Access to your personal information
How to request access to your personal information, also known as a Subject Access Request (SAR), and asking for access to other people's information.
Everyone has right of access to their personal information.
Although the Council, as data controller, might hold your personal information, it still belongs to you.
The Data Protection Act 2018 and the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) regulates how your personal information is handled.
How to ask for access to your information
To access your information, you can complete the
subject access request (SARS) form [365KB]
and send it to us.
You do not need to use the form to tell us which information you want, but this helps you give us the correct details are given and lets us find your information as quickly as possible.
You must also provide us with copies of two types of identification:
- something that identifies you, like a passport or driving licence
- something that identifies where you live and where we will send the information - such as an up to date utility bill or rent book.
We ask you for this identification to protect your information and to make sure that no personal details go astray.
We will process your application for information within on calendar month of receiving your request.
We may ask you to clarify your request if it is too vague or general. If you have a complaint about the way in which your enquiry has been handled, you can refer this to the Council's Data Protection Officer (DPO) and if you remain dissatisfied you can then refer the matter to the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO).
Other people's information
Under the Data Protection Act 2018 and the UK GDPR, you do not have access to other people's information. You only have rights to your own information.
However, you do have other rights to information.
If you want information relating to your child's school records, you have the right to this under the Pupils' Educational Record (Scotland) Regulations 2003.
Ask at your child's school about this in the first instance. We are under an obligation to allow you access to these records within 15 school days of your written request.
Freedom of information (FOI) requests
If you are looking for any other information that you believe we hold, you can apply for this under the Freedom of Information (FOI) requests.
How we handle your information
More information about how we handle your information can be found in our privacy policy.
Subject Access Request Form
[365KB]
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