Request ID: FOI-0793-2425 Date published: 22 July 2024
You asked
Dear TfL
An online meeting took place on the 15/4/24 between Transport Of London, London Borough of Lewisham (LBL) and the Royal Borough of Greenwich (RBoG)
The meeting was about traffic problems on Winn Road SE12 and neighbouring roads where the borough boundaries of LBL and RBoG meet.
Please could you supply the meeting notes and the names of all of the people that attended?
We answered
Our ref: FOI-0793-2425/GH
Thank you for your request received by Transport for London (TfL) on 7 June 2024 asking for information about an online meeting.
Your request has been considered under the requirements of the Environmental Information Regulations (EIRs) and our information access policy.
I can confirm we do hold the information you require, however, in accordance with the EIR, we are refusing disclosure of the requested meeting minutes as it is subject to a statutory exception to the right of access to information under Regulation 12(5)(d) – confidentiality of proceedings. Regulation 12(5)(d) applies where disclosing the information requested would adversely affect the confidentiality of a public authority’s proceedings where the confidentiality arises from statute or common law. TfL does not hold any minutes created by us, but have been provided with some that were produced by the Royal Borough of Greenwich. Therefore, the information you have requested relates to meeting minutes created by the Royal Borough of Greenwich around the consideration of transportation and highways issues and it is imperative that councils and TfL are able to discuss and consider options that relate directly to the formulation and development of ‘live’ Council policy. Council attendees have confirmed that they had expected that the meeting would be held with a degree of confidence, with the discussions not being publicly shared and we do not have consent to disclose. It is considered that disclosing the minutes could inhibit free and frank discussion between officers and Members, which could impede future Council decision making. Therefore we consider this exception to be engaged. The use of the exception set out at Regulation 12(5)(d) is subject to an assessment of the public interest in relation to the disclosure of the information concerned. We recognise the need for openness and transparency by public authorities. However, given that the information covered in your request relates to information generated and owned by the Royal Borough of Greenwich regarding the formulation of Council policy, carries a common law duty of confidence and we do not have consent to disclose, we consider that the need to protect the confidentiality of these proceedings outweigh the public interest in transparency on this specific matter. However, we would recommend that you resubmit your request to the Royal Borough of Greenwich directly, should you wish to pursue this further. You may find details on how to make a request to them here: https://www.royalgreenwich.gov.uk/info/200168/freedom_of_information_foi
If you are not satisfied with this response, please read the attached help-sheet entitled ‘Your Right to Appeal.’
Yours sincerely
Graham Hurt FOI Case Officer FOI Case Management Team General Counsel Transport for London
