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9th January 2026

The handling of information requests relating to the Harcourt Street Primary School and Children’s Centre raises important questions about public accountability and the proper application of the Freedom of Information Act.

When the project was first proposed, its estimated cost stood at £5.5 million. By the time the school opened in 2011, that figure had risen to over £11 million, representing a significant escalation in public spending.

In 2008, resident Sheila Oliver submitted a detailed FOI request seeking documentation on cost control, tendering, risk management and consultation. The council’s response stated that the cost control section of the Project Execution Plan had been reviewed by a Strategic Accountant and found satisfactory, but provided no substantive financial explanation for the rapidly increasing costs.

In subsequent years, Ms Oliver’s continued pursuit of information was designated as vexatious.

Under Section 14 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000, a public authority may refuse a request only if it is genuinely vexatious. The Information Commissioner’s Office has repeatedly stressed that this is a high threshold. Requests are not vexatious simply because they are persistent, inconvenient, or challenge official narratives.

ICO guidance also makes clear that:

  • Persistence alone does not justify a vexatious designation
  • Requests concerning public expenditure attract a strong public interest
  • Authorities must consider whether the underlying issue has been adequately addressed

In this case, the eventual doubling of the project’s cost raises legitimate questions about whether the original assurances regarding cost control were accurate or complete.

From a governance perspective, the case highlights concerns about:

  • Transparency in major capital projects
  • The adequacy of internal financial assurance processes
  • The potential misuse of vexatious designations to deter scrutiny

Where a public project ultimately validates the concerns that prompted an FOI request, the application of a vexatious label risks undermining confidence in both information rights and local government accountability.

Vick Bates, Stockport Council Monitoring Officer is blocking access to this information still.