How we use your information
The categories of information that we collect, process, hold and share include:
- personal information (such as name, address and contact information)
- household make-up (where required, such as number in household)
- medical information and details of disabilities
- financial information (such as income, benefits, bank and savings account details, credit or debit card payments for debt recovery)
- other personal information that will vary on a case by case basis to enable us to undertake payment arrangements
Why we collect and use this information
We use your data to:
- enable us to carry out specific functions for which we are responsible
- enable us to assess your liability for council tax
- derive statistics which inform decisions such as collection rates
- take any necessary enforcement action
- provide statistics to Kent County Council and government departments for example Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC)
The lawful basis on which we use this information
We collect and use this information for the purposes of carrying out our statutory functions under the Local Government Finance Act 1992 and the Council Tax (Administration and Enforcement) Regulations 1992.
Collecting this information
The information you provide to us is mandatory to perform our statutory functions.
Storing this information
We hold your data for up to six years (Magistrates’ Court liability order hearing lists may be retained longer for enforcement purposes).
Who we share this information with
We routinely share information with:
- our revenues and benefits contractor NEC Software Solutions and any agency staff
- other departments within the council such as benefits, housing, customer services, internal audit, fraud team, parking
- government departments such as DLUHC
- external auditors
- enforcement agents (as appropriate)
- external solicitors (as appropriate)
- Valuation Office Agency
- credit reference agencies
- Cabinet Office as part of the National Fraud Initiative
Why we share this information
We share data with DLUHC on a statutory basis under Local Government Finance Act 1992 and the Council Tax (Administration and Enforcement) Regulations 1992. This data sharing enables DLUHC to ensure local authorities are undertaking their statutory duties, and it also enables us to inform and plan resourcing activities.
We share data with enforcement agents and solicitors on a statutory basis under the Council Tax (Administration and Enforcement) Regulations 1992 to enable them to recover unpaid council tax on our behalf.
We share data internally and with credit reference agencies in order to protect public funds and to prevent and detect any fraudulent activity.
We share data with the Cabinet Office as we are required to by law for the purpose of assisting the prevention and detection of fraud.
Data collection requirements
To find out more about the data collection requirements placed on us by the DLUHC see Single data list (GOV.UK).
Requesting access to your personal data
Under data protection legislation, you have the right to request access to information about them that we hold. To make a request for your personal information please contact Adrian Stanfield, the Council’s Data Protection Officer at foi@tmbc.gov.uk.
You also have the right to:
- object to processing of personal data that is likely to cause, or is causing, damage or distress
- prevent processing for the purpose of direct marketing
- object to decisions being taken by automated means
- in certain circumstances, have personal data rectified, blocked, erased or destroyed
- claim compensation for damages caused by a breach of the data protection regulations
If you have a concern about the way we are collecting or using your personal data, we request that you raise your concern with us in the first instance. Alternatively, you can contact the Information Commissioner’s Office at How to make a data protection complaint to an organisation.
Further information
If you would like further information about this privacy notice, please contact Adrian Stanfield, the council’s Data Protection Officer at foi@tmbc.gov.uk.
The council collects and uses personal information for a number of purposes across all of its departments and functions. To find out more about how the council uses the personal information it collects, please refer to the Corporate privacy notice.