How is my information used?

Your privacy is very important to Boston Borough Council.

Boston Borough Council is the Data Controller responsible for the personal information you may provide in relation to administering Business Rates.

Your data will be processed by Public Sector Partnership Services Ltd (PSPS), a company which is owned and controlled by Boston Borough, East Lindsey District and South Holland District Councils. 

We also use the services of other approved companies to help us deliver our service, including MRI Community Software Ltd (formerly Capita), Liberata Ltd, Destin Solutions Ltd, NEC Software Solutions UK Ltd (formerly Northgate), Critiqom Ltd and Goss Interactive Ltd.

Why we need your personal data

Your information will be used to administer and enforce Non-Domestic (Business) Rates. The legal basis for processing your data is our statutory obligation (per Article 6 (1(c)) of the General Data Protection Regulations, namely under the Local Government Finance Act 1988 and its associated regulations, as we are under a legal obligation to administer and collect Business Rates.

How your data is used

The council has a duty to protect the public funds it administers and may use information held about you for all lawful purposes, including, but not limited to,

• prevention and detection of fraud
• protecting public funds in investigating misuse of public money

The council participates in the National Fraud Initiative (NFI) data matching exercises. Non-Domestic (Business) Rates information may be provided to the Cabinet Office for NFI purposes and will be used for cross-system and cross-authority comparison for the prevention and detection of fraud.

We may also share this information with other bodies responsible for detecting and preventing fraud or auditing and administering public funds as required by law.

We may pass your information to other agencies or organisations such as HM Revenues and Customs, and debt enforcement agencies, as allowed by law.

We may check information you have provided or information about you that someone else has provided with other information we hold. Sources of information include landlords, letting agents, estate agents and other Councils.

We may also get information about you from certain third parties, or give them information to ensure the information is accurate and to prevent/detect crime and protect public funds. This includes Credit Reference Agencies, Solicitors, Police, HMRC and Land Registry.

We may share information with other organisations such as Citizen's Advice, where we have your consent and it is in your interest.

We will not disclose your personal information to third parties for marketing or sales purposes or for any commercial use, and we will not use your personal data in a way which may cause you harm.

How long the information is kept for

Business Rates began on 1 April 1990 and in some instances the amount of Business Rates that are payable can change from this date. Consequently in order that we are able to refund any money that is due, we keep the necessary records from this date.

How to contact us

We have a Data Protection Officer, who can be contacted if you have any questions about how we collect, store, or use personal data: 

• By phone: 01205 314368
• In writing: Municipal Building, West Street, Boston, Lincs, PE21 8QR

If you are not then satisfied you have a right to contact the Information Commissioner's Office.