 43(2) - which relates to the prejudice of Commercial Interests. Some of the material included with the emails (such as the Event Management and Crowd Management plans) was produced and provided by the private company that delivered the events, and was shared on a confidential basis. Release of this material would undermine their commercial interests by providing details about their business to their competitors, as well as potentially breaching confidentiality which could lead to legal action being taken against TfL, at the expense of the public purse (noting that TfL is largely publicly funded in the form of fares and grants from Government).
Sections 38 and 43 of the FOI Act are “qualified” exemptions, meaning we have to consider whether the greater public interest rests in the exemptions applying and the material being withheld, or in releasing it in any event. We appreciate the need for openness and transparency in the running of our business and the fact you have requested the material is in itself an argument in favour of release. However, in this instance we believe the balance of public interest rests in the exemptions applying. There is no public interest in security at future such events being compromised, and no public interest in causing extra public expense.
In answer to your last question on additional costs incurred by TfL, I can confirm there were none.
If this is not the information you are looking for, or if you are unable to access it for any reason, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal as well as information on copyright and what to do if you would like to re-use any of the information we have disclosed.
Yours sincerely,
David Wells
FOI Case Officer
FOI Case Management Team
General Counsel
Transport for London
