Privacy Policy
Introduction
North Hertfordshire District Council is committed to the online privacy of all its website users. This privacy statement has been written to give you a clear understanding of how our online data processing practices work and why we use them.
This privacy statement applies solely to this website.
The use of terms “we”, “us”, “our”, or “the Council” refers to North Hertfordshire District Council. The use of the term “partners” denotes businesses and other organisations who work closely with North Hertfordshire District Council to provide a service to the public. The term “you”, “user” or “website user” refers to any internet user visiting this website.
By using this website you accept the terms and conditions of use contained within this policy. If this policy is not acceptable to you, please do not use the Council’s website.
Information Collected
North Hertfordshire District Council is the sole owner of the information on this site. We will not sell, share or rent any information on the website to third parties in any way, unless it is stated on the web page at the point of collecting information from you, or it is outlined in this policy statement, or it is required by law.
Website users have several opportunities to apply for a service, request information or provide online views and comments about the website, the Council and its services. All personal information collected on the website will be used only for the purpose of delivering the service for which the information was supplied. The information you provide will only be used by North Hertfordshire District Council and its employees in accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998. The information will not be given to any other organisation or individual except to the extent permitted by the Data Protection Act.
North Hertfordshire District Council may contact users in order to reply to the issues raised. This contact will be via email, unless an alternative is specified. We will retain all communications in order to produce statistical analysis reports on the comments received.
Cookies
A "cookie" is a means for your web browser to hold a small amount of information either in memory or on your hard disk, for use during your website visit. They are often used to remember user settings or preferences when visiting a site. Cookies are not viruses: they cannot damage your computer, find out information about you or read any personal material kept on your hard drive.
Like most other major websites, North Hertfordshire District Council makes use of cookies. They are only used where they are genuinely necessary, offer a significantly better user experience, or help us to improve our website. Specifically, we use cookies to:
- monitor traffic levels and gather statistical and visitor behaviour information (see section on Google Analytics below);
- provide an online payments service, where the cookie is required to provide a “shopping basket” facility in order to allow you to purchase a service or product, or make a payment to us;
- provide electronic forms to allow you to communicate with us online;
- offer the option of sharing an e-petition on social networking sites;
- allow you to comment on consultations and planning applications, and submit building control applications.
Most browsers will allow you to refuse cookies on your machine, but unfortunately you may not be able to use some of our web pages if you do this. Consult the Help section of your browser to find out how to change the cookie settings.
If you follow any external links from North Hertfordshire District Council to visit another website, you might encounter the use of cookies there. These websites and cookies are beyond the control of North Hertfordshire District Council.
To find out more about cookies, including how to control and delete them, visit www.allaboutcookies.org 
.
Google Analytics
Our website, like many others, uses Google Analytics, a web analytics service provided by Google. Google Analytics uses cookies to help analyse use of the website. It reports trends without identifying individual visitors. The information generated by the cookie about your use of the website (including your IP address) will be transmitted to and stored by Google.
This information is used for the purpose of evaluating visitors' use of the website and to compile statistical reports on website activity for site operators. Google may transfer this information to third parties where required to do so by law, or where such third parties process the information on Google's behalf. Google will not associate your IP address with any other data held by Google.
North Hertfordshire District Council will not use Google Analytics to track or to collect any personally identifiable information about visitors to our site. We will not use Google Analytics data with any other personally identifying information from any other source. We do not allow Google to use our analytics data in anonymous form as part of their benchmarking service.
By using this website, you consent to the processing of data about you by us and by Google in the manner and for the purposes set out above.
More information about Google’s privacy policy relating to Google Analytics can be found at: http://www.google.com/intl/en/analytics/privacyoverview.html
To opt out of being tracked by Google Analytics across all websites, visit http://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout .
Security
Access to all our user information is restricted. Only employees who need the information to perform a specific job are granted access to personally identifiable information.
The servers on which we store personally identifiable information are kept in a secure environment which is continually monitored and tested.
Our data protection policy is available on this website. If you have any questions or concerns relating to this policy and data protection please contact the Council's Data Protection Officer.
If you have any questions about the security on our website, you can contact the Council.
Notification of changes
From time to time it will be necessary to update this Privacy Policy. This is in order to ensure our users are always aware of what information we collect, how we use it, and under what circumstances, if any, we disclose it. Any changes to the Privacy Policy will appear on this page.
If at any point we decide to use personally identifiable information in a manner different from that stated at the time it was collected, we will notify the users affected. Users will have a choice as to whether or not we use their information in this different manner. We will use information in accordance with the Privacy Policy in force at the time the information was collected.
