LIFTING THE LID OFF TOWN HALLS



The ONB legal challenge to Lincolnshire County Council (2005)

Orchard News Bureau took Lincolnshire County Council to the High Court after the authority withheld financial records from public inspection.

The council censored invoices and related documents relating to its 2003/2004 accounts, and claimed it was entitled to do so under data protection rules.

The council attempted to argue that information contained in the accounts could not be disclosed without the permission of contractors and consultants.



But Mr Justice Leveson ruled that the council had no legal justification to use the data protection act to censor the accounts.

He told the council that ONB and others were entitled to view the records during the statutory public inspection period.

He also put the authority on notice that any future attempt to withhold financial records using either the data protection act, or the human rights act, would trigger a judicial review hearing.

The council released the censored accounts.

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