Most residents assume that when they contact the Parish Council, their information is handled safely and professionally. Unfortunately, a basic check of the Parish Council’s website and email setup suggests that this may not be the case.
And that raises a very simple, very important question: Is your personal data actually safe?
The Council Website Is Not Secure
The Parish Council’s website does not use modern website security.
What this means in plain English:
- The website is marked “Not Secure” by web browsers
- Information sent to or downloaded from the site is not encrypted
- Documents could potentially be intercepted or altered
Checks show the website has not had proper security in place since around 2020.
For a public body in 2025, this is a basic failure.
Official Council Documents Are Shared Insecurely
Important documents such as:
- Meeting agendas and minutes
- Budgets and tenders
- Policies and consultation papers
are all delivered through this insecure website.
That means residents cannot be confident that:
- Files haven’t been changed
- Documents are authentic
- Information hasn’t been intercepted
This is not how public records should be handled.
Council Emails Are Not Properly Secured
Instead of using a secure council-wide email system, official business is conducted through standard Gmail accounts.
This creates serious risks:
- No central security controls
- No proper monitoring
- No guaranteed protection if an account is hacked
Most importantly, there is no enforced extra security step (called multi-factor authentication) that protects accounts even if passwords are stolen.
If one account is compromised, all emails stored in it are exposed.
What Data Could Be at Risk?
This isn’t theoretical. The council handles real, sensitive information, including:
- Emails sent by residents
- Consultation responses
- Freedom of Information requests
- Communications between councillors and staff
- Personal and governance-related data
Without proper security systems, residents cannot be confident that this information is protected.
This Has Been Going On for Years
This is not a recent mistake.
- The website has been insecure for several years
- No modern security improvements appear to have been made
- No clear evidence of regular digital checks
This points to ongoing neglect, not a one-off oversight.
Residents Pay for Professional Standards
The Parish Council’s staffing costs are close to £100,000 per year, funded entirely by residents through council tax.
That money is meant to pay for:
- Proper governance
- Compliance with the law
- Secure handling of public information
Basic digital security should be part of that – but currently, it isn’t.
So Again: Is Your Data Safe?
If the council cannot secure its website or email systems, residents are entitled to ask:
- Are personal emails safe?
- Are consultation responses protected?
- Are FOI requests secure?
Right now, there is no clear reassurance that they are.
Final Thought
Residents trust their Parish Council with personal information.
That trust depends on basic security and competence.
Until these issues are fixed, the question remains:
Is your personal data safe?
Right now, there is no clear answer – and that should concern everyone.
