Privacy

View the Surrey Heath Borough Council privacy notices.

Local Government Reorganisation privacy notice

The government has confirmed plans for local government reorganisation in Surrey, announcing that two new unitary councils will replace the existing 12 councils in April 2027.

The creation of two unitary councils, East Surrey Council and West Surrey Council, means that from April 2027 West Surrey Council will replace the current areas covered by Surrey Heath, Spelthorne, Runnymede, Woking, Guildford and Waverley district councils.

Local Government Reorganisation is a complex process and there will be a period of transition to allow for services and support systems to be securely transferred.

During this time existing arrangements for data processing will be maintained until they can be reviewed, and new Privacy Notices issued.

Any personal data processed by SHBC in accordance with its functions will continue to be processed from 1 April 2027 by West Surrey Council.  If members or employees of the West Surrey Shadow Authority request personal data from SHBC relating to Surrey Heath residents before 1 April 2027, SHBC may, if it is permitted by law, disclose any such personal data in accordance with the relevant statutory pathways.

The reasons why we use your personal data

This privacy notice describes how we may use your information in relation to Devolution and Local Government Reorganisation (LGR).

What processing of personal data is undertaken by the Council

Your personal data may be processed for the purposes of:

  • carrying out our statutory responsibilities under the different legislative frameworks
  • consultation and engagement virtual and in person events
  • monitoring the demographic makeup of consultation respondents to ensure any consultation is inclusive and accessible to all

In addition, we may collect your personal data for the following:

  • service delivery
  • service improvement and planning
  • research
  • statistical analysis and reporting

What information do we collect?

  • name, address, contact details, opinions and expressions, gender, age, disability status, ethnicity

This list will be updated as and when the LGR Implementation Plan is finalised.

How we are allowed to use your personal data

  • Local Government Act 1972
  • Council Tax Administration and Enforcement Regulations 1992
  • Non-Domestic Rating (Collection and Enforcement) (Local Lists) Regulations 1989
  • Local Government and Housing Act 1989
  • Local Government Act 2000
  • Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007
  • Localism Act 2011
  • Digital Economy Act 2017
  • Surrey Structural Changes Order 2026
  • Data Protection Act 2018
  • UK General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) Article 6(1)(e) – processing is necessary for the performance of a task carried out in the public interest or in the exercise of official authority

Whereby consent is required to use your personal data, you have the right to remove it at any time. Where consent is required to process your personal data, we will explain to you what we are asking you to agree to and why. If you want to remove your consent, please contact us at the following email address data.protection@surreyheath.gov.uk and we will process your request.

Who we may share your personal data with:

  • Surrey County Council
  • Districts and boroughs
  • Government departments
  • Shadow Unitary Authorities

Retention of data

Data will be retained in accordance with the councils Records Retention policy.