Terms and Disclaimer
Disclaimer and limitation of responsibility
Every effort is made to ensure that the content on this site is correct, up to date and relevant.
However we cannot accept responsibility for any loss, damage or inconvenience caused by your use of this site.
This site contains links to external sites. We are not responsible for information obtained from those sites.
We do not endorse any third party information, services, products or company.
Spam and Virus Protection
We do not send unsolicitated e-mail, or spam.
It is possible to fake, or spoof, the sender of an e-mail. There is nothing we can do to prevent this abuse of the internet.
We scan every e-mail going both in and out of the organisation for malicious or inappropriate code (i.e. viruses). Suspect messages and attachments will be blocked,
We do not accept liability for any inconvenience caused by the blocking of e-mail and attachments.
Online contact can be made with all departments via the contact forms designed for the purpose.
We cannot accept responsibility for any loss, disruption or damage to your data or your computer system from your use of this web site.
Privacy and Data Protection
Certain pages on our web site ask you for personal information - such as contact forms that ask for your name and e-mail address, or application forms that could go into far greater detail.
By supplying these details, you enable us to be more specific in responding to your needs: or to put it simply - 'you are helping us to help you'.
We act in accordance with current legislation and current Internet 'best practice' guidelines:
- We collect our information fairly, lawfully and for specific requested purposes only,
- Information is only for use within Scottish Borders Council - it will not be released to others without your consent unless we are obliged or permitted by law to disclose it.
- If you send or post offensive (or in any other way inappropriate) material to SBC, or otherwise engage in disruptive behaviour SBC can use whatever information is available about you to stop the behaviour. This may involve contacting relevant third parties.
All personal information supplied is held securely - in accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998:
You have a right to request a copy of all the personal information that SBC holds about you, and to have inaccuracies corrected.
More details on accessing your information and the Data Protection Act are available.
Use of cookies by Scottish Borders Council
When you visit web sites or open certain emails, your computer may be issued with a cookie. A cookie is a text file that is sent to your computer, which allows your computer (but not you) to be 'followed' as you move around the site. They can also add value by storing your preferences, or data that you may have submitted to the site before. More detailed information about cookies can be found at All about cookies.
We use cookies in the following way:
- to allow users to log in to the website
- to check that cookies can be set and therefore determine whether a user is able to log in
- to remember your preferences (specifically if you change the fonts and colours)
- to remember details when filling in some of our forms
Google Analytics
We use the Google Analytics product to carry out statistical analysis of our web site. It allows us to see:
- which pages are popular
- how long was spent reading a page
- which links on a page were used
This means we can find out which of our services are popular and which pages need improved.
We do not get any personal information and we cannot tell who was looking at our pages - only that they were looked at.
Google Analytics uses two cookies.
You can opt-out of Google analytics.
Freedom of Information
We subject to the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002, which is promoted and enforced by the Scottish Information Commissioner.
Please note that there is separate legislation for UK public authorities, and the Freedom of Information Act 2000 is enforced by the (UK) Information Commissioner.
From 1 January 2005, the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 introduces a new public right of access to information held by Scottish public authorities, including Scottish Borders Council
Freedom of Information encourages public authorities to publish more information proactively, and to develop a greater spirit of openness.
Scottish Borders Council aims to conduct business in an open and accountable way, and supports the principles of Freedom of Information legislation.
We will make as much council information as possible available here on the Council's web site.
More information about the Publication Scheme and using the FOI Act to request information is available.
Copyright and Intellectual Property
Text and Images
Names, images and logos identifying SBC are subject to copyright, and design rights.
The copyright of most of the information available throughout this web site belongs to the SBC. Unless otherwise stated, this information may be copied by you free of charge without obtaining formal permission, but only if it is produced accurately and not used in a misleading context or for commercial purposes, and provided you identify the source of the material and acknowledge the owner of the copyright.
However, the Council does not hold the copyright of all information on the web site.
Where the copyright holder is a third party (such as the Crown), you must get prior permission from the copyright holder before copying any material (including, but not limited to, maps, plans, reports etc.)
You must read and comply with any copyright notices contained in the pages or publications available via this web site.
Abusive or offensive communication
Members of the public are encouraged and welcomed to contact Scottish Borders Council. Scottish Borders Council aims to respond to each communication as quickly as possible.
However, all communications will be subject to scrutiny and the laws of Scotland and Scottish Borders Council will take action if it finds the material offensive or abusive in any way.
