Peter Marshall v The Information Commissioner

Facts

The appellant, Peter Marshall, was concerned about an electric vehicle pillar (EVP) that Westminster City Council (WCC) had installed in Lisson Grove to serve two charging points. The pillar was first placed against or very close to a wall. In about August 2022 it was moved further into the pavement, and it appears it was also enlarged. The appellant had already made requests about the pillar in February 2023, June 2023 and March 2025. WCC answered the first two, disclosing 99 pages in response to the first, and refused the third as a repeat request. His stage 2 complaint was not upheld in August 2023. On 29 April 2025 he made a further request asking when and by whom WCC had been told the original cabinet was inappropriate, the cost of the replacement cabinet and its relocation, who was liable for those costs, and for supporting documents. WCC refused the request as manifestly unreasonable and maintained that position on internal review. On 12 February 2026 the Information Commissioner issued a decision notice upholding the refusal, relying partly on an earlier decision notice. The appellant appealed to the First-tier Tribunal. He argued that the Commissioner was biased, that WCC and its advisers had been negligent and wasted public money, and that the matter was of public interest rather than a personal campaign. The appeal was decided on the papers.