Privacy notices: Council tax and benefits

List of all privacy notices for Council tax and benefits.

Single person discount review: Privacy notice

The single person discount review is a review of selected single person discount reductions on council tax accounts at the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead. This review will be carried out by the Counter Fraud and Enforcement Unit (CEFU) who work in partnership with a number of local authorities.   

Who we are

Counter Fraud and Enforcement Unit 
C/O Cheltenham Borough Council
Municipal Offices
Promenade
Cheltenham
GL50 9SA 
Email : cfeu@rbwm.gov.uk

Lawful basis for processing information

General Data Protection Regulation 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 vested in the controller. 

The legislation governing Council Tax is the Local Government Finance Act 1992. 

How we collect information

Personal data for the Single Personal Discount Review is collected from you by e-mail to the CFEU RBWM e-mail address, or in writing to the CFEU address in Cheltenham. 

What information is collected

The type of information collected relates to the occupants of properties over the age of 18 or persons who use the property as a correspondence address. The information is: name(s); address; date of occupation of the property; date of birth; telephone number and email address; correspondence address; details of any circumstances leading to a disregard discount.

How we use the information provided

All information held by Revenues & Benefits is used to: 

  • maintain the property database for both Council Tax and Business Rates and to 
  • calculate liability and charges for Council Tax and Business Rates 
  • collect monies for Council Tax and business Rates under the Local Government Finance Act 1992. 

Who has access to the information about you

Information is shared with the following departments within the council:

  • The Council Tax and Business Rates department, Debt Recovery and Benefits Department in order to determine correct liability and charges for payment of Council Tax and Business Rates. 
  • The Audit department to check of procedures and processes. 
  • The Counter Fraud and Enforcement Unit (CFEU) for the investigation and prevention of fraudulent claims for any discounts or exemptions. 
  • The Customer Service Team; 
  • Electoral Registration- to determine electors’ eligibility to register to vote at an address. 
  • IT services- for technical and system maintenance. 

Who we may share your information with

Under statutory duties or as required by law information is shared with the Department for Work and Pensions, the Police, the Serious Fraud Office, HM Customs & Excise and the Valuation Office Agency. Information is also shared with the Audit Commission as part of the National Fraud Initiative.

We engage the services of our Counter Fraud and Enforcement Team (CEFU), to help us carry out our reviews of single person discounts. CEFU will review the data matches presented by the National Fraud Initiative (NFI), operated by the Cabinet office to select accounts for review. This is done on our behalf, before CEFU then write to those residents selected for review and ask you to confirm your current single person status.

How long we store your information

Information is stored for seven years. 

Does your service utilise automated decision making? – No.