I looked at this recently, some further comments.
Members can process data as members of the Council or on behalf of a political party. Providing existing Council and Party notification covers this use there is no need to separately notify (watch out for independents).
However members can act on their own behalf so notification should at least be considered.
The ODPC is currently drafting guidelines on this very subject and I was able to get a draft copy from Phil Boyd (sorry, paper only).
An extract from this states:
"When councillors act on their own behalf, they are likely to have to notify in their own right. Examples include, the progressing of personal data in order to timetable surgery appointments or progress complaints made by local residents. When campaigning within their own political parties for adoption as a prospective candidate for a particular ward they also act as individuals and can only rely under the notification of their parties if as a matter of fact the parties control the manner and the purpose of the processing of personal data for the purpose of their individual campaigns"
The ODPC also pointed me to further detailed guidance available (for purchase) from the Improvement and Development Agency (IDeA).
It might be worthwhile remembering in all this that exemption from notification is available if all the data is in manual form and the use complies with the other requirements of the Act.
Hope this is of some use,
Tommy Kennedy
Data Protection Officer
South Ayrshire Council
>>> Data Protection Officer <[log in to unmask]> 09/27/00 11:20am >>>
Does each elected member need a separate DP notification?? Or is it
sufficient to ensure they are under our notification?
Fiona Campbell
DP Officer
Carlisle City Council
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