Renfrewshire Council

Cookie policy

A cookie is a small file, typically of letters and numbers, downloaded on to a device when the user accesses certain websites. Cookies are then sent back to the originating website on each subsequent visit. Cookies are useful because they allow a website to recognise a user's device.

Law relating to web cookies

On 26 May 2012, European law relating to use of web cookies came into force in the UK that affected most web sites. The rules on cookies are covered by The Privacy and Electronic Communications (EC Directive) Regulations 2003 and The Privacy and Electronic Communications (EC Directive) (Amendment) Regulations 2011.

The European Data Protection Regulation (EU) 2016/679 (General Data Protection Regulation) came into force on May 25th, 2018 in all EU member states to harmonize data privacy laws across Europe.

The ICO is responsible for enforcing these rules.


Types of cookies

There are broadly four types of cookies that might be stored on your device when visiting our website.

  • Strictly necessary cookies: Cookies that make our website work properly for you and enable you to make use of the secure online services that we provide;
  • Analytical / performance cookies: Cookies that collect data about your use of the website which is then anonymised and used to help us improve our online services;
  • Advertising & remarketing cookies: Depending on the pages that you have visited on our website, the cookie may trigger advertising on third-party websites.
  • Third-party cookies: Cookies that are placed by third party services we make use of to enhance the information we present online. We have no control over these third-party cookies

Some cookies are retained in your browser only if you visit our website, while others persist for a longer specified or unspecified period.


Strictly necessary cookies

These are cookies that are required for the operation of our website. They include, for example, cookies that enable you to log into secure areas of our website or save your preferences.

CookieControl

  • Purpose: This cookie is used to remember a user's choice about cookies. Where users have previously indicated a preference, that user's preference will be stored in this cookie.
  • Expiry: The cookie will remember you cookie preference for a period of 3 months and then deleted.

JSESSIONID

  • Purpose: This strictly necessary cookie is used by the site's server computer to manage your browser's session with our website.
  • Expiry: This is a session cookie and is deleted when you close your browser.

formsDesignerPanelWidth

  • Purpose: This cookie is only used internally and is part of our Content Management System (GOSS ICM) to manage online forms.

Analytical / Performance Cookies

These cookies allow us to recognise and count the number of visitors and to see how visitors move around our website when they are using it. This helps us to improve the way our website works, for example, by ensuring that users are finding what they are looking for easily.

Google Analytics

We use Google Analytics Cookies to compile visitor statistics such as how many people have visited our website, what type of technology they are using (e.g. Mac or Windows which helps to identify when our site isn't working as it should for specific technologies), how long they spend on the site, what page they look at etc. This helps us to continuously improve our website. These cookies also tell us, on an anonymous basis, how people reached this site (e.g. from a search engine) and whether they have been here before.

List of cookies: _ga, _gid

You can opt-out of having your anonymised browsing history within our website recorded by analytics cookies. You can learn more about their privacy policy and how to opt-out of their analytics cookies by clicking on following links:


Advertising & Remarketing Cookies

These cookies are used to assist with delivering tailored online advertising on other websites. For example, you could see an ad on other websites based on what you've viewed on www.renfrewshire.gov.uk.

We don't use any tracking pixels and advertising/remarketing cookies on www.renfrewshire.gov.uk.


Third-party cookies

Third-party cookies are not set directly by our website, but in certain circumstances may be initiated by third-party service providers. Renfrewshire Council does not control the dissemination of these cookies on www.renfrewshire.gov.uk.

Social media & networking websites

We provide access to content and sharing options from social media and networking websites, such as YouTube, Twitter and others, which may set cookies that the council does not control. 

List of cookies: _atssc, _atuvc, _atuvs, eu_cn, external_referer, _guest_id, loc, ouid, na_id, na_tc, personalization_id, ssc, tfw_exp, uid, uvc

Please check with these third-party websites to see how your information is used.


How do I disable cookies?

You can restrict or block cookies which are set during your use of the website by changing your browser's settings. Some pages may not work if you completely disable cookies, but many third-party cookies can be safely blocked.

Check information in your browser's help section for specific instructions on how to manage cookies. Alternatively, websites such as All About Cookies provide comprehensive guidance on managing cookies.

If you want to disable cookies, you need to change your website browser settings. How to do this will depend on the browser you use and the information below shows you how to disable cookies for the most popular browsers:

Apple Safari

Choose the "Safari" menu then "Preferences". Click on the "Privacy" tab. Select the appropriate setting then close the Preferences panel to commit the setting.

  1. Open the Safari menu by clicking on the Gear icon
  2. Select "Preferences"
  3. Select the "Privacy" tab
  4. Select the option "Always" for the setting "Block cookies"
  5. Close the dialog box to confirm the changes

See how to manage cookies on Apple Safari

Google Chrome

  1. Open the Tools menu by clicking on the Wrench icon
  2. Select "Options"
  3. Select "Under the Bonnet"
  4. Select "Content settings"
  5. Select "Block sites from setting any date"

See how to manage cookies on Google Chrome

Microsoft Internet Explorer

  1. Select Tools
  2. Select Internet Options
  3. Select the Privacy tab and choose Advanced Options button
  4. Check the Override Automatic Cookie Handling tick box
  5. Disable the First Party cookies by choosing the Block option
  6. Disable the Third-Party cookies by choosing the Block option
  7. Uncheck the option to 'Always allow session cookies'
  8. Click on OK to confirm changes

See how to manage cookies on Internet Explorer

Mozilla Firefox

  1. Select the "Firefox" menu
  2. Select "Options"
  3. Select the "Privacy" tab
  4. Under "History", select "Use custom settings for history" from the dropdown list
  5. Uncheck the option "Accept cookies from sites"
  6. Click on OK to confirm the changes

See how to manage cookies on Mozilla Firefox

Opera 6.0 and others

  1. Click on 'Setting' at the browser menu and select 'Settings'
  2. Select 'Quick Preferences'
  3. To disable cookies: uncheck "Enable Cookies"
  4. To enable cookies: check "Enable Cookies"
  5. Note there are various levels of cookie enablement and disablement in Opera.