How we handle your data.

The short version

Council Clarity is a free civic transparency platform. We collect the minimum data needed to run the service. We do not sell your data. We do not run advertising. Messages you send to councillors are public by design.

What we collect

Depending on how you use the site, we may store:

• Your email address — if you subscribe to the newsletter or sign up for an account.
• Your account details — name, postcode, and ward if you create a profile. Postcode and ward are optional and used only to match you to local councillors and decisions.
• Messages and threads you post — anything you send to a councillor or publish as a comment.
• Basic usage analytics — page views and aggregate traffic data so we can see what people read. We do not build advertising profiles.

Messages to councillors are public

Public accountability is the whole point of the platform. When you write to a councillor through this site, the message becomes a public thread attached to their profile. Other residents can follow the thread and see whether the councillor replied.

If you need to send a private message, email the councillor directly instead.

Cookies

We use a small number of cookies. Essential cookies keep you signed in and remember your cookie preference. If you accept analytics cookies, we also measure aggregate page views to understand what’s useful.

You can accept or decline optional cookies from the banner shown on your first visit, and change your mind any time by clearing your browser storage for this site.

Where your data is stored

Your data is stored in a Supabase database hosted in Ireland (EU region). Emails are sent via Resend, and the site itself runs on Vercel’s edge network. No personal data is transferred outside the UK or EU.

AI and public council documents

We use AI models to read public council documents (agendas, minutes, committee papers, FOI responses) and turn them into plain-English summaries. Those documents are already public record — no private resident data is sent to AI providers as part of this process.

AI summaries can contain mistakes. Every summary links back to the original source document so you can verify for yourself.

Your rights under UK GDPR

You can ask us to:

• Send you a copy of all the data we hold about you (access).
• Correct anything that’s wrong.
• Delete your account and associated data (erasure).
• Export your data in a portable format.
• Object to specific uses of your data.

To exercise any of these rights, email hello@councilclarity.com. We aim to respond within 30 days. You also have the right to complain to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) if you think we’ve mishandled your data.

What we don’t do

• We do not sell your data to third parties.
• We do not run advertising on the site.
• We do not share your data with political parties or the council.
• We do not track you across other websites.

Data controller

Council Clarity is the data controller for the information we hold. Questions, corrections, or data requests: hello@councilclarity.com.

Changes to this policy

If we make significant changes, we’ll notify registered users by email. The latest version is always on this page.