Request ID: FOI-2630-2122 Date published: 11 March 2022
You asked
I am requesting the minutes taken from the 2 most recent Bus Services meetings.
We answered
Our ref: FOI-2630-2122/GH Thank you for your request received by Transport for London (TfL) on 15 February 2022 asking for Bus Service meetings minutes. Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act and our information access policy. I can confirm we do hold the information you require.
In accordance with the FOI Act, we are not obliged to supply some of the information contained within the minutes as it is subject to a statutory exemption to the right of access to information under section 43(2) – prejudice to commercial interests.
In this instance the exemption has been applied as disclosure would be likely to prejudice our commercial interests, as well as those of the bus operators. Disclosing information regarding the peak vehicle requirements as well as other resource/cost changes could affect the bids we receive as it would likely result in a clustering of bids based on how much we are prepared to pay as well as the current operators bid. This would therefore diminish our ability to obtain the best possible price by making it less likely prospective bidders would provide their best possible price.
The use of this exemption is subject to an assessment of the public interest in relation to the disclosure of the information concerned. TfL recognises the need for openness and transparency by public authorities but in this instance the public interest in ensuring that TfL is able to obtain the best value for public money outweighs the general public interest in increasing transparency of our processes.
With regard to the remaining information contained in the meeting minutes, the frequency change information is published on our website (https://tfl.gov.uk/modes/buses/bus-changes), as are the schedules (https://tfl.gov.uk/corporate/publications-and-reports/bus-schedules?Query=1).
In accordance with section 21 of the FOI Act, we are not obliged to supply you with a copy of the requested information as it is already accessible to you elsewhere.
Any approved confirmed future changes will be published at the above bus changes link on our website.
In accordance with the FOI Act, we are not obliged to supply the information you have requested as it is subject to a statutory exemption to the right of access to information, under Section 22 of the Act.
In this instance the exemption has been applied as the information you have requested is intended for future publication.
This exemption is subject to a public interest test, which requires us to assess whether the public interest in applying the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosure. In this instance, it is considered that the public interest favours the publication of this information, in context and according to the pre-determined schedule, rather than in response to your request, to ensure the information is provided accurately and in an accessible manner.
If this is not the information you are looking for, or if you are unable to access it for some reason, please feel free to contact me.
Please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal.
Yours sincerely
Gemma Jacob Senior FOI Case Officer FOI Case Management Team General Counsel Transport for London
