Privacy policy: comments, compliments and complaints

Why do we need your personal information?

If you contact the Council with comments, complaints or other feedback about our services the Customer Relations Team within Central Bedfordshire Council will use the information you provide to ensure you receive an appropriate.

How the law allows us to use your personal information

Our lawful basis for processing is that it is necessary for us to carry out our statutory responsibilities as a local authority or undertake a task in the public interest.

How the law allows us to use your ‘special category’ data

‘Special category data’ is information which reveals your racial or ethnic origin, political opinions, trade union membership, religious or philosophical beliefs, health or sexual orientation or genetic or biometric data. If you share this information with us it will be used on the basis of a substantial public interest (equality of opportunity or treatment) or if the information is part of your feedback it will be used on the basis of a substantial public interest (statutory and government purposes).

Who do we share your information with?

Where necessary your information will be shared with the relevant department(s) within Central Bedfordshire Council in order to allow us to investigate and respond to your feedback. Where services are provided by another organisation on our behalf your information may need to be shared with them.

We may also share your personal information with other third parties where it is lawful for us to do so. This may include, for example, sharing;

• in order to prevent or detect crime and fraud
• if there are serious risks to the public, our staff or to other professionals
• to protect a child or vulnerable adults

How long will information be kept?

Records of complaints that fall under the children’s act, including those that are referred to the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman, are retained for 100 years from the date of closure.

Records of complaints about adult social care services, including those that are referred to the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman, are retained for 10 years from the date of closure.

Records of all other complaints are retained for six years from the date of closure, unless they are referred to either the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman or the Housing Ombudsman. In those cases, records are retained for 10 years from the date of closure.

Comments and compliments are retained for three years from the date of closure.

For more information about how the Council uses your data, your rights and who to contact if you have any concerns please see the Council’s main privacy notice which can be found here.