Data Protection Act 1998 - Fair Processing Notice
What information does the Council collect about me?
North Herts District Council might sometimes collect, store and use personal information that you provide to us. Personal information includes your name, address, telephone number and date of birth, although any information from which you can be identified is personal information.
Why does it collect personal information?
It is sometimes essential that we collect personal data so that we can provide our services to you. For example, we cannot pay your benefit or collect your refuse if we do not know where you live.
We also hold personal information about our employees, customers and our suppliers.
We are sometimes required to collect and store information because the law requires it e.g. for the council tax register.
Who might we pass your information to?
Personal information must be handled and dealt with properly however it is collected, stored and used. The Data Protection Act 1998 sets out safeguards for dealing with your information. We also have a privacy policy on our website.
This means that your personal data will only be used for the reason you give us the information and is not available to all officers within the Council.
We may pass on your details to a supplier carrying out a service for the Council but they are required to keep your information secure and dispose of it once they have provided the service to you.
If we want to pass on your details to a third party we have to have your consent unless the law allows us to release the information. For example we do not need your consent to give your personal information to the Audit Commission which they use to prevent and detect fraud. There is information about this national fraud initiative on our website or further information is available from the Data Protection Officer.
Joined up services and avoidable contact
You might think it useful for the Council to have a central record of your basic details so that we don’t have to ask you to repeat information each time you contact us, but if we are going to store these details we will ask you about this when you contact us. Your right to receive services from the Council will not be affected if you want to opt out of your information being held centrally.
Some information that we collect is held on a public register e.g. the edited version of the electoral register. This information is available to any person who wants to inspect the register. We do not have to have your consent to release this information into the public or to officers within the Council.
Whether you give your consent or not to your information being shared, we will continue to apply the same level of care to safeguard your information in line with the Data Protection Act 1998.
How might we use your information?
We will use the information you provide us for:
- Paying or collecting money
- Paying grants
- Processing or paying benefits
- To prevent or detect fraud
- For regulatory, planning or licensing functions
- For consulting you about our services
- To assess equal opportunities
