FOI Request - Review of 101003836469 Correspondence with Moray Leisure re. Energy Costs

Request 101003852997

Review of 101003836469 Correspondence with Moray Leisure re. Energy Costs

I would like to request a review of a FOI request with reference 101003836469.

I do not believe that all conversations can be considered "commercially sensitive" and would request that these parts that are deemed so be redacted.

Response 08-10-2025

Following your request for a review (our ref: 101003852997) of your Freedom of Information (FOI) Request – Correspondence with Moray Leisure re. Energy Costs (our ref: 101003836469) - a review meeting was held on 6th October 2025. In attendance were the Information Governance Manager and Data Protection Officer, Leisure & Culture Service Manager, Solicitor, and Information Co-ordinator.

Your FOI Request (101003836469) from 12th August 2025 was discussed.

Having reviewed the information held, we confirm that we uphold our original response.

It was agreed that the Council needs to be able to work with, and continue to support, the Moray Leisure Centre in order to ensure their continued success. Had the correspondence been released this could jeopardise the good working relationship as the commercial details could negatively impact Moray Leisure Centre’s ability to negotiate utility rates. It is not considered to be in the public interest to release any details that may have an impact on the running of the Moray Leisure Centre, which in turn may negatively impact on both the public purse and local residents. Redaction of the correspondence was considered; however, had details covering energy costs been redacted there would be nothing left to release. As such, the redacted correspondence has not been provided.

The information requested remains exempt under Section 33(1)(b) of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002- Commercial Sensitivity, and also under Section 30(c) of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 - Prejudice to effective conduct of public affairs.