Site Info

Website feedback

Each page on the website offers visitors the ability to feedback on if they found the page useful, or if it needs to be improved. Although we are unable to reply via these forms, we use the feedback to continually improve the site.

Cookies and web bugs

A cookie is information stored in a file placed on your computer’s hard disc through your web browser.  Your browser allows you to decide if you want to accept cookies or not.  There are two types: session cookies and persistent cookies.  Session cookies are temporary and are cleared out by your browser when it shuts down.  They are used to remember you as you interact with the site on a single visit.  Persistent cookies last for a longer period of time which depends on the lifetime of the cookie and is stored as part of the cookie file.  Typically they are used to remember information on a return visit.  A web bug is an invisible graphic on a web page which triggers behind-the-scenes activity when the page is loaded.  Other names for a web bug include a web beacon, a clear GIF or a 1x1 clear pixel.  Your browser does not control whether web bugs are triggered.  Typically web bugs are used together with cookies to monitor the usage of web pages.  Further explanation about cookies and web bugs is available from www.allaboutcookies.org This link will take you to an external website...

If it is essential for a cookie to be used we will explain why and say how long the cookie will remain valid.  No cookie placed by the council will contain personal information or card numbers and our cookies will not be used to collect such information from your computer.  Refusing to accept a cookie will not stop you visiting the council web site.

Session cookies

Session cookies are needed by our online forms and by the GIS (geographic information system) we use for interactive maps.  If your browser does not accept these session cookies, the forms and the maps on our site will not work properly.  We also use session cookies to monitor website usage.

Persistent cookies

Persistent cookies are used by some of our web forms to allow you to save a partly filled in form so you can return and complete it at a later time.  If you do not accept this cookie you will not be able to use this facility.  If you delete the cookie from your computer you will lose access to the partly filled form.

Third party cookies and web bugs

Socitm Insight

Socitm Insight is a research company which provides the council with visitor analysis and statistical services for our web site.  Web bugs and persistent cookies are used by our web site for this purpose.  These are third-party cookies because they do not originate from our web site.

For further information see the Socitm Insight website take-up survey privacy statement. This link will take you to an external website...

Google Analytics

We use Google Analytics to help analyse use of our web site. These cookies are used to collect information about how visitors use our site. We use the information to compile reports and to help us improve the site. The cookies collect information in an anonymous form, including the number of visitors to the site, where vistors have come to the site from and the pages they visited. For further information see Google Analytics' privacy statement This link will take you to an external website... .

How we use the information

The data collected may include IP address and browser type.  The information collected will not be used to identify you as a person.  The data is used to generate summary statistics and monitor the popularity of our site in general and the usage of individual pages.  We use the information to improve our site and service.

Web bugs

A Web bug is a graphic on a Web page or in an e-mail message designed to monitor who is reading the page or message. Web bugs are often invisible because they are typically only 1-by-1 pixels in size. In many ways they are similar to cookies but there is no facility in a browser to disable them.

Use of Java and/or ActiveX components

There may be pages on this site that use Java scripts or ActiveX elements to enhance their appearance or functionality.  The council appreciates that because it is possible to use these add-ins to make changes to the settings on a PC some users may have disabled them in their browser, or their office network may not allow them. If this is true for you then you may find that there are pages that may not display properly, or the interactive elements will not work for you.  We hope that this will not spoil your use of this site.