The Planning Inspectorate- Wales

Guide to taking part in advertisement appeals

Appendix 2

Data Protection and Privacy in The Planning Inspectorate

Introduction

Under the Data Protection Act 1998 we have a legal duty to inform you about
and protect any information we collect from you.

When considering an advertisement appeal, the Inspector (or the Secretary of
State/National Assembly for Wales) receives a variety of personal information.

This information comes from a number of sources including:

The original advertisement application together with any documents
of support or objection;
The appeal form together with any further documentation of support
or objection.

In accordance with current statutory obligations most of the documentation
received will be made accessible to the public. Nevertheless, The Planning
Inspectorate as part of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister/National
Assembly for Wales recognises the importance of the privacy of individuals.
This chapter sets out what information we collect and how it will be used.

Data Protection

The Planning Inspectorate has put in place procedures to ensure that it
complies with the Data Protection Act 1998 when handling your personal
information.

In particular we will:

only use your personal information for the purpose of dealing with
and considering the relevant advertisement appeal;
only hold your personal information for as long as is reasonably
necessary. For completed advertisement appeals this is usually 12
months although we will retain a copy of the Inspector’s decision
indefinitely. It may be that personal information could form part of
the Inspector’s decision.

Who has access to your personal information?

The appeal papers will be open for inspection at the council’s offices and
anyone can view them.

Any person entitled to be notified of the decision in an inquiry case has a legal
right to apply to inspect the listed documents, photographs and plans within 6
weeks of the date of decision. Other requests to see the appeal documents will
not normally be refused.

In addition, when the electronic Planning Portal is available later this year, the
majority of personal information received will be placed on the Casework web
site [www.planningportal.gov.uk] and will be accessible worldwide by any
third party including individuals or organisations who have no direct interest in
the particular appeal.

What information do we collect?

When dealing with a planning appeal we could receive personal information
about you from a number of parties, including:

local planning authorities;
yourself;
other parties interested in the appeal.

The information we receive is varied but often includes:

details of your name, address and occupation;
information as to your health;
information relating to your opinions or intentions in respect of an
advertisement application/appeal.

What steps should you take?

Only provide personal information if you are happy for it to be placed
in the public domain;

Do not include personal information about another third party (including
family members) unless you have told the individual concerned and they are
happy for you to send it.

The Data Controller

The data controller (the organisation responsible for dealing with personal
information) is the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.

Your Rights to Access Personal Data

We have to provide you with a readable copy of the personal data that we keep
about you within 40 days. There is a statutory charge of £10. Evidence of
proof of your identity will be required. It is both in our interest and yours to
hold accurate data. If the data we hold is inaccurate in any way, then without
charge and where appropriate, you may have the data:

erased
rectified or amended
completed

For any enquiry or concern about our privacy policy, or to request access to
your personal data contact our Data Manager:

Alastair Grant
Data Manager
The Planning Inspectorate
Room 316 Eagle Wing
Temple Quay House
2, The Square
Bristol, BS1 6PN

Telephone: 0117 372 8922

Email: alastair.grant@planning-inspectorate.gsi.gov.uk

Related information about our Privacy policy is available on our web site at
www.planning-inspectorate.gov.uk at the section marked “Privacy
Statement”.