Would you please provide me with a copy of the BWC License Agreement?
The Buy With Confidence scheme has a number of rival schemes and this is a competitive market place where achieving and maintaining a significant degree of recognition and coverage is key. Some of the competitors have a track record of: denigration of rival schemes to potential or existing members; copying marketing tactics; applying less stringent audit requirements. This is ongoing.
The traders audited by qualified Trading Standards Officers, members adhere to consumer-friendly terms and conditions.
Whilst Devon County Council maintains an interest in transparency and openness, on this occasion, there is a public interest in not disclosing the agreement. In particular, this is the only local authority scheme and it provides a credible alternative to commercially run schemes.
A disclosure of the licence agreement would facilitate further rivalry and assist competitive schemes in the private sector.
A disclosure of the terms and conditions is therefore likely to prejudice the commercial interests of the traders who are members of the Agreement.
Disclosure of this agreement is therefore exempt, pursuant to s. 43(2) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.