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5th January 2026

To: Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council FOI Team / Monitoring Officer
From: Sheila Oliver

Subject: Request for Retraction of Vexatious Classification under FOIA

Dear Sir or Madam,

I am writing to formally request that Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council retract any designation, description, or internal flagging of me as a “vexatious” requester under Section 14 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

FOIA permits an authority to refuse individual requests deemed vexatious, but does not provide for a person to be labelled vexatious in general. Each request must be assessed individually, taking context and purpose into account.

In my case:

  • Requests raised issues of public interest, including environmental contamination, asbestos, traffic impacts, and public expenditure.
  • Persistence arose solely because substantive questions were not answered.
  • Burden estimates used to justify refusal were substantially exaggerated.
  • Previous concerns have subsequently been validated by public inquiry and further investigation.

I therefore request confirmation that:

  1. No ongoing vexatious designation is being applied to me;
  2. Any internal notes, markers, or guidance implying such a designation have been removed;
  3. Future FOI requests from me will be considered individually and afresh, in accordance with FOIA and ICO guidance.

Please acknowledge receipt of this request and confirm the steps the Council will take to retract any such classification.

Yours faithfully,
Sheila Oliver