Data protection

We process your personal data to provide a wide range of services. We're only allowed to do this, if:

• it is necessary to comply with a legal obligation such as in planning applications
• it is necessary to fulfil a contract such as a commercial waste collection
• it is in the vital interests of the data subject such as life or death situations
• it is in the public interest to process your data such as activities that benefit society
• we have your consent such as signing up for a newsletter

Most of the personal information we hold is processed either because:

• we're required to use the data to comply with a legal obligation
• we have official authority
• it is in the public interest

For example, we must tax residential properties. So, our Council Tax team processes your personal information. If you do not give us your personal information, you'll face prosecution.

Some products and services may require your consent to process your data. These are services such as a newsletter from our libraries team. It's your choice whether or not you receive the newsletter, as there's no legal obligation for us to send you one. 

Some services, such as the complaints team, process your information to respond to a complaint. If you don't provide full information, we may not be able to investigate and respond to you. 

Once you give us your data, we must comply with the Local Government Act 1974.  We are therefore not relying on your consent to process the data.

Many of our services are provided because legislation says we must. 

If no law requires us to act on your request, we can process your data using laws requiring us to do day-to-day tasks (Localism Act 2011 and the Local Government Act 1974). 

We can archive, research, or analyse your data without consent. And we can keep your information forever. 

When you use our services, you'll know the legal basis for processing your data. If you're unsure, speak to the team directly. They can provide you with a data privacy notice.