Privacy Statement
How we use Google Analytics on this website, and your rights over your data.
Google Analytics
We use Google Analytics to help us understand how visitors use our website and to identify ways we can improve our online services.
Google Analytics collects information about how you use our website, including:
- the pages you visit
- how long you spend on pages
- how you arrived at our website
- the type of device and browser you use
- general geographic information (such as country or region)
- interactions with website content and services
This information is collected using cookies and similar technologies.
We configure Google Analytics to minimise the collection of personal data. We do not use Google Analytics to directly identify individual visitors. IP addresses are not visible to us, and the information we receive is aggregated and statistical in nature.
Lawful basis
Where Google Analytics cookies are not strictly necessary, we will only place these cookies on your device if you have provided your consent through our cookie banner. You may withdraw or change your consent at any time through our cookie settings.
The lawful basis for processing information collected through Google Analytics is Article 6(1)(a) UK GDPR (consent).
Data sharing and international transfers
Google Analytics is provided by Google LLC. Information collected through Google Analytics may be processed by Google on our behalf and may be transferred to, and stored on, servers located outside the United Kingdom.
Where personal data is transferred internationally, appropriate safeguards are applied in accordance with UK data protection law.
For further information about how Google processes data, please see: https://policies.google.com/privacy
Retention
Analytics information is retained only for as long as necessary to produce website usage statistics and improve our services. Data collected through Google Analytics is retained in accordance with our configured retention settings and the Council's retention policies.
Managing cookies
You can accept or reject analytics cookies through our cookie preferences tool. You can also control or delete cookies through your web browser settings.
If you choose to reject analytics cookies, you will still be able to access and use the Council's website, although some functionality may be affected.
Your rights
Under UK data protection law, you have rights in relation to your personal data. These include the right to:
- be informed about how we collect and use your personal data
- request access to the personal data we hold about you
- request that inaccurate or incomplete personal data is corrected
- request the deletion of your personal data in certain circumstances
- request that we restrict the processing of your personal data in certain circumstances
- object to the processing of your personal data in certain circumstances
- request the transfer of your personal data to another organisation where this right applies
- withdraw your consent at any time where we rely on consent as the lawful basis for processing
Where we process information collected through Google Analytics on the basis of your consent, you can withdraw that consent at any time by changing your cookie preferences.
Making a rights request
If you wish to exercise any of your data protection rights, please contact:
Data Protection Officer Data Protection Team CHO150 Hertfordshire County Council 1st Floor Robertson House Stevenage Hertfordshire SG1 2ST
Tel: 01992 588099 Email: data.protection@hertfordshire.gov.uk
We may need to verify your identity before responding to your request.
Complaints
If you are unhappy with how we have handled your personal information, please contact us in the first instance so that we can try to resolve your concerns.
You also have the right to complain to the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO), the UK's independent regulator for data protection matters.
Information Commissioner's Office Wycliffe House Water Lane Wilmslow Cheshire SK9 5AF
Telephone: 0303 123 1113 Website: https://ico.org.uk