This page contains information on the following topics:

• Our web site disclaimer and limitation of responsibility,
• Spam and Virus Protection,
• Privacy and Data Protection,
• Freedom of Information,
• Copyright and Intellectual Property.

Disclaimer and Limitation of Responsibility

Every effort is made by each department of SBC to ensure that the content they supply is:

• correct,
• up to date and relevant.

However SBC cannot accept responsibility for any loss, damage or inconvenience caused by your use of this web site.

This web site contains links to sites external to www.scotborders.gov.uk - sites that are out with our control. We are not responsible for information obtained from those sites.

SBC does not endorse any third party information, services, products or company.

Spam and Virus Protection

SBC does not send unsolicitated e-mail, or spam.

E-mails from SBC will only be the result of your prior contact.

We do not maintain any mass e-mailing lists containing addresses of people outwith the organisation.

It is possible to fake, or spoof, the sender of an e-mail. There is nothing SBC can do to prevent this abuse of the internet.

SBC scans 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.

SBC does not accept liability for any inconvienience 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 SBC to be more specific in responding to your needs: or to put it simply - 'you are helping us to help you'.

SBC acts 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 SBC - 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.

When you visit some web sites, 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.

At present we do not use cookies to track our visitors, but we do use a cookie to remember your preferences (specifically if you change from the standard style sheet to the 'text-only' stylesheet).

Freedom of Information (F.O.I.)

SBC is 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 SBC

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:

• Freedom of Information within Scottish Borders Council,
• the Publication Scheme,
• and using the FOI Act to request information,

is available.

Copyright and Intellectual Property (I.P.)

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.

Names, images and logos identifying SBC are subject to copyright, and design rights.

Maps

All map images on this site are either derived or reproduced from Ordnance Survey mapping with the permission of the Controller of Her Majesty's Stationery Office © Crown Copyright. Unauthorised reproduction infringes Crown Copyright and may lead to prosecution or civil proceedings. Scottish Borders Council Licence Number 100023423, 2010.

If you would like to use any of these maps you will need to contact both:

• Ordnance Survey for advice: enquiries can be made at their web site, and
• Scottish Borders Council