How we use your personal information
We are the Controller for any personal information which we have collected, for example from online and paper correspondence or forms; by telephone, email, fax or in person; or when you visit the Council's website (ie your Internet Protocol (IP) address). This means that we collect the information and decide how it is used.
We use personal information to provide and manage services effectively. We do not share personal information unless it is necessary, lawful and appropriate to do so in the circumstances.
Sometimes you must, by law, give us personal information, such as information to register a birth, marriage or death. Not giving us this information can leave you at risk of a penalty, such as a fine or criminal proceedings.
In some cases you may be required to provide us with personal information under a contract.
The privacy notice for each service will clearly set out if there is any obligation on you to provide us with personal information.
We will always tell you why and how the information will be used. For some of our services, we need to collect personal information so we can get in touch with you, or provide the service. Where we do not directly provide the service, we may need to pass your personal information onto the people who do. These providers must keep your details safe and secure, and only use them only for the request.
We may need to use certain personal information about you to:
- provide council services and support to you; such as libraries, leisure centres, parking, education and social services;
- promote the services we provide;
- carry out council functions, such as granting licenses for gambling, the sale of alcohol or to operate as a taxi service;
- collect taxes, revenue, and administer grants and benefits;
- prosecute offences such as littering or food safety, and enforcement functions such as parking fines or breach of planning regulation;
- carry out law enforcement, including crime and fraud prevention;
- make or defend legal claims and other legal purposes;
- keep track of spending on services and carry out money transactions including payments, grants and benefits;
- manage our property;
- check the quality of our services and to help with research and planning of new services, such as by consulting, informing and gauging your opinion;
- carry out consultations and surveys;
- train, support and manage our staff;
- help investigate any worries or complaints you have about our services;
- carry out secondary purposes such as crime prevention and prosecution of offenders including the use of CCTV;
- ensure we meet our statutory obligations, including those related health and safety to diversity and equal opportunities;
- promote and market local tourism;
- carry out corporate administration and all activities we are required to carry out as controller of personal data and as a public authority;
- manage archived records for historical and research reasons;
- act in the event of emergencies or civil disasters;
- carry out any other purposes in order for us to carry out our public functions, as long as this is necessary, lawful and appropriate in the circumstances
- allow the carrying out of technical maintenance, security and support of council ICT systems.