Our Privacy Policy

This privacy policy applies between you, the User of this Website and Citizens Assembly South Tyneside (hereafter CAST), the owner and provider of this website. CAST takes the privacy of your information very seriously. This privacy policy applies to our use of any and all data collected by us or provided by you in relation to your use of the website. This privacy policy should be read alongside, and in addition to, our Terms and Conditions, which can be found here

Please read this privacy policy carefully.

Definitions and interpretation

In this privacy policy, the following definitions are used:

Data: collectively all information that you submit to CAST via our website. This definition incorporates, where applicable, the definitions provided in the Data Protection Laws.

Cookies: a small text file placed on your computer by this website when you visit certain parts of the website and/or when you use certain features of the website. Details of the cookies used by this website are set out in the clause below (Cookies);

Data Protection Laws: any applicable law relating to the processing of personal data, including but not limited to the Directive 96/46/EC (Data Protection Directive), GDPR and any national implementing laws, regulations and secondary legislation, for as long as GDPR is effective in the UK.

GDPR: the General Data Protection Regulation (EU) 2016/679.

UK and EU Cookie Law: the Privacy and Electronic Communications (EC Directive) Regulations 2003 as amended by the Privacy and Electronic Communications (EC Directive) (Amendment) Regulations 2011.

User or you: any third party that accesses the website and is not either (i) employed by CAST and acting in the course of their employment or (ii) engaged as a consultant or otherwise providing services to CAST and accessing the website in connection with the provision of such services.

The website that you are currently using, www.southtynesideassembly.org.uk, and any sub-domains of this site unless expressly excluded by their own terms and conditions.

In this privacy policy, unless the context requires a different interpretation:

• the singular includes the plural and vice versa;
• references to sub-clauses, clauses, schedules or appendices are to sub-clauses, clauses, schedules or appendices of this privacy policy;
• a reference to a person includes firms, companies, government entities, trusts and partnerships;
• "including" is understood to mean "including without limitation";
• reference to any statutory provision includes any modification or amendment of it;
• the headings and sub-headings do not form part of this privacy policy.

Scope of this privacy policy

• This privacy policy applies only to the actions of CAST and Users with respect to this website. It does not extend to any websites that can be accessed from this website including, but not limited to, any links we may provide to social media websites.
• For purposes of the applicable Data Protection Laws, CAST is the 'data controller'. This means that CAST determines the purposes for which, and the manner in which, your data is processed.

Data collected

We may collect the following data, which includes personal data, from you in each case in accordance with this privacy policy:

• name;
• date of birth;
• gender;
• contact Information such as email addresses and telephone numbers;
• demographic information such as postcode, preferences and interests;
• IP address (automatically collected);
• web browser type and version (automatically collected);
• operating system (automatically collected);
• any votes submitted.

How we collect data

We collect data in the following ways:

• data is given to us by you;
• data is received from other sources; and
• data is collected automatically.

Data that is given to us by you

CAST will collect your data in a number of ways, in each case in accordance with this privacy policy. For example:

• when you contact us through our website, by telephone, post, email or through any other means;
• when you register with us and set up an account to receive our products/services;
• when you complete surveys that we use for research purposes (although you are not obliged to respond to them);
• when you elect to receive marketing communications from us;
• when you use our services.

Data that is received from third parties

CAST will receive data about you from the following third parties:

• send in blue
• google analytics

Data that is collected automatically

To the extent that you access our website, we will collect your data automatically. For example:

• we automatically collect some information about your visit to the website. This information helps us to make improvements to website content and navigation, and includes your IP address, the date, times and frequency with which you access our website and the way you use and interact with its content.
• we will collect your data automatically via cookies, in line with the cookie settings on your browser. For more information about cookies and how we use them on the website, see the section below, headed 'Cookies'.

Our use of data

Any or all of the above data may be required by us from time to time in order to provide you with the best possible service and experience when using our website. Specifically, data may be used by us for the following reasons in each case, in accordance with this privacy policy:

• internal record keeping;
• improvement of our products/services;
• transmission by email of marketing materials that may be of interest to you;
• contact for market research purposes which may be done using email, telephone or mail. Such information may be used to customise or update our website.

We may use your data for the above purposes if we deem it necessary to do so for our legitimate interests. If you are not satisfied with this, you have the right to object in certain circumstances (see the section headed 'Your rights' below).

For the delivery of direct marketing to you via email, we will need your consent, whether via an opt-in or soft-opt-in:

• soft opt-in consent is a specific type of consent which applies when you have previously engaged with us (for example, you contact us to ask us for more details about a particular product/service, and we are marketing similar products/services). Under soft opt-in consent, we will take your consent as given unless you opt-out.
• for other types of e-marketing, we are required to obtain your explicit consent; that is, you need to take positive and affirmative action when consenting by, for example, checking a tick box that we will provide.
• if you are not satisfied about our approach to marketing, you have the right to withdraw consent at any time. To find out how to withdraw your consent, see the section headed 'Your rights' below.

When you register with us and set up an account to receive our services, the legal basis for this processing is the performance of a contract between you and us and/or taking steps, at your request, to enter into such a contract.

Who we share data with

We may share your data with the following groups of people for the following reasons, in each case, in accordance with this privacy policy.

• third party service providers who provide services to us which require the processing of personal data - to help third party service providers in receipt of any shared data to perform functions on our behalf to help ensure the website runs smoothly.

Keeping data secure

We will use technical and organisational measures to safeguard your data, for example:

• access to your account is controlled by a password and a user name that is unique to you.
• we store your data on secure servers.

We are certified to ISO 27001. This family of standards helps us manage your data and keep it secure.

Technical and organisational measures include measures to deal with any suspected data breach. If you suspect any misuse or loss or unauthorised access to your data, please let us know immediately by contacting us via email: southtyneside@assembly.org.uk

If you want detailed information from Get Safe Online on how to protect your information and your computers and devices against fraud, identity theft, viruses and many other online problems. Get Safe Online is supported by HM Government and leading businesses.

Data retention

Unless a longer retention period is required or permitted by law, we will only hold your data on our systems for the period necessary to fulfil the purposes outlined in this privacy policy or until you request that the data be deleted. Even if we delete your data, it may persist on backup or archival media for legal, tax or regulatory purposes.

Your rights

You have the following rights in relation to your data:

• right to access - the right to request (i) copies of the information we hold about you at any time, or (ii) that we modify, update or delete such information. If we provide you with access to the information we hold about you, we will not charge you for this, unless your request is 'manifestly unfounded or excessive'. Where we are legally permitted to do so, we may refuse your request. If we refuse your request, we will tell you the reasons why.
• right to correct - the right to have your Ddata rectified if it is inaccurate or incomplete.
• right to erase - the right to request that we delete or remove your data from our systems.
• right to restrict our use of your data - the right to 'block' us from using your data or limit the way in which we can use it.
• right to data portability - the right to request that we move, copy or transfer your data.
• right to object - the right to object to our use of your data including where we use it for our legitimate interests.

To make enquiries, exercise any of your rights set out above, or withdraw your consent to the processing of your data (where consent is our legal basis for processing your data), please contact us via this email address: southtyneside@assembly.org.uk

If you are not satisfied with the way a complaint you make in relation to your data is handled by us, you may be able to refer your complaint to the relevant data protection authority. For the UK, this is the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO). The ICO's contact details can be found on their website

It is important that the data we hold about you is accurate and current. Please keep us informed if your data changes during the period for which we hold it.

Links to other websites

This website may, from time to time, provide links to other websites. We have no control over such websites and are not responsible for the content of these websites. This privacy policy does not extend to your use of such websites. You are advised to read the privacy policy or statement of other websites prior to using them.

Changes of business ownership and control

CAST may, from time to time, expand or reduce our business and this may involve the sale and/or the transfer of control of all or part of CAST. Data provided by Users will, where it is relevant to any part of our business so transferred, be transferred along with that part and the new owner or newly controlling party will, under the terms of this privacy policy, be permitted to use the data for the purposes for which it was originally supplied to us.

We may also disclose data to a prospective purchaser of our business or any part of it. In the above instances, we will take steps with the aim of ensuring your privacy is protected.

Cookies

• This website may place and access certain cookies on your computer. CAST uses cookies to improve your experience of using our website. CAST has carefully chosen these cookies and has taken steps to ensure that your privacy is protected and respected at all times.
• All cookies used by this website are used in accordance with current UK and EU Cookie Law
• Before the website places cookies on your computer, you will be presented with a message bar requesting your consent to set those cookies. By giving your consent to the placing of cookies, you are enabling CAST to provide a better experience and service to you. You may, if you wish, deny consent to the placing of cookies; however certain features of our website may not function fully or as intended.

Cookies allow us to recognise and count the number of visitors and to see how visitors move around our website when they are using it. This helps us to improve the way our website works, for example, by ensuring that users are finding what they are looking for easily.

• You can find a list of cookies that we use in the Cookies schedule. You can choose to enable or disable cookies in your internet browser. By default, most internet browsers accept cookies but this can be changed. For further details, please consult the help menu in your internet browser.
• You can choose to delete Cookies at any time however you may lose any information that enables you to access our website more quickly and efficiently including, but not limited to, personalisation settings.
• It is recommended that you ensure that your internet browser is up-to-date and that you consult the help and guidance provided by the developer of your internet browser if you are unsure about adjusting your privacy settings.
• For more information generally on cookies, including how to disable them, please refer to aboutcookies.org 

General

• You may not transfer any of your rights under this privacy policy to any other person. We may transfer our rights under this privacy policy where we reasonably believe your rights will not be affected.
• If any court or competent authority finds that any provision of this privacy policy (or part of any provision) is invalid, illegal or unenforceable, that provision or part-provision will, to the extent required, be deemed to be deleted, and the validity and enforceability of the other provisions of this privacy policy will not be affected.
• Unless otherwise agreed, no delay, act or omission by a party in exercising any right or remedy will be deemed a waiver of that, or any other, right or remedy.
• This Agreement will be governed by and interpreted according to the law of England and Wales. All disputes arising under the Agreement will be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the English and Welsh courts.

Changes to this privacy policy

CAST reserves the right to change this privacy policy as we may deem necessary from time to time or as may be required by law. Any changes will be immediately posted on our website and you are deemed to have accepted the terms of the privacy policy on your first use of our website following the alterations. You may contact CAST by email at southtyneside@assembly.org.uk

Updated: 05 May 2020