Revenue collection privacy notice

How the revenue collection service works

Who we are 

As a billing authority for Barking and Dagenham, we collect, process and store personal information about you in order to administer and enforce the collection of revenue for the following:

  • Council Tax
  • business rates
  • sundry debt (general income)
  • housing benefit overpayment

We also use the data in our databases for other purposes, including the performance of our statutory enforcement duties and the prevention and detection of fraud.

This privacy notice informs you about how we use your information. 

What personal information we collect

As part of the Council Tax billing and collection process, we will collect data about you and members of your household where appropriate. You will usually have to pay Council Tax if you are aged over 18 years and own or rent a home.

The personal information we collect includes:

  • name 
  • current address
  • re-addresses if different
  • details of occupancy/lease/freehold interest in the property
  • contact details such as telephone number, email address 
  • certain income details
  • household make up in order to accurately apply relevant discounts, exemptions and disregard, and other relevant information

We will use this data to process your application and may check some of the information with other sources to ensure this data is accurate.

Who is processing your data

The Data Controller for the information outlined in this privacy notice is The London Borough of Barking and Dagenham.

Elevate East London Ltd is the Data Processor who processes your information on behalf of the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham.

How we will use the information we hold about you

We will collect information about you (where applicable):

  • to meet our legal obligation to levy and collect taxes
  • in the administration of Council Tax by setting up your account for billing purposes, processing discounts and exemptions
  • to process your application for Council Tax exemptions or discounts
  • where the processing is necessary to comply with legal obligations, for example the prevention and/or detection of crime including fraud
  • to protect public funds
  • when the information will be used for the purpose of performing any of our statutory enforcement duties

Automated decision-making

Revenue and Collections will never make automated decisions using your data.

In order to improve the services we provide to residents, we use your information in different ways, this is known as data analytics. We bring together information from a range of services and sometimes partner organisations to understand more about the needs of those living in the borough.

To find out more about how we use information for data and predictive analytics please visit our General Privacy Notice

Lawful basis for us to process your data

We have a lawful reason to process your information.  As such we will process your personal information under the following lawful basis.

Article 6, 1(e) public task Processing is necessary for the performance of a task carried out in the public interest or in the exercise of official authority vested in the controller.
Article 6, 1 legal obligation Processing is necessary for compliance with a legal obligation to which the controller is subject. 
Article 9, 2(g) special categories Processing is necessary for reasons of substantial public interest, on the basis. 

The legislation that requires local authorities to collect and administer revenue collection from its residents are:

Who we share your information with  

We will share information with agencies in accordance with the prevailing Data Protection statute for the detection, prevention and prosecution of fraud and criminal activity. Examples are:

  • other council departments
  • Department for Work and Pensions
  • HM Revenues and Customs
  • the Police
  • health and social care organisations
  • environmental health section for The London Borough of Barking and Dagenham for homes in multiple occupation
  • for the purpose of performing any of our statutory enforcement duties
  • to make any disclosures required by law
  • other bodies responsible for detecting or preventing fraud or auditing or administering public funds
  • other organisations who handle public funds and assist in the processing of other benefits

On occasions, your information may be accessed by contracted IT support organisations in the delivery of IT support for both the IT infrastructure and associated systems, for the processes detailed in this privacy notice. Access by IT support will only be for such reasons as fixing any technical issues with software, and any viewing of data will be incidental to this.

We will not share your information with organisations unless there is a legal gateway to do so. However, there may be certain circumstances where we would share without your consent, such as where we are required to do so by law, to safeguard public safety, and in risk of harm or emergency situations. Otherwise outside of the conditions stated, we will only share your information as detailed where you have provided your written consent to do so.

How long we keep your personal information

We will only keep your information for the minimum period necessary. The information outlined in this privacy notice will be kept for the period required by us for legal and audit purposes.  Information identified for destruction will be securely destroyed, in line with data protection legislation.  

Providing accurate information

It is important that we hold accurate and up to date information about you in order to assess your needs and deliver the appropriate services. If any of your details have changed, or change in the future, please ensure that you tell us as soon as possible so that we can update your records.

Your rights

The General Data Protection provides you with certain rights in relation to your personal information.  To learn more about your rights, please see our General privacy notice.

You also have a right to make a complaint about our handling of your personal data to the Information Commissioner's Office.

Further information

If you have any questions or concerns about how your information is used, please contact the Revenues and Benefits Service - Council Tax Team using our online form in the first instance. You can also contact the Data Protection Officer, dpo@lbbd.gov.uk