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Freedom of Information & Data Protection

The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is a new regulation which has been incorporated into the Data Protection Act 2018.

It strengthens the previous Data Protection Act 1998 (DPA) and will give individuals more rights and protections. It sets out the requirements for how all organisations handle personal data and came into effect as of 25th May 2018.

The GDPR applies to personal data which covers any information relating to an identifiable person who can be directly or indirectly identified in particular by reference to an identifier.

The GDPR requires personal data to be processed in a manner that ensures its security. This must include protection against unauthorized or unlawful processing and against accidental loss, destruction or damage. 

The GDPR requires organisations to have a valid basis in order to process personal data. There are six lawful bases for processing data and the parish council will ensure that it uses the basis the most appropriate when processing such data.

Lawful Basis for Processing Data:

  1. Consent
  2. Contract
  3. Legal Obligation
  4. Vital Interests
  5. Public Task
  6. Legitimate Basis

The GDPR creates some new rights for individuals and strengthens some of the rights that currently exist under the DPA. the following rights for individuals: 

  • The right to be informed
  • The right of access
  • The right to rectification
  • The right to erasure
  • The right to restrict processing
  • The right to data portability
  • The right to object
  • Rights in relation to automated decision making and profiling.

Individuals have the right to be informed about the collection and use of their personal data. This is a key transparency requirement under the GDPR.

At the bottom of this page is a folder detailing the policies adopted by the parish council in compliance with its duties under the regulations.

Under the Freedom of Information Act, it is the duty of all public authorities to adopt and maintain a Publication Scheme.

Semer Parish Council has adopted the new Model Publication Scheme unedited and as prepared by the Information Commissioner's Office.

The Publication Scheme contains details as to the information that the parish council holds and the manner in which it will be made available to the public.

At the bottom of this page is a copy of the Model Publication Scheme and the Semer Publication Scheme which contains details on how the parish council applies the scheme.