Privacy Policy

Who We Are

Yorkshire & Humber Drainage Boards (YHDB) is a public sector management group representing 8 Internal Drainage Boards (IDBs) across Yorkshire. Our registered address is:
Yorkshire & Humber Drainage Boards
24 Innovation Drive
Green Park
Newport
East Riding of Yorkshire
HU15 2FW
The individual Boards represented by YHDB are:

• Black Drain Drainage Board
• Cowick & Snaith Internal Drainage Board
• Danvm Drainage Commissioners
• Dempster Internal Drainage Board
• Ouse & Humber Drainage Board
• Rawcliffe Internal Drainage Board
• Reedness & Swinefleet Internal Drainage Board
• Vale of Pickering Internal Drainage Board

Each Board is an independent public authority. Where personal data is collected and processed in connection with a specific Board’s statutory functions, that Board acts as the Data Controller for that data. YHDB acts as Data Controller for data collected through this website and shared administrative functions.
For data protection enquiries, please contact Angela Larkin at info@yorkshirehumberdrainage.gov.uk

What This Policy Covers

This privacy policy explains how YHDB and the Boards it represents collect, use, store and share your personal data when you:

• Visit and use our website at yorkshirehumberdrainage.gov.uk
• Contact us by email, phone or post
• Submit a drainage consent application or related enquiry
• Are subject to land drainage rating (special levies or drainage rates)
• Attend a Board meeting or public consultation
• Apply for a job or tender opportunity with us

The Legal Basis for Processing Your Data

As public authorities, YHDB and its member Boards process personal data under the following lawful bases as set out in the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018:

• Public task – processing is necessary for the performance of a task carried out in the public interest or in the exercise of official authority. This applies to the majority of our statutory drainage functions, including flood risk management, land drainage rating, and watercourse maintenance.
• Legal obligation – processing is necessary to comply with a legal obligation, such as requirements under the Land Drainage Act 1991 or the Flood and Water Management Act 2010.
• Legitimate interests – for general website and communication functions where this does not override your rights.
• Consent – where we have specifically asked for your permission, for example when you sign up to receive news or updates from us.

What Personal Data We Collect

Depending on how you interact with us, we may collect the following categories of personal data:

• Contact and identity information
• Name, postal address, email address, telephone number.
• Land and property information
• Property ownership or occupancy details, land parcel references, and rating liability information held in connection with the Land Drainage Act 1991.
• Correspondence and enquiry records
• Details of any drainage consent applications, complaints, or general enquiries you submit to us.
• Website usage data
• IP address, browser type, pages visited, time and date of visit, referring website. This data is collected automatically via cookies and analytics tools (see Section 9).
• Employment and procurement data
• CVs, application forms, references, and related documentation where you apply for a role or tender opportunity with us.

How We Use Your Personal Data

We use your personal data for the following purposes:

• To administer and maintain drainage districts, watercourses, pumping stations, and flood risk infrastructure under our statutory duties
• To assess and process drainage consent applications
• To calculate, issue and collect land drainage rates and special levies under the Land Drainage Act 1991
• To respond to enquiries, complaints, and freedom of information requests
• To notify landowners and occupiers of planned maintenance activities or entry onto land
• To manage Board meetings, including the preparation of agendas and minutes
• To maintain our website and improve user experience
• To communicate with stakeholders, partner organisations, and the public about our work
• To assess job applications and manage the recruitment process

Who We Share Your Data With

We do not sell your personal data to third parties. We may share your data with:

Member Boards – where data is shared between YHDB and individual Boards for the purposes of delivering shared services or statutory functions
Local authorities and government bodies – including the Environment Agency, Natural England, and relevant local councils, where required by law or necessary to fulfil our public duties

External contractors and service providers – who carry out work on our behalf, such as maintenance contractors, IT support providers, and legal advisers. All third-party processors are bound by data processing agreements

Association of Drainage Authorities (ADA) – our professional membership body, where relevant to shared sector functions
Regulatory and law enforcement bodies – where we are legally required to disclose information

How Long We Keep Your Data

We retain personal data only for as long as necessary for the purpose for which it was collected, in line with our retention schedule and any statutory requirements. As a general guide:

Data TypeRetention PeriodGeneral correspondence and enquiries3 yearsDrainage consent applications10 yearsLand drainage rating recordsDuration of liability + 6 yearsBoard meeting minutes and agendasPermanent (public record)Job applications (unsuccessful)6 monthsWebsite analytics data26 months

Your Rights

Under UK GDPR you have the following rights in relation to your personal data:

• Right of access – you can request a copy of the personal data we hold about you
• Right to rectification – you can ask us to correct inaccurate or incomplete data
• Right to erasure – in certain circumstances you can ask us to delete your data
• Right to restriction – you can ask us to limit how we use your data in certain circumstances
• Right to object – you can object to processing based on public task or legitimate interests
• Right to data portability – where processing is based on consent or contract, you can request your data in a portable format

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at [insert contact email]. We will respond within one calendar month.
If you are unhappy with how we have handled your personal data, you have the right to lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO):

Information Commissioner’s Office
Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AF
Website: ico.org.uk
Helpline: 0303 123 1113

Cookies and Website Analytics

Our website uses cookies to help it function correctly and to understand how visitors use the site. We use Google Analytics to collect anonymised information about website traffic and usage patterns. This data does not identify you personally.

You can control cookie preferences through our cookie consent tool when you first visit the site, and you can change your preferences at any time. You can also manage cookies through your browser settings.

Security

We take the security of your personal data seriously. We maintain appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect your data against unauthorised access, loss, or disclosure. Where third parties process data on our behalf, we require them to maintain equivalent standards.

Changes to This Policy

We may update this privacy policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or legal requirements. The date at the top of this page indicates when it was last revised. We encourage you to review this policy periodically.

Contact Us

If you have any questions about this privacy policy or how we handle your personal data, please contact us:

Yorkshire & Humber Drainage Boards
24 Innovation Drive, Green Park, Newport, East Riding of Yorkshire, HU15 2FW

Email: info@yorkshirehumberdrainage.gov.uk
Telephone: 01430 430237