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).
In all the circumstances of the case, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information because the bidding/negotiation process is confidential and disclosure of the Council's interest, or the sums, would distort fair competition for the site and prejudice the Council's ability to acquire the site in the public interest.