Gerry Woodhouse v Information Commissioner

Facts

The appellant, Mr Gerry Woodhouse, sought information from the Information Commissioner's Office about the Commissioner's dealings with Potto Parish Council in Yorkshire. Having read the Council's October 2023 minutes, he asked on 20 November 2023 for a copy of whatever advice had been sent to the Council, and on 26 November 2023 for information confirming the nature and detail of a meeting between officers acting for the Commissioner and the Council. The ICO refused both requests on 8 December 2023 and maintained that refusal on internal review on 13 February 2024, relying on section 44 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 for both requests and additionally on section 31 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 for the second. On the appellant's application under section 50 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000, the Commissioner issued a Decision Notice on 22 July 2024 dealing only with section 44, read with section 132 of the Data Protection Act 2018. The First-tier Tribunal (General Regulatory Chamber) dismissed the appellant's appeal on 4 June 2025, holding the information had been correctly withheld. Upper Tribunal Judge Stout granted permission to appeal on an unlimited basis in a decision sent on 9 March 2026, identifying two particular arguable errors, and both parties consented to determination on the papers.