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Regent Funeral Services - Council as a processor Privacy Notice

Who we are and what we do 

Regent Funeral Services (Regent) is a company whose shares are wholly owned by Gateshead Council. As such, the Council is a data processor for all data supplied to Regent in the course of its operations, including data about the users of its services, and Regent is the Data Controller.

This privacy notice provides you, as a user of Regent's services, with specific information about how Gateshead Council processes your personal data as a Data Processor acting on the instructions of Regent. You should refer to the data controller's own privacy information.

What type of information is collected about you  

  • name and address of next of kin and professionals linked to the deceased and customer booking the service  

  • the religious category of the burial or cremation event  

  • payment records  

How we collect information about you 

Regent collects your information and we process it on the company's behalf by providing electronic storage systems and technical support for those systems. 

Why we need your information 

Our purpose for collecting your personal data and the lawful basis for our processing is determined by Regent as the Data Controller. The Controller's lawful basis for processing data is:

  • performance of a contract to which data subject is party 

  • legal obligation to which the Data Controller is subject - burials and cremations 

  • task in the public interest   

The controller's lawful basis for processing of sensitive personal data is: 

  • reasons of substantial public interest (with a basis in law) 

Who your information can be shared with 

Where we are acting as a Data Processor we only share your information with third parties if it is instructed by the Data Controller.

How long we will keep your information 

We keep your information for as long as we need in order to provide the services to the Data Controller. This will differ depending on the services you receive. We may also need to keep your information in accordance with legal or other obligations. Where we have no need to keep your data it will be securely destroyed. We have Record of Processing Activity (a requirement under the GDPR) which sets out the specific retention periods applicable in different circumstances. For more information about this please contact  

Where your information is held 

Electronic records are held on Gateshead Council computer servers. We also use BACAS a cloud-based system in UK data centres provided by Clear Skies Software. No information is stored outside the UK data control area. 

How you can update your information 

The accuracy of your information is important to us to be able to provide relevant services more quickly. If you change your address or email address, or if any of your circumstances change or any of the other information we hold is out of date, please contact Bereavement Services at Gateshead Council on 0191 433 3000. 

Your information rights 

Please see the relevant section of our Corporate privacy notice

Marketing and e-newsletters 

The data controller determines the purpose of processing, please refer to their privacy notice.

Business intelligence, profiling and automated-decision making 

The data controller determines the purpose of processing, please refer to their privacy notice. 

Protecting your information 

Please see the relevant section of our Corporate privacy notice.  

Data Protection Officer 

Data Protection Officer 

Civic Centre 

Regent Street 

Gateshead 

NE8 1HH 

DPOcouncil@gateshead.gov.uk 

0191 433 3000 

Information Commissioner's Office 

The Information Commissioner is the UK's independent body set up to uphold information rights. 

If you would like to know more about your rights under the Data Protection law, and what you should expect from us, visit the Information Commissioner's website

If you have any concerns regarding our privacy practices or about exercising your Data Protection rights, you may contact the Information Commissioner's Office: 

Information Commissioner's Office 

Wycliffe House 

Water Lane 

Wilmslow 

Cheshire 

SK9 5AF 

0303 123 1113 or 01625 545 745  

casework@ico.org.uk