I am writing to request information under the Freedom of Information Act regarding the recent advertisement for a shop unit above available for lease, Leafy Elephant, Peach Place. Specifically, I would like to know:

1. The number of individuals or entities that expressed interest in leasing the shop unit.
2. The criteria or reasons used to select the tenant to whom the lease was granted.
3. The intended use of the shop unit following the lease agreement.

The Council are unable to answer these questions at this time. This matter is the subject of an ongoing commercial negotiation and therefore we are applying Section 43(2) at this time. It is not in the public interest to override this exemption; neither a tenant nor a landlord would wish to publish details of an on-going negotiation until that negotiation has completed and agreement is reached and legally enshrined. Where negotiations fail with a particular supplier/provider, we would of course look to re-market, and the process would begin again. There will be during this period information that the Council receives in confidence (section 41) which could apply alongside the Commercially Sensitive exemption.