Cookie Policy
Legal
Our website uses several cookies. A cookie is a small file of letters and numbers that we put on your computer if you agree. These cookies allow us to distinguish you from other users of the website which helps us to provide you with a good experience when you browse our website and allows us to improve our site.
The cookies are ‘analytical cookies. They allow us to recognise and count the number of visitors and to understand how visitors move around the site when they are using it. This helps us to improve the way our website works, for example by making sure users are finding what they need easily.
Cookie | Purpose |
CookieControl | This cookie is used to remember a user’s choice about cookies on orkney.gov.uk. Where users have previously indicated a preference, that user’s preference will be stored in this cookie. |
useTextOnly | This is used to store whether you are in textOnly mode or not. Persistent for three months. Strictly necessary cookie. |
setString | This is used to store user preferences for viewing sites in textOnly mode e.g. font-size and colour. Persistent for one month. Strictly necessary cookie |
SKDxxx (xxx being the unique identifier) | This cookie has two functions. Firstly it serves as a session cookie for extranet users. Without this cookie, an extranet user will have to login to each individual page in the extranet. it enables us to track the pages that a user visits while they navigate around our site. Persistent for one year unless users logout. |
SKTID | For tracking logged out visitor sessions. Persistent for one year. |
AcceptCookies | This is used to store whether you have agreed to receive cookies. Persistent for one year. |
_ga | Google Analytics These cookies are used to collect information about how visitors use our website. We use the information to compile reports and to help us improve the website. The cookies collect information in a way that does not directly identify anyone, including the number of visitors to the website and blog, where visitors have come to the website from and the pages they visited. |
Most web browsers allow some control of most cookies through the browser settings. To find out more about cookies, including how to see what cookies have been set and how to manage and delete them, visit the ‘All About Cookies’ website from the ‘Related Sites’ section of this page.
To opt out of being tracked by Google Analytics across all websites visit the ‘Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on’ webpage available from the ‘Related Sites’ section of this page.
Allow or reject cookies
We recommend you allow the cookies to be set by this website as they help us provide a better service and make our website easier to use.
If you do not want to receive cookies from this website, select cookie settings under the privacy settings in your browser options, then add our domain to the list of websites you do not want to accept cookies from.
Under settings you can also delete individual cookies or any cookies that your browser has stored.
Find out more about how to manage cookies from the ‘All About Cookies – Manage Cookies’ webpage available from the ‘Related Sites’ section of this page.
If you set your browser to refuse all cookies, please be aware that there may be functionality on various websites that does not work.
Sharing your information
The Council is legally obliged to share certain data with other public bodies such as HMRC, Scottish Government, and Audit Scotland, and will do so where the law requires this; the Council will also generally comply with requests for specific information from other regulatory and law enforcement bodies where this is necessary and proportionate. Information is also analysed internally to provide management information, inform service delivery reform and similar purposes.
What we do with your data
We use information we collect from the website to help us provide and improve our services to you. We comply with the Data Protection Act in that:
- We ensure that it is fairly and lawfully processed.
- We ensure that it is only processed for the purposes for which it was collected.
- We ensure that any information collected is relevant and not excessive.
- We ensure that any information you submit to us is recorded accurately.
- We don’t keep you information for longer than is necessary.
- We ensure that your information is processed in accordance with your rights.
- We ensure that your information is held securely
Data Protection Officer
The Council’s Data Protection Officer is Gavin Mitchell, Head of Legal Services, who can be contacted using the contact details for the Council as set out above.
Your rights
- The right to be informed about how your information will be used.
- The right of access to your personal information.
- The right to rectification, which is the right to require the Council to correct any inaccuracies or omissions.
- The right to request the erasure of any personal information held by the Council where the Council no longer has legal reason to hold the information.
- The right to request that your information is only processed in certain ways.
- The right to data portability.
- The right to object to the Council processing your personal information.
These are not absolute rights and there may be circumstances where the Council is legally obliged to process your information in a particular way. The Council has published a guide which sets out in details your rights and how you can exercise them. The Guide is available from the Council’s reception area or on the Council’s website.
Sharing your information
The Council is legally obliged to share certain data with other public bodies such as HMRC and will do so where the law requires this; the Council will also generally comply with requests for specific information from other regulatory and law enforcement bodies where this is necessary and proportionate. Information is also analysed internally in order to provide management information, investigate fraud, ensure our records are up-to-date, inform service delivery reform and similar purposes.
Transferring our information outside the UK or European Economic Area
The Council will not transfer personal data outside either the UK or the European Economic Area (EEA) unless this cannot be avoided. The Council will only transfer data outside the UK and the EEA when it is satisfied that the party which will handle the data and the country it is processing it in will provide adequate safeguards for personal privacy. On the occasions when it does transfer your information outside the UK or the European Economic Area, the Council will inform you.
Profiling and automatic decision making
The Council does not use profiling or automated decision-making processes. Some processes are semi-automated (such as anti-fraud data matching) but a human decision maker will always be involved before any decision is reached in relation to you.
How long do we keep your information?
The Council will only keep your information for as long as necessary. Full details of how long the Council usually retains your information can be found in the Council’s Retention and Disposal Schedule which is published on the Council’s website here: https://www.orkney.gov.uk/Files/Council/Council-Plans/OIC_Retention_Disposal_Schedule.pdf. However, there may be circumstances where we may need to keep your information for longer. Once the Council no longer needs to keep your information, it will be securely destroyed.
Right to complain
If you are unhappy with the way the Council has processed your personal data you have the right to complain. Any complaints regarding your data should be addressed to the Data Protection Officer. If the matter is not resolved, you can contact the Information Commissioner’s Office. The address and contact details for the Information Commissioner’s Officer are:
45 Melville Street.
Edinburgh.
EH3 7HL.
Telephone: 01312449001.
Email: mailto:scotland@ico.org.uk