TfL Ref: FOI-2872-2324
Thank you again for your revised request which we received on 9 November 2023. You asked for all internal information, communication or mentions pertaining to the original Deed of Sale for Bat Corner, between 1 January 1960 to 31 July 2023.
Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Environmental Information Regulations (EIRs) and our information access policy.
Unfortunately, given the extent of the information you are looking for, going back to the 1960’s, the Regulation 12(4)(b) still applies, as we believe that the request is ‘manifestly unreasonable’ because providing the information you have requested would impose unreasonable costs on us and require an unreasonable diversion of resources.
Even though you narrowed your request to ask for all internal information and communication concerning a single document, we would still have to carry out the same companywide email search using keywords, dates and email addresses. In the time period you have asked about, colleagues may have left the organisation or changed roles and any search may also require a review of former employees’ archived email accounts. On top of that, we would have to check archived material in TfL’s Corporate Archives to search, retrieve and manually review the paperwork in order to locate all information and communication relating to the deed. Essentially, the outcome of these searches is that we cannot be certain that, once the process of reviewing the material was underway, it captured everything covered by your request.
The use of this exception is subject to a public interest test, which requires us to consider whether the public interest in applying the exception outweighs the public interest in disclosure. We recognise that the release of information would promote accountability and transparency in public services and may help address your particular concerns. However, the time it would take to provide the information you have requested would divert a disproportionate amount of our resources from its core functions and as we have already released a lot of material to you on this matter, on balance we consider that the public interest currently favours the use of the exception.
By their nature, requests for all information and communications can generate a significant amount of information which is likely to be of very limited value. In order to achieve a positive outcome to your request, if you are able to be as specific as possible as to the information you require, such as asking for particular documents or if you have specific questions, we may be able to provide a more helpful response. I would also recommend you consider looking on the TfL website https://tfl.gov.uk/corporate/about-tfl/culture-and-heritage/corporate-archives for what’s held in TfL’s Corporate Archives.
That said, whilst processing your request, I was able to locate the attached Title Plan which you may find useful. It is my understanding this land was purchased by TfL in 1938.
We will consider your request again, if you are able to narrow its scope so that we can more easily locate, retrieve and extract the information you are seeking.
Please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal.
Yours sincerely
Eva Hextall
FOI Case Management Team
General Counsel
Transport for London
