Why we collect your personal information
We are the controller for any personal information which we have collected. This means that we collect the information and decide how it is used. See section 4 for the ways in which we may collect your personal information.
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.
Some of the reasons why the council needs to collect your personal information are:
- Providing Council Services and support to you
- Collecting taxes, revenue and administer grants and benefits
- Carry out Council functions
- Help investigate any worries or complaints you have about our services
- To enable government departments such as the Department for Work and Pensions to process your benefit claim
- Maintaining of the electoral register.
- Protecting you or others by helping to detect, investigate, enforce and prevent crime and fraud.
- Processing job applications, school places, housing applications and other requests you or others might make to us in our role as a local authority and employer.
- Processing payments made to the council for council tax, debts, fines, rent and other services we offer.
- Sometimes we are bound by law to collect personal information or support its collection because of legal reasons.
- To provide healthcare services and safeguard the health and wellbeing, and environment of our residents.
- Making payments to you and others for various welfare benefits, other benefits, salaries and compensation.
- Investigating matters that concern or involve our residents.
- Helping us plan to improve services
- Ensuring that planning and building regulations are being followed.
- When we act in a statutory role to issue licences, parking notices, provide education, social services and other statutory functions.
- Studying trend and contributing to research that will benefit your health and wellbeing.
- Improving your browsing experience when you use our website. Although we never use this information to identify you, it is still your personal information.
Whatever the reason is for collecting your personal information, we ensure there is an appropriate lawful basis in the General Data Protection Regulation and Data Protection Act, for doing so.
Lawful basis are legal paths in data protection law that regulate our approach and conduct when we collect your information. Please see section 5 for the Legal Basis the council uses for processing your personal information.