Everything we do with information about people, such as how we collect it and who we share it with, has to comply with Data Protection legislation. A key part of this is being open about how we use information and what rights you have in respect of information we hold about you.

This notice sets out the broad information for the County Council as a whole. Some services have their own notices that provide more detail and these can all be found from the main Privacy page on our website.

The information we hold

We collect information about people who live in Cambridgeshire as well as people outside the county who use services that we provide. What information we collect varies according to the services people receive.

Most of the information we hold starts as a result of:

An individual directly contacting us wanting to use one of our services.
Another organisation, such as an NHS body, making a referral to us, generally on the individual’s behalf and with their knowledge.

We also hold some information about individuals that other organisations are required to provide to us as the County Council in Cambridgeshire. Primarily this involves early years settings and schools in the county providing us with core information about the children attending their establishments. Schools and early years settings should provide you with their own privacy notices that will explain what information they collect and who they share it with.

Why do we have it and what do we use it for

We provide a wide range of services set out in law. We are under legal obligations to provide many of these services and to deliver these we need to collect and use personal information of those using or affected by these services

Much of what we do is a result of legislation set nationally that requires us to provide various public services in Cambridgeshire alongside Peterborough City Council and other public organisations. In such cases, if you access a council service then the law that requires us to provide that service will be our legal basis for collecting and using your personal data, as we can’t provide you with the service without it.

In a small number of cases we will process personal data solely on the basis of consent, such as where you might opt in to receive email updates or marketing details about certain council services. This will be clearly explained when you sign-up to that service.

The main public services we provide are as follows:

Adults and Older People

Prevention, early intervention and support for vulnerable adults
Assessment of the needs of older people and providing services that meet assessed eligible needs, support choice and control and maximise independence.
Safeguarding and protecting vulnerable adults from abuse.
Blue badge applications

Children and Young People

Providing a good quality place in learning for all children and young people, working with all schools and early year settings to ensure that children and young people get the best quality education.
Identifying and supporting children and families who are vulnerable and need support at the earliest opportunity. Safeguarding all children and young people at risk of significant harm.
Provision of high quality fostering and adoption services to meet the placement demands of Cambridgeshire children.
Provision of a range of family support services to those families in greatest need.

Public Health

Improving the health of the local population and reducing health inequalities with a focus on prevention.
Oversight of plans to protect the health of the local population from public health hazards, such as infectious diseases.
Providing specialist public health advice to the Council, other local authorities and local NHS Commissioners.

Health improvement services commissioned by the Public Health Directorate include:

Health visiting and school nursing services
Sexual health services, including testing for and treatment of infections, contraception.
Interventions to promote physical activity and healthy diet and help people manage their weight.
Smoking cessation and tobacco control.
NHS Health Checks
Public mental health

Place and Economy

Highway maintenance and improvement,
The delivery of all major transport infrastructure schemes,
Management of major contracts regarding highways, waste and street lighting,
Tackling rogue and other illegal trading and providing business advice,
Delivery of non-commercial superfast broadband services,
Waste disposal,
Libraries and cultural services,
Registration and coroner services,
Planning and Section 106 negotiation with developers,
Economic development,
Floods and water management,
Adult learning and skills,
Development of transport policy,
Commissioning of community transport, operation of the Guided Busway and the park and ride sites, and management of home to school, special needs and adults transport

We also collect and use information to support the local democratic process (administration of council meetings etc) and as part of research to support the delivery and development of our statutory functions as set out above. Additionally, we collect and use information in line with our requirements as an employer (recruitment, personnel information, payroll and pensions etc).

Whenever we use information, we always limit this to only the details that are needed and we ensure that it is used safely and securely. We require anyone we share information with, or who uses it on our behalf, to do so too. All staff and councillors receive training on data protection and information security.