We will not ask for personal data we do not need. We keep the information that you give us secure so that it cannot be seen by, or given to, anyone who should not see it.

We have an Information Governance Framework that includes a Data Protection and Privacy Policy, an Information Access and Rights Policy and a set of Information Security policies. These documents give you information about what we must do to look after your privacy. We have written about lots of different ways we look after your information on computers and on paper.

We train all new staff on how to handle personal data and keep training staff on this so they keep their knowledge up to date.

We use encryption, restrict access to files, make your data anonymous where we can and we test our computer systems often.

We will not keep your information longer than is needed and, when we destroy our copies of your personal data, we will do so in a secure way.

Where the Council is considering using new technology or use your personal data in a new way that could affect your privacy, we will complete a Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA), which may be considered and approved by the Information Commissioner's Office.

Do you store my bank account or payment card details?

When you set up a payment to be made to us on a regular basis, such as a direct debit to pay your council tax, we hold your bank account information safely and it is not shared with anyone other than your bank and on the banking payment system.

Where you pay for a service by card like a debit card, your card details are only used for the payment that you tell us we can use it for. We don’t keep all the information on your bank card. By doing this, we follow the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (version 3.2). This is checked by outside professionals as part of an audit process.

Do you store my identification documents?

For some services, where we need proof of who you are to provide a service, we keep a copy of this proof you give us because we have to prove that we have checked who you are. This personal information will be held safely at all times and not shared with anyone, except when we have to share it by law, to spot or prevent crime, or to prevent harm to someone.

Do you store my emails?

If you email us to do with payments you make to us, we may keep a record of your contact, your email address and the email to keep a record of the payments. To keep your information safe, we will not include any confidential information-about you in any email we send to you, unless you tell us we can do this. Confidential information is anything that needs to be kept secret from other people.

You should try to write as little confidential information as possible in emails you send to us. You should use our secure online forms and services if you can do so.