Cookies are small text files that websites save to your computer to remember which pages your device has visited and sometimes what actions you took while on the page.
- Why are cookies used?
- Types of cookies
- What are the regulations about cookies?
- How does Chichester District Council use cookies?
- How to manage your cookies
- How cookies are used on our website
Why are cookies used?
In some cases the site would not work without cookies, for example where you have to log on to an account or complete a multi-page form. In other cases cookies can be used to personalise your experience, for example not showing the same advert over and over again. In still other cases, they are used to help the people looking after the website to understand how it is being used so they can constantly improve it.
Other methods are available besides cookies for websites to store information on your browser. Currently Chichester District Council does not use any of these other methods. In this page the word "cookie" should be taken to include all such methods.
For more information, visit the Information Commissioner's Office webpage on cookies.
Types of cookies
Session cookies
These cookies are used by our site to link the actions of a user between webpages, they're often used for tracking things such as what has been put in your shopping basket as you browse, for security when using online banking, and for collecting anonymous information to use in analytics. These cookies are deleted at the end of your session, when you close your internet browser.
Persistent cookies
These cookies on the other hand, remain on your computer for far longer as they are not deleted when the browser session ends, they generally remain for between 24 hours and 1 month, but some can last much longer. These are often used to remember a user's preferences or to target advertising.
First and Third party cookies
These refer to the website who places the cookie;
- First party cookies are set by the operator of the website that the user is visiting.
- Third party cookies are set by a domain other than the one that the user is visiting, often these relate to embedded content such as videos or social media posts.
What are the regulations about cookies?
Since May 2018, all websites operating within the EU have been required to obtain your consent to save cookies on your device. This website, in common with most others, uses "implied consent", which the regulations allow. This means we show you a clearly worded and visible notice requesting your consent but pointing out that we will assume we have your consent if you ignore it. We stop showing you this notice after you consent or after you have seen it and ignored it three times. If you do not consent, please view further information on how to manage your cookies.
Why are people concerned about cookies?
When you visit a website, cookies can be set by the owner of the site but also by other content providers whose information is included. Some of those providers may track your activities from site to site in order to build up a picture of your interests and, for example, customise advertisements you are shown. Some people regard this as a benefit; others regard it as an intrusion on privacy.
How does Chichester District Council use cookies?
Some cookies are essential to the working of the site, for example linking your log-in with the information you have entered on forms. Most of these are deleted as soon as you close your browser. Others last for longer so you can carry on filling in information when you return.
Cookies are also used to improve your visit to the site, for example by remembering map searches you have or the last advert you saw so we can show you a new one each time.
We also use Google Analytics cookies to gather statistical data about which pages are most visited and how people use the site. This helps us make the site more effective but you should know that information gathered this way is processed by Google and we have no control over how else it might be used.
Service provider cookies
In common with most other councils, Chichester District Council uses other providers to deliver services. When you visit those providers' websites and they collect information from you on our behalf, the information passed back to us is subject to our privacy policy but the process of gathering it will also be subject to their own privacy and cookie policies. They will set cookies for the same reasons we do.
The service providers we currently use are:
- Capita for secure payments
- Chipside Ltd for parking charges
- Modern.gov for information and documents relating to the council's decision making processes
- Northgate Public Services for revenues and benefits
- PortalPlanQuest for planning matters
- Sussex Homemove for housing applications
Note that we do not allow advertisers on our site to set cookies. For further information please visit our service provider websites.
How to manage your cookies
There are various ways in which you can control which cookies are sent to your device. The settings in your web browser will usually allow you to:
- delete all cookies;
- block all cookies;
- allow all cookies;
- block 'third-party' cookies (ie, cookies set by online services other than the one you are visiting);
- clear all cookies when you close the browser;
- open a 'private browsing' / 'incognito' session, which allows you to browse the web without recording your browsing history or storing local data such as cookies (you should however be aware of the limitations of this feature in a privacy context); and
- install add-ons and plugins that extend browser functionality.
How cookies are used on our website
Google analytics
We use Google Analytics software to collect information about how you use our website. We do this to help make sure the site is meeting the needs of its users and to help us make improvements, for example improving site search.
Google Analytics stores information about:
- the pages you visit on our website.
- how long you spend on each website page
- how you got to the site
- what you click on while you're visiting the site
We do not collect or store your personal information (for example your name or address) so this information can't be used to identify who you are.
| Name | Purpose | Expires |
|---|---|---|
| _ga | Google analytics - used to distinguish users. | 2 years |
| _gat | Google analytics - used to throttle request rate. If Google Analytics is deployed via Google Tag Manager | 1 minute |
| _gid | Google analytics - used to distinguish users. | 24 hours |
You can opt out of Google Analytics cookies .
Our website banner and alert boxes
We might display a message on all pages to tell you about an important event or situation. We'll save a cookie that will let us know how many times you've seen it, or if you've dismissed it.
| Name | Purpose | Expires |
|---|---|---|
| SiteAlert | Records a customer has closed site-wide alert box | At end of session |
| Chichester_Cookie_Consent | Displays the cookie notice and removes it if closed | After 6 months |
| ChichAdvertID | Displays a sequenced order of banner advertisements | After 30 days |
GOSS eforms
| Name | Purpose | Expires |
|---|---|---|
| goss-formsservice-clientid | Essential session variable for eforms | At end of Session |
| clientvars | Essential session variable for eforms | At end of Session |
Toplevel eforms
| Name | Purpose | Expires |
|---|---|---|
| OFSessionHash | Essential session variable for eforms | At end of Session |
Chatbot
| Name | Purpose | Expires |
|---|---|---|
| ARRAffinitySameSite | Displays Max Chatbot | At end of Session |
Website mapping
| Name | Purpose | Expires |
|---|---|---|
| ASP.NET_SessionId | Random string identifying browsing session to server | When user exits browser |
| astun | Version number of Astun iShare web application | After 30 days |
| astun:baseMap | Identifier for most recently selected base map in My Maps | After one month |
| astun:currentLocation | Most recently set address and its coordinates | After 30 days |
| astun:mapSource | Identifier for map overlay configuration in My Maps | After one month |
| astun:mapView | Location and extents of the most recent view of the map in My Maps | After one month |
| astun:panelsAccordionStatus | Number identifying last opened panel in My Nearest | After 30 days |
| astun:panelsCollapseStatus | IDs of collapsed panels in My Maps | After 30 days |
| astun:previousLocation | Address and its coordinates of last location in My Maps | After one month |
| astun:rLayers_[profile_identifier] | The list of layers currently added to the Map Categories panel for a given profile (e.g. ORGANISATION_mapsource) | After one month |
| astun:vLyrs_ish_[profile_identifier] | Layers turned on in My Maps for a given profile (e.g. ORGANISATION_mapsource) | After one month |
| atMyCouncil | Identifier of most recent tab visited by user and changes to visibility of panels in My House and My Nearest | After one month |
| atLocation | Most recently set address and its coordinates | After 30 days |
| astun:layerPanelOpenGroups | Layer group expanded in panel in My Maps | After one month |
| myAlerts | Encrypted user logon details | After 90 days |
Siteimprove
| Name | Purpose | Expires |
|---|---|---|
| AWSELBCORS | Analytics | At end of Session |
| __cfduid | Analytics | 1 year |
| nmstat | Analytics | 2 years |