BULFORD PARISH COUNCIL
Data Protection Policy & Information Security Policy
The Data Protection Policy
Bulford Parish Council (BPC) recognises its responsibility to comply with the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) which replaces the Data Protection Act 1998. The act regulates the use of personal data. This does not have to be sensitive data; it can be as little as a name and address.
The Data Protection Act
The GDPR sets out high standards for the handling of personal information and protecting individuals’ rights for privacy. It also regulates how personal information can be collected, handled and used. The GDPR applies to anyone holding personal information about people, electronically or on paper. BPC has also notified the Information Commissioner that it potentially holds personal data about individuals.
When dealing with personal data, BPC staff and any Council members must ensure that:
- Data is processed fairly and lawfully
This means that personal information should only be collected from individuals if staff and Councillors have been open and honest about why they want the personal information.
- Data is processed for specified purposes only
- Data is relevant to what it is needed for
Data will be monitored so that too much or too little is not kept; only data that is needed should be held.
- Data is accurate and kept up to date
Personal data should be accurate, if it is not it should be corrected.
- Data is not kept longer than it is needed
Data no longer needed will be shredded or securely disposed of.
- Data is processed in accordance with the rights of individuals
Individuals must be informed, upon request, of all the personal information held about them.
Only staff can access the data. It cannot be accessed by members of the public.
Storing and accessing data
BPC recognises its responsibility to be open with people when taking personal details from them. This means that staff must be honest about why they want a particular piece of personal information.
BPC may hold personal information about individuals such as their addresses and telephone numbers. These will be securely kept at the BPC Office and are not available for public access. All data stored on the BPC Office computers is password protected. Once data is not needed any more, is out of date or has served its use and falls outside the minimum retention time of our document retention policy, it will be shredded or securely deleted from the computer, as is applicable.
note: a procedure will be constructed where internal communication will be contained and data made available for scrutiny and review. This procedure will become an Annex to this policy.
BPC is aware that people have the right to access any personal information that is held about them. If a person requests to see any data that is being held about them
- They must be sent all of the personal information BPC holds about them
- There must be an explanation of why it has been stored
- There must be a list of who has seen it
- It must be sent within 40 days
Confidentiality
BPC Council members and staff must be aware that when complaints or queries are made, they must remain confidential unless the subject gives permission otherwise. When handling personal data, this must also remain confidential.
Nominated Officer
Our named Data Controller is Mrs Nichola Grove
