DATA PROTECTION POLICY
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Bressingham and Fersfield Parish Council
DATA PROTECTION POLICY
Version Control
Reviewed | Date | Actions | Status |
1st October 2020 | 2020.01 | New document | Draft |
Contents
- Aim and scope of policy………………………………………………………………………………..………………………. 2
- Types of data held………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 2
- Data protection principles…………………………………………………………………….………………………………… 3
- Procedures…………………………………………………………………………………………….………………………… 4
- Access to data………………………………………………………………………………………………..…………………. 4
- Data disclosures……………………………………………………………………………………………….………..………. 5
- Data security …………………………………………………………………………………………………….……………… 5
- International data transfers ………………………………………………………………………………………….………….. 6
- Breach notification………………………………………………………………………………………………….…………… 6
- Training ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….………. 6
- Records…………………………………………………………………………………………………………….……………. 6
- Data Protection Officer……………………………………………………………………………………………….…………. 6
- Data protection compliance ……………………………………………………………………….………………..………….. 6
- Aim and scope of policy
This policy applies to the processing of personal data in manual and electronic records kept by
Bressingham and Fersfield Parish Council (the Parish Council). It also covers the Parish Council’s
response to any data breach and other rights under the General Data Protection Regulation.
This policy applies to the personal data of relevant individuals.
The Parish Council makes a commitment to ensuring that personal data, including special categories
of personal data and criminal offence data (where appropriate) is processed in line with GDPR and
domestic laws and to conduct itself in line with this, and other related, policies. Where third parties
process data on behalf of the Parish Council, the Parish Council will ensure that the third party takes
such measures to maintain the Parish Council’s commitment to protecting data. In line with GDPR,
the Parish Council understands that it will be accountable for the processing, management and
regulation, and storage and retention of all personal data held in the form of manual records and on
computers.
Definitions:
“Relevant individuals” are Parish Councillors, job applicants, existing and former employees,
apprentices, volunteers, placement students, workers and self-employed contractors, agents, and
other role holders within the Parish Council including former staff and former councillors.
“Personal data” is information that relates to an identifiable person who can be directly or indirectly
identified from that information, for example, a person’s name, identification number, location, online
identifier. It can also include pseudonymised data.
“Special categories of personal data” is data which relates to an individual’s health, sex life, sexual
orientation, race, ethnic origin, political opinion, religion, and trade union membership. It also includes
genetic and biometric data (where used for ID purposes).
“Criminal offence data” is data which relates to an individual’s criminal convictions and offences.
“Data processing” is any operation or set of operations which is performed on personal data or on sets
of personal data, whether or not by automated means, such as collection, recording, organisation,
structuring, storage, adaptation or alteration, retrieval, consultation, use, disclosure by transmission,
dissemination or otherwise making available, alignment or combination, restriction, erasure or
destruction. - Types of data held
Personal data is kept in paper and electronic files. The following types of data may be held by the
Parish Council, as appropriate, on relevant individuals:
• name, address, phone numbers – for individual and next of kin
• CVs and other information gathered during recruitment or appointment
• references from former employers
• National Insurance numbers
• job title, job descriptions and pay grades3
• conduct issues such as letters of concern, disciplinary proceedings
• holiday records
• internal performance information
• medical or health information
• sickness absence records
• tax codes
• terms and conditions of employment
• training details.
Relevant individuals should refer to the Parish Council’s privacy notice for more information on the
reasons for its processing activities, the lawful bases it relies on for the processing and dataretention
periods. - Data protection principles
All personal data obtained and held by the Parish Council will:
• be processed fairly, lawfully and in a transparent manner
• be collected for specific, explicit, and legitimate purposes
• be adequate, relevant and limited to what is necessary for the purposes of processing
• be kept accurate and up to date. Every reasonable effort will be made to ensure that
inaccurate data is rectified or erased without delay
• not be kept for longer than is necessary for its given purpose
• be processed in a manner that ensures appropriate security of personal data including
protection against unauthorised or unlawful processing, accidental loss, destruction or
damage by using appropriate technical or organisation measures
• comply with the relevant GDPR procedures for international transferring of personal data.
In addition, personal data will be processed in recognition of an individuals’ data protection rights, as
follows:
• the right to be informed
• the right of access
• the right for any inaccuracies to be corrected (rectification)
• the right to have information deleted (erasure)
• the right to restrict the processing of the data
• the right to portability4
• the right to object to the inclusion of any information
• the right to regulate any automated decision-making and profiling of personaldata. - Procedures
The Parish Council has taken the following steps to protect the personal data of relevant individuals,
which it holds or to which it has access:
• It provides information to its employees on their data protection rights, how it uses their
personal data, and how it protects it. The information includes the actions relevant individuals
can take if they think that their data has been compromised in anyway.
• It provides its employees with information and training to make them aware of the
importance of protecting personal data, to teach them how to do this, and to understand how
to treat information confidentially.
• It can account for all personal data it holds, where it comes from, who it is shared with and
also who it might be shared with
• It carries out risk assessments as part of its reviewing activities to identify any vulnerabilities
in its personal data handling and processing, and to take measures to reduce the risks of
mishandling and potential breaches of data security. The procedure includes an assessment
of the impact of both use and potential misuse of personal data in and by the Parish Council.
• It recognises the importance of seeking individuals’ consent for obtaining, recording, using,
sharing, storing and retaining their personal data, and regularly reviews its procedures for
doing so, including the audit trails that are needed and are followed for all consent decisions.
The Parish Council understands that consent must be freely given, specific, informed and
unambiguous. The Parish Council will seek consent on a specific and individual basis where
appropriate. Full information will be given regarding the activities about which consent is
sought. Relevant individuals have the absolute and unimpeded right to withdraw that consent
at any time.
• It has the appropriate mechanisms for detecting, reporting and investigating suspected or
actual personal data breaches, including security breaches. It is aware of its duty to report
significant breaches that cause significant harm to the affected individuals to the Information
Commissioner and is aware of the possible consequences.
• It is aware of the implications international transfer of personal datainternationally. - Access to data
Relevant individuals have a right to be informed whether the Parish Council processes personal data
relating to them and to access the data that the Parish Council holds about them. Requests for access
to this data will be dealt with under the following summary guidelines:
• A subject access request should be made to the Clerk to the Parish Council (the Clerk).
• The Parish Council will not charge for the supply of data unless the request is manifestly
unfounded, excessive or repetitive, or unless a request is made for duplicate copies to be
provided to parties other than the employee making the request.
• The Parish Council will respond to a request without delay. Access to data will be provided, 5
subject to legally permitted exemptions, within one month as a maximum. This may be
extended by a further two months where requests are complex or numerous.
Relevant individuals must inform the Parish Council immediately if they believe that the data is
inaccurate, either as a result of a subject access request or otherwise. The Parish Council will take
immediate steps to rectify the information.
For further information on making a subject access request, employees should consult with the Clerk. - Data disclosures
The Parish Council may be required to disclose certain data/information to any person. The
circumstances leading to such disclosures include:
• any employee benefits operated by third parties
• disabled individuals – whether any reasonable adjustments are required to assist them at
work
• individuals’ health data – to comply with health and safety or occupational health
obligations towards the employee
• for Statutory Sick Pay purposes
• HR management and administration – to consider how an individual’s health affects his or
her ability to do their job
• the smooth operation of any employee insurance policies or pension plans.
These kinds of disclosures will only be made when strictly necessary for the purpose. - Data security
The Parish Council adopts procedures designed to maintain the security of data when it is stored and
transported. In addition, employees must:
• ensure that all files or written information of a confidential nature are stored in a secure
manner and are only accessed by people who have a need and a right to accessthem
• ensure that all files or written information of a confidential nature are not left where they
can be read by unauthorised people
• check regularly on the accuracy of data being entered into computers
• always use the passwords provided to access the computer system and not abuse them by
passing them on to people who should not have them
• use computer screen blanking to ensure that personal data is not left on screen when not
in use.
Personal data relating to employees should not be kept or transported on laptops, smart devices, or
portable, external or other devices, unless authorised by the Clerk.
Where personal data is recorded on any such device it should be protected by:6
• Ensuring that data is recorded on such devices only where necessary.
• Using an encrypted system — a folder should be created to store the files that need extra
protection and all files created or moved to this folder should be automatically encrypted.
• Ensuring that laptops, smart devices and external drives are not left unattended where they
can be stolen.
Failure to follow the Parish Council’s rules on data security may be dealt with via the Parish Council’s
disciplinary procedure. Appropriate sanctions include dismissal with or without notice dependent on
the severity of the failure. - International data transfers
The Parish Council does not transfer personal data to any recipients outside the EEA. - Breach notification
Where a data breach is likely to result in a risk to the rights and freedoms of individuals, it will be
reported to the Information Commissioner within 72 hours of the Parish Council becoming aware of
it and may be reported in more than one instalment.
Individuals will be informed directly if the breach is likely to result in a high risk to the rights and
freedoms of that individual.
If the breach is sufficient to warrant notification to the public, the Parish Council will do so without
undue delay. - Training
New employees must read and understand the policies on data protection as part of their induction.
All employees receive training covering basic information about confidentiality, data protection and
the actions to take upon identifying a potential data breach.
The nominated data controller/auditors/protection officers for the Parish Council are trained
appropriately in their roles under the GDPR.
All employees who need to use the computer system are trained to protect individuals’ private data,
to ensure data security, and to understand the consequences to them as individuals and the Parish
Council of any potential lapses and breaches of the Parish Council’s policies and procedures. - Records
The Parish Council keeps records of its processing activities including the purpose for the processing
and retention periods in its HR Data Record. These records will be kept up to date so that they
reflect current processing activities. - Data Protection Officer
Councils are exempt from the requirement to appoint a Data Protection Officer. - Data protection compliance
The Clerk is the Parish Council’s appointed compliance officer in respect of its data protection
activities. The Clerk can be contacted at email bandf.pc@outlook.com