Privacy Policy

This privacy policy applies between you, the User of this Website, and Stoke St Mary Parish Council, the owner and provider of this Website. Stoke St Mary Parish Council takes the privacy of your information very seriously. This privacy policy applies to our use of any and all Data collected by us
or provided by you in relation to your use of the Website.
This privacy policy should be read alongside, and in addition to, our Terms and Conditions, which can be found at: https://stokestmaryparish.gov.uk/terms-and-conditions.
Please read this privacy policy carefully.

DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION

1. In this privacy policy, the following definitions are used:
   Data. Collectively all information that you submit to Stoke St Mary Parish Council via the Website. This definition incorporates, where applicable, the definitions provided in the Data Protection Laws;
   Cookies. A small text file placed on your computer by this Website when you visit certain parts of the Website and/or when you use certain features of the Website. Details of the cookies used by this Website are set out in the clause below (Cookies);
   Data Protection Laws. Any applicable law relating to the processing of personal Data, including but not limited to the GDPR, and any national implementing and supplementary laws, regulations and secondary legislation;
   GDPR. The UK General Data Protection Regulation; Stoke St Mary Parish Council (we or us). An organisation incorporated in England and Wales.
   UK and EU Cookie Law. The Privacy and Electronic Communications (EC Directive) Regulations 2003 as amended by the Privacy and Electronic Communications (EC Directive) (Amendment) Regulations 2011 & the Privacy and Electronic Communications (EC Directive) (Amendment) Regulations 2018;
   User or you. Any third party that accesses the Website and is not either (i) employed by Stoke St Mary Parish Council and acting in the course of their employment or (ii) engaged as a consultant or otherwise providing services to Stoke St Mary Parish Council and accessing the Website in connection with the provision of such services; and Website. The website that you are currently using, https://stokestmaryparish.gov.uk, and any sub-domains of this site unless expressly excluded by their own terms and conditions.
   2. In this privacy policy, unless the context requires a different interpretation:
   a) the singular includes the plural and vice versa;
   b) references to sub-clauses, clauses, schedules or appendices are to sub-clauses, clauses,
   schedules or appendices of
   c) this privacy policy;
   d) a reference to a person includes firms, companies, government entities, trusts and partnerships;
   e) “including” is understood to mean “including without limitation”;
   f) reference to any statutory provision includes any modification or amendment of it;
   g) the headings and sub-headings do not form part of this privacy policy.

SCOPE OF THIS PRIVACY POLICY

3. This privacy policy applies only to the actions of Stoke St Mary Parish Council and Users with respect to this Website. It does not extend to any websites that can be accessed from this Website including, but not limited to, any links we may provide to social media websites.
4.  For purposes of the applicable Data Protection Laws, Stoke St Mary Parish Council is the “data controller”. This means that Stoke St Mary Parish Council determines the purposes for which, and the manner in which, your Data is processed.

DATA COLLECTED

5. We may collect the following Data, which includes personal Data, from you:
   a) IP address (automatically collected);
   b) web browser type and version (automatically collected);
   c) operating system (automatically collected); in each case, in accordance with this privacy policy.

HOW WE COLLECT DATA

6. We collect Data in the following ways:
   a) data is given to us by you; and
   b) data is collected automatically.

DATA THAT IS GIVEN TO US BY YOU

7. Stoke St Mary Parish Council will collect your Data in a number of ways, for example:
   a) when you contact us through the Website, by telephone, post, e-mail or through any other means;
   b) when you use our services; in each case, in accordance with this privacy policy.

DATA THAT IS COLLECTED AUTOMATICALLY

8. To the extent that you access the Website, we will collect your Data automatically, for
   example:
   a) we automatically collect some information about your visit to the Website. This
   information helps us to make improvements to Website content and navigation, and
   includes your IP address, the date, times and frequency with which you access the
   Website and the way you use and interact with its content.
   b) we will collect your Data automatically via cookies, in line with the cookie settings on
   your browser. For more information about cookies, and how we use them on the
   Website, see the section below, headed “Cookies”.

OUR USE OF DATA

9. Any or all of the above Data may be required by us from time to time in order to provide you
   with the best possible service and experience when using our Website. Specifically, Data
   may be used by us for the following reasons:
   a) internal record keeping;
   b) improvement of our products / services;
   in each case, in accordance with this privacy policy.
   10. We may use your Data for the above purposes if we deem it necessary to do so for our
   legitimate interests. If you are not satisfied with this, you have the right to object in certain
   circumstances (see the section headed “Your rights” below).

WHO WE SHARE DATA WITH

11. We may share your Data with the following groups of people for the following reasons:
    a) our employees, agents and/or professional advisors – for analysing web traffic to
    improve site performance;
    in each case, in accordance with this privacy policy.

KEEPING DATA SECURE

12. We will use technical and organisational measures to safeguard your Data, for example:
    a) access to your account is controlled by a password and a user name that is unique to
    you.
    b) we store your Data on secure servers.
    13. Technical and organisational measures include measures to deal with any suspected data
    breach. If you suspect any misuse or loss or unauthorised access to your Data, please let us
    know immediately by contacting us via e-mail address.
    14. If you want detailed information from Get Safe Online on how to protect your information
    and your computers and devices against fraud, identity theft, viruses and many other online
    problems, please visit www.getsafeonline.org. Get Safe Online is supported by HM
    Government and leading businesses.

DATA RETENTION

15. Unless a longer retention period is required or permitted by law, we will only hold your Data
    on our systems for the period necessary to fulfil the purposes outlined in this privacy policy
    or until you request that the Data be deleted.
    16. Even if we delete your Data, it may persist on backup or archival media for legal, tax or
    regulatory purposes.

28. This Website may place the following Cookies:
    a) Strictly necessary cookies. These are cookies that are required for the operation of
    our website. They include, for example, cookies that enable you to log into secure
    areas of our website, use a shopping cart or make use of e-billing services.
    b) Analytical/performance cookies. They allow us to recognise and count the number
    of visitors and to see how visitors move around our website when they are using it.
    This helps us to improve the way our website works, for example, by ensuring that
    users are finding what they are looking for easily.
    c) Functionality cookies. These are used to recognise you when you return to our
    website. This enables us to personalise our content for you, greet you by name and
    remember your preferences (for example, your choice of language or region). By
    using the Website, you agree to our placement of functionality cookie.
    29. You can find a list of Cookies that we use in the Cookies Schedule.
    30. You can choose to enable or disable Cookies in your internet browser. By default, most
    internet browsers accept Cookies but this can be changed. For further details, please see the
    help menu in your internet browser. You can switch off Cookies at any time, however, you
    may lose any information that enables you to access the Website more quickly and
    efficiently.
    31. You can choose to delete Cookies at any time; however, you may lose any information that
    enables you to access the Website more quickly and efficiently including, but not limited to,
    personalisation settings.
    32. It is recommended that you ensure that your internet browser is up-to-date and that you
    consult the help and guidance provided by the developer of your internet browser if you are
    unsure about adjusting your privacy settings.
    33. For more information generally on cookies, including how to disable them, please refer to
    aboutcookies.org. You will also find details on how to delete cookies from your computer.

GENERAL

34. You may not transfer any of your rights under this privacy policy to any other person. We
    may transfer our rights under this privacy policy where we reasonably believe your rights
    will not be affected.
35. If any court or competent authority finds that any provision of this privacy policy (or part of
    any provision) is invalid, illegal or unenforceable, that provision or part-provision will, to the
    extent required, be deemed to be deleted, and the validity and enforceability of the other
    provisions of this privacy policy will not be affected.
36.  Unless otherwise agreed, no delay, act or omission by a party in exercising any right or
    remedy will be deemed a waiver of that, or any other, right or remedy.
37. This Agreement will be governed by and interpreted according to the law of England and
    Wales. All disputes arising under the Agreement will be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction
    of the English and Welsh courts.

    CHANGES TO THIS PRIVACY POLICY

38. Stoke St Mary Parish Council reserves the right to change this privacy policy as we may deem
    necessary from time to time or as may be required by law. Any changes will be immediately
    posted on the Website and you are deemed to have accepted the terms of the privacy policy
    on your first use of the Website following the alterations.

ATTRIBUTION

39. This privacy policy was created on 30 January 2023.

COOKIES

Below is a list of the cookies that we use. We have tried to ensure this is complete and up to date,
but if you think that we have missed a cookie or there is any discrepancy, please let us know.
a) Web Analytics Cookie. Used for tracking site usage.