Revenues and Benefits Privacy Notice

What we do

The council collects revenues, such as council tax and business rates, and issues benefits. We may share and match this information with other council teams or third parties working on our behalf to verify identity or residence in the borough and when supporting residents with financial hardship.

How we use your information

Fraud prevention

We regularly match your information against other data or share it with the anti-fraud team to detect or prevent fraud. This includes working with credit reference agencies and the National Fraud Initiative. We use AI (Artificial Intelligence) to detect and prevent fraud; this includes verifying evidence that you submit. 

Debt collection

We use debt collection companies (enforcement agents) and third-party data sources to find contact or employment details, to trace debtors and collect money owed to the council. We may match data from multiple sources to make sure we have the most accurate information. 

The council may share your information with other council departments or third parties. Information will only be shared among council services and other agencies, where we have a legal power or duty to do this. We also undertake general data matching and data sharing in certain areas for the prevention or detection of crime and collection of debt.

Service improvement

We may conduct research and ask for your feedback to improve our services.

Personal information we collect 

• Name
• Address and contact details
• Date of birth
• National Insurance number (NINo)
• Financial information
• Health/medical information (for council tax deductions or benefit claims)
• Equalities information
• Information from other agencies
• Criminal or prosecution information
• Housing information
• Employment information
• Information from current and previous local authorities
• Family or relationship information
• Property information
• Education information

Who we share your information with

We may share your information with the following, where legally permitted:

• Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)
• HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC)
• Police
• Judicial agencies (e.g. Courts)
• Legal representatives
• Council services
• Other local authorities
• Credit reference agencies
• Tracing services
• Government departments
• Housing providers
• Persons acting on your behalf (e.g. with power of attorney)
• Probation/Prison Services
• UK Border Agency
• Voluntary agencies/Third sector
• Companies that work on our behalf, such as Capita

Acting on your behalf

If someone is acting on your behalf, such as a relative with power of attorney or a support worker, we will confirm that you have authorised them before sharing your information.

Relevant legislation

• Council Tax: Local Government Finance Act 1992
• Business Rates (NNDR): Local Government Finance Act 1988
• Housing Benefit and Council Tax Support: Housing Benefit Regulations 2006, the Social Security Administration Act 1992, the Council Tax Reduction Schemes (Prescribed Requirements) (England)Regulations 2012 

Data retention

We keep your information for 10 years.