Arts University Bournemouth FOI Complaint: Partly Upheld
Summary
The Information Commissioner upheld in part a freedom of information complaint against Arts University Bournemouth. The complainant requested disclosure of information relating to property acquisitions, financial allocations, senior management salaries, and staffing decisions. The university disclosed the information it holds, but the complainant believed additional recorded information should exist. The Commissioner found on the balance of probabilities that no further recorded information is held. Breaches of sections 1 and 10 of FOIA were recorded, but no further steps are required.
“The Commissioner’s decision is that on the balance of probabilities the university does not hold any further recorded information.”
About this source
The Information Commissioner's Office is the UK's data protection and freedom of information authority. Decision notices are the formal written outcomes of ICO investigations into complaints against public authorities for Freedom of Information Act compliance. Around 230 decisions a month, each naming the authority, request details, whether the request was upheld, partially upheld, or rejected, and any remedial action ordered. Decision notices are a rich vein of information about UK government transparency and often reveal what specific requests ICO considers legitimate. Watch this if you file FOI requests in the UK, advise public authorities on disclosure obligations, or research information rights case law.
What changed
The ICO issued a decision notice finding breaches of sections 1 and 10 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 by Arts University Bournemouth. The university was found to have failed to confirm or deny whether it held further recorded information in response to one element of the complainant's request. However, the Commissioner determined no additional information is held beyond what was already disclosed. No compliance steps or penalties were ordered.
Educational institutions and other public authorities subject to FOIA should note that failure to properly confirm or deny the existence of requested information constitutes a technical breach even where no additional records are ultimately found to exist. The recording of breaches in this decision highlights the importance of complete responses to all elements of information requests.
Archived snapshot
Apr 28, 2026GovPing captured this document from the original source. If the source has since changed or been removed, this is the text as it existed at that time.
Arts University Bournemouth
- Date 22 April 2026
- Sector Education
- Decision(s) FOI 1: Partly upheld, FOI 10: Upheld The complainant has requested Arts University Bournemouth (the university) to disclose various information relating to property acquisitions, financial allocations, senior management salaries and staffing decisions. The university ultimately responded to all elements of the request, disclosing the information it holds. However, the complainant remained unhappy with one element of the request and felt the university must hold additional recorded information to that provided. The Commissioner’s decision is that on the balance of probabilities the university does not hold any further recorded information. He has however recorded breaches of sections 1 and 10 of FOIA. The Commissioner does not require further steps.
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