A cookie, also known as an HTTP cookie, web cookie, or browser cookie, is a piece of data stored by a website within your browser on your device, and then subsequently sent back to the same website by the browser. Cookies were designed to be a reliable mechanism for websites to remember things that you had done there in the past, which can include having clicked particular buttons, logging in, or having read pages on that site months or years ago.
Our use of cookies
We use cookies to store information about how you use our website (elmbridge.gov.uk), such as the pages you visit. We use two types of cookie (strictly necessary cookies and performance cookies).
How to set your preferences
You can choose which cookies you’re happy for us to use. You can set your cookie preferences by clicking the privacy notice button in the bottom right fo the screen.
Types of cookies we use
Strictly Necessary Cookies
These cookies cannot be disabled. These cookies are necessary for the website to function. They always need to be on. They are normally set in response to your interactions on the website e.g. logging in etc.
These are the details of the strictly necessary cookies we use:
- On login, our website uses the
wordpress_[hash]cookie to store authentication details. - After login, our website sets the
wordpress_logged_in_[hash]cookie. This indicates when you’re logged in and who you are.
Performance Cookies
These cookies allow us to monitor traffic to our website so we can improve the performance and content of our site. They help us to know which pages are the most and least popular and see how visitors move around the site. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. If you do not allow these cookies we will not know when you have visited or how you navigated around our website.
These are the details of the performance cookies we use:
- _ga
This cookie is used by Google Analytics to distinguish users. It expires after 2 years. - _gat
This cookie is used by Google Analytics to throttle request rate. It expires after 1 minute. - _gid
This cookie is used by Google Analytics to distinguish users. It expires afters 24 hours.
Links to other websites
When we include links to other websites, they will have their own privacy and cookie policies that will govern the use of any information you submit. We recommend you read their policies as Elmbridge Borough Council is not responsible or liable for their privacy practices.
Further information
- AboutCookies.org to learn more about cookies.
- Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) for guidance on the use of personal information.