Friday 8 August 2008 
 
Dear Mr Smith 
 
In accordance with the Freedom of Information Act, we have now processed your request 
for a copy of the report into the Norfolk Open Link project. 
 
Unfortunately we are unable to supply a copy of the report at this moment in time, as it is 
still in the process of being written. 
 
As stated on the Norfolk Open Link web site, we intend to produce a final report bringing 
together all of the data from the pilot study, alongside details and analysis of the findings 
and conclusions. This report will also include information on what happened after the pilot 
service finished. It is now expected that this report will be completed by December 2008 
(subject to available resources) and it will be made available via links from both the Norfolk 
County Council web site and also from the web sites of the various parties involved in the 
project. 
 
As we have a clear and stated intention to publish the final report, any draft versions held 
currently would be exempt from release under section 22 of the FOI Act.  Further details 
on the application of this exemption are provided below.  
 
Although we cannot supply a copy of the report at this stage, you may be interested to 
read the minutes of a Cabinet meeting from 14 April 2008.   A question was asked at this 
meeting about Norfolk Open Link and the response provides some information about the 
project.  Please consult Item Six on pages three to five in the pdf at the following web 
address: 
http://www.norfolk.gov.uk/consumption/groups/public/documents/minutes/cabinet140408m
inspdf.pdf
 
Section 22 
Section 22(1) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 provides a qualified exemption for 
release of information if it is intended for future publication.  Information is exempt 
information if:  
a)  The information is held by the public authority with a view to its publication, by the 
authority or any other person at some future date (whether determined or not) 
b)  The information was already held with a view to such publication at the time when 
the request for information was made, and 
c)  It is reasonable in all the circumstances that the information should be withheld from 
disclosure until the date referred to in paragraph (a). 
 
Reasons why exemption applies 
As stated above, the specific report is currently in the process of being written.  There is a 
clear intention to publish the report when it has been written and finalized, with the current 
predicted date of publishing being December this year. 
FOI Response 2008-08-08   
 
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Public Interest Test Reasons
The Council has concluded that the public interest in maintaining this exemption outweighs 
the public interest in disclosure.  There is a strong public interest in allowing the Council 
the necessary time to thoroughly research, draft and finalize such a report so that its 
findings are accurate and can be disseminated in a clear and focused manner.  We accept 
that the information contained in the final report will be of interest to the public; however 
the information in its current incomplete state would be of very minimal benefit in terms of 
accurately informing the public about the project.  The ‘report’ as a complete piece of work 
does not exist at this stage; therefore this is not a case where we could bring forward the 
publication date to provide the information in response to an FOI request. 
 
You have the right of appeal through the Council's internal complaints procedure by setting 
out the grounds of your appeal in writing to the Corporate Freedom of Information Officer 
at:   
 
Freedom of Information & Data Protection Unit 
The Archive Centre 
Martineau Lane 
Norwich NR1 2DQ 
 
e-mail: [Norfolk County Council request email]
Telephone: 01603 222661 
 
If you are dissatisfied after pursuing the complaints procedure, you may apply to the 
Information Commissioner under Section 50 of the Act for a decision whether your request 
for information has been dealt with in accordance with the requirements of Part I of the 
Act.  Contact details as follows:- 
 
Information Commissioner's Office 
Wycliffe House 
Water Lane 
Wilmslow 
Cheshire SK9 5AF 
Telephone 01625 545 700 
www.informationcommissioner.gov.uk
 
 
If you have any further queries, please get in contact via the contact details for the 
Freedom of Information & Data Protection Unit as stated above. 
 
Yours sincerely 
 
Matthew Smith 
Freedom of Information and Data Protection Assistant 
 
FOI Response 2008-08-08   
 
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