By virtue of paragraph(s) 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972.
Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information)
Condition:
Information is not exempt if it is required to be registered under-
Information is exempt to the extent that, in all the circumstances of the case, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.
Information is not exempt if it relates to proposed development for which the local planning authority may grant itself planning permission pursuant to Regulation 3 of the Town & Country Planning General Regulations 1992(a).
the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information because:
Disclosure to the public would prejudice the financial position of the authority, and hence the Council Tax payer, in negotiations concerning the viability of establishing a commercial enterprise.