0106 - FOI
Copies of MMO Board Meeting Minutes
Abstract:
Copies of MMO Board Meeting minutes which are considered matters of public record and a report that was instigated into I-VMS
Tier 1
Filing Date: 30th June 2023
Reply Date: 28th July 2023
MMO Ref: ATI3081
Tier 1 Response:
Redacted minutes from 19th October 2022 supplied.
Copy of “Deep Dive of IVMS”REFUSED
Minutes uploaded to .gov website, redacted to remove of all mentions of I-VMS
Dear Sir,
I am making a formal request for a copy of MMO Board Meeting Minutes from meeting held in or after August 2022, and a copy of the iVMS paper considered by MMO Board on 30 September 2022.
This I-VMS paper was referred to in the July 2022 MMO Board meeting minutes, referred to as “a Deep Dive of IVMS”
As per the UK Government information, I expect to receive these within 20 working days.
Please acknowledge the receipt of this request.
28 July 2023
Dear Mr Glover,
Thank you for your request for information about a copy of MMO Board Meeting Minutes from meetings held in or after August 2022, and a copy of the iVMS paper considered by MMO Board on 30 September 2022, which we received on 30 June 2023. We are dealing with your request under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA).
Following careful consideration, I can inform you that we have decided not to disclose some of this information. The ‘Deep dive’ which is referred to resulted in the procurement and commissioning of independent testing, which you are already aware of as this was communicated separately to you as a type approved i-VMS device supplier.
I enclose a copy of the information, subject to some exeptions, which can be disclosed for MMO Board Meeting Minutes from meetings held in or after August 2022. The redacted minutes are attached, extracted for the purpose of i-VMS. I would like to make you aware that MMO meeting minutes can be accessed via the GOV website.
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/marine-management-organisation/about/our-governance
The information requested relating to the paper considered by the MMO Board is being withheld as it falls under the exemption in section 43 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000, which relates to Section 43 – Commercial interests. Section 43(2) exempts information whose disclosure would, or would be likely to, prejudice the commercial interests of any legal person (an individual, a company, the public authority itself or any other legal entity).
In applying this exemption we have had to balance the public interest in withholding the information against the public interest in disclosure.
We recognise that there is a public interest in disclosure of information concerning the iVMS paper considered by MMO Board on 30 September 2022. On the other hand, there is also a strong and countervailing public interest in withholding the information because the information contains discussion of a number of commercial interests.
Therefore we have concluded that in all the circumstances of the case, the information should be withheld. In keeping with the spirit and effect of the FOIA, all information is assumed to be releasable to the public unless exempt.
If you require any further advice or assistance, please contact me in the first instance.
Additionally, if you are unhappy with the way the MMO has handled your request for information, you can request an internal review by writing to Internal Reviews at the MMO, Lancaster House, Hampshire Court, Newcastle Business Park, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE4 7YH or e-mail accesstoinformation@marinemanagement.org.uk.
If you remain dissatisfied with the handling of your request or complaint, you have a right to appeal at the ICO, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, SK9 5AF. Tel 0303 123 1113 or http://www.ico.org.uk/complaints. There is no charge for the internal review or making and appeal to the ICO.
Yours sincerely
Laurie Rodwell
Service Exception Lead
