Information held by RDC

The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) promotes public access to official information and protects personal information. The ICO is an independent body with specific responsibilities set out in the Data Protection Act 1998, the Freedom of Information Act 2000, Environmental Information Regulations 2004 and Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations 2003.

Council Tax information, such as residents’ names and addresses, collected by local authorities can be used for other purposes, according to guidance published by the ICO. Examples of such use might be to populate a customer relationship management database, or for an official mail shot (to see the ICO’s guidance in full click here).

Before a local authority uses the information, however, it must consider a number of questions, such as will the information be adequately protected from improper use or disclosure and do individuals understand how the authority will use their personal information.

It is also important to consider the effect that using or sharing the information will have on individuals.

Anyone who processes personal information must comply with eight principles, which make sure that personal information, is:

• Fairly and lawfully processed

• Processed for limited purposes

• Adequate, relevant and not excessive

• Accurate and up to date

• Not kept for longer than is necessary

• Processed in line with your rights

• Secure

• Not transferred to other countries without adequate protection

If you require further information about the Data Protection Act, Freedom of Information Act or Environmental Information Regulations please either visit the Information Commissioner’s Office website http://www.ico.gov.uk/ or contact Richmondshire District Council’s Information Officer via mailto:requestinformation@richmondshire.gov.uk.

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