Cookies
What cookies we use
We sometimes place small data files on your computer or phone. These are known as cookies and most websites do this.
We use cookies to store information about how you use the bexley.gov.uk website, such as the pages you visit.
A cookie is a small file of letters and numbers downloaded onto a device (computer for example) when a user accesses certain websites.
Cookies help a website to function properly by allowing the website to recognise a user's device for the purpose of remembering the devices site preferences/details.
Bexley Council uses cookies on this website and does not permit the use of cookies or any other devices that collects and stores information, which either on its own or when combined with other information identify an individual.
There are different types of cookies
Session - this type of cookie is stored in the computer's memory only during a user's browsing session and are automatically deleted from the user's computer when the browser is closed. They do not collect any information from the user's computer, for example, remembering what a user has put in their shopping basket as they browse around a website.
Permanent - this type of cookie is stored on your computer and are not deleted when the browser is closed. These cookies can remember your settings the next time you come back to the web site, for example, remembering what language you have selected.
Flash cookies - Local shared objects (LSOs), commonly called Flash cookies, are data files that can be created on your computer by the sites that you visit. These are most often used to enhance your web-browsing experience, example, you may ask a site to remember your login name, that information is stored in the cookie, so on your next visit, the website displays your name in the login field.
First party - this type of cookie is set on a user's computer by the website that you are visiting, example, when visiting our site, we will directly place a cookie on your computer. This cookie can only be read by our site; the information that the cookie contains cannot be accessed or read by any other website.
Third-party - this type of cookie is issued by a website other than the one you are currently visiting, example when visiting a site that displays advertising, that advertising company could issue you with a cookie, which is known as a third-party cookie.
You can find our more information about cookies at All About Cookies.org.
To remove or reject cookies from this website
If you do not want to receive cookies from this website, you can control cookies through your web browser settings, allowing you to decide if you want to access sites that use cookies.
To find out how to allow, block, delete and manage cookies, visit Managing cookies and select the browser you are using. Alternatively, you can also read your browser's own online help for more information.
We recommend you allow the cookies set by this website as they help the website to function correctly proving you with a better web experience. If you set your browser to refuse cookies, please be aware that certain functions of our website may cease to function correctly.
Controlling your browser cookies
You can use your browser to:
- delete and block all cookies
- allow all cookies
- block third-party cookies
- clear all cookies when you close the browser
- open a 'private browsing' / 'incognito' session, which allows you to browse the internet without storing local data
- install add-ons and plug-ins to extend browser functionality
Where to find information about controlling cookies
- Microsoft Edge information
- Internet Explorer cookies information
- Chrome cookies information
- Firefox cookies information
- Safari cookies information
- Opera cookies information
EU Cookie directive
The law relating to cookies has changed and the Information Commissioner's Office has issued guidance on the changes.
Our use of cookies
The lists below show all the cookies that are set by this website and the third-party services that we use.
Please contact the Digital team if you have any queries about these cookies or would like more information about them.
Cookies for managing your current visit
We use a number of cookies to remember your selections or preferences that you have made when looking at the information on this website.
| Cookie name | Type | Description | Expires |
|---|---|---|---|
| ASP.NET_SessionId | Session | Stores the session id of a user. | When you close your browser |
| Clientvars | First Party | Used to logon to the website via the logon screen. | 2 days |
| Fontsize | Session | Used to adjust and remember the font size setting of the website | When you close your browser |
| mode | First Party | Used to adjust and remember the normal and high contrast setting of the website | 3 months |
| TextOnlyX | First Party | Text only version of website | Immediately |
Cookies for managing myBexley online services
For myBexley, no cookies are required for anonymous browsing by default; however, the inclusion of utilities such as the Google Translation bar will introduce cookies to the site. NB: These will include third-party cookies in the case of the Google Translation bar, or Google Analytics modules.
For authenticated myBexley users, a session cookie is used to keep the user logged in to the site. This can be configured either as a session or persistent cookie depending upon the customer requirements. The session cookie contains simply a random alphanumeric string to identify the user, it does not contain user information. The session cookie is required strictly for correct operation of the website. Users will not be able to log in to the site if the cookie is blocked.
The myBexley online service operates on a web-based solution provided by Firmstep.
Cookies used in the myBexley (Firmstep) solutions include:
has_js - Detects user side JavaScript
SESS - PHP session cookie
device_type - Detects user device type
Server-Set Cookies used in myBexley online services Firmstep portal
| Cookie name | Description | Expires |
|---|---|---|
| PHPSESSID | This cookie is used by the PHP web server to identify the unique browsing session. It is required for Forms to work. Contains the unique ID for the browsing session | When the user closes the browser |
| APP_LANG | Language cookie that keeps information of user’s system language. Contains environment variable with the user's system language | After 24 hours |
| CAPITACONNECT | This cookie stores information about the user opening the CAPITA portal | After one hour |
| AchieveFormsRedirectLink | Cookie that keeps the redirect link after email verification | After 24 hours |
| PETITIONS_LANG | The language cookie stores information about the user's selected language | After 24 hours |
| X-FS-IAFID | Cookie that keeps AFID for the authenticated CSA by session id | After one hour |
| firmstep2server | Used to direct your request to the appropriate server. No personal information is stored | When the user closes the browser |
| firmstep2session | A unique identifier given to you for the duration of your site visit. It is used to ensure that you and only you are shown information relevant to you. It contains no personally identifiable information, but is temporarily linked to your user account when you log in | When the user closes the browser. |
| support_login | Cookie that keeps information if a support login was enabled | After one year |
JavaScript-Set Cookies used in myBexley online services Firmstep portal
| Cookie name | Description | Expires |
|---|---|---|
| __unam | Google analytics cookie is set as part of the ShareThis service and monitors clickstream activity. It contains: pages viewed, navigation from page to page, time spent on each page. The ShareThis service personally identifies you only if you have separately signed up with ShareThis for a ShareThis account and given your consent | Three years after the last browsing session |
| __utmb | Google analytics cookie in connection with __utmc, this cookie can provide information on how long the user was on the website. Contains timestamp of when the user visited the website. | thirty minutes after the last browsing session |
| __utmc | Google analytics cookie in connection with __utmb, this cookie can provide information on how long the user was on the website. Contains timestamp of the exact moment in time when a visitor leaves a site | When the user closes the browser |
| __utmz | Google analytics cookie contains information on the visitor traffic source that explains how the user reached the site. Contains information on search engines and the entered search terms, or where the IP address of the visitor is located. | Six months after the last browsing session. |
| _gat | This external Google Analytics cookie is used by Google Analytics to monitor the query rate against your own servers. This cookie file helps Monsanto identify areas of the site that need improvement. Cookie does not allow Monsanto to identify you personally because no information or personal information is tracked. | after the last browsing session |
| _gid | Google Universal Analytics cookie. Stores and updates a unique value for each page visited. Used to distinguish users. | after twenty four hours |
| localtime | Cookie keeps information about user local time. Contains environment variable with the user's local time | after two minutes |
| SESSIONCHECK | Cookie that keeps information about session id (a unique number that a website's server assigns a specific user for the duration of that user's visit). Contains: encrypted session id and session lifetime | after the last browsing session |
| AWSELB | "Amazon Web Services Elastic Load Balancer". Used to direct your request to the appropriate server. No personal information is contained or used. | after 7 days |
| _ga | Google analytics cookie. This is set by the google analytics software to track navigation and the application usage. Contains the unique ID for the browsing session. The ID is used only to identify the session for the statistics and is completely anonymous. | two years after the last browsing session |
| _lastlogin | It's used to keep track of usage and to manage caching. Contains the epoch number of the last login. | when the user closes the browser |
| signed_sid | Sets permanent cookie to indicate a petition has already been signed on the user’s computer. Contains: variable with petition id and user id | Never |
| confirmed_ | Sets permanent cookie to indicate this user's email address is now confirmed. Contains variable with petition id and activity id | Never |
Other cookies served under the bexley.gov.uk domain
These cookies listed below do not contain any personal information.
Online Services - Council Tax, Business Rates and Housing Benefits website
| Cookie name | Type | Description | Expires |
|---|---|---|---|
| JSESSIONID | Session | Stores the session id of a user | When you close your browser |
| UNIQUEREQID | Session | Randomly generated unique identifier for the visitor | When you close your browser |
Planning applications and comment on-Line
| Cookie name | Type | Description | Expires |
|---|---|---|---|
| ASP.NET_SessionId | Session | Stores the session id of a user | When you close your browser |
Licensing applications and comment on-line
| Cookie name | Type | Description | Expires |
|---|---|---|---|
| ASP.NET_SessionId | Session | Stores the session id of a user | When you close your browser |
Modern Gov - Agendas, reports and decisions website
| Cookie name | Type | Description | Expires |
|---|---|---|---|
| ASP.NET_SessionId | Session | Stores the session id of a user | When you close your browser |
Cookies set by Google Analytics
We allow the use of Google Analytics cookies to gather data on a totally anonymous basis in order to help us accurately monitor the number of visitors to our website and volumes of usage.
Please refer to the Google code website for further details on the cookies set.
| Cookie name | Type | Description | Expires |
|---|---|---|---|
| __utma | Other | This cookie is typically written to the browser upon the first visit to your site from that web browser | 2 years |
| __utmb | Other | This cookie is used to establish and continue a user session with your site | 30 minutes |
| __utmc | Session | Historically, this cookie operated in conjunction with the __utmb cookie to determine whether or not to establish a new session for the user | When you close your browser |
| __utmz | Other | This cookie stores the type of referral used by the visitor to reach your site, whether via a direct method, a referring link, a website search, or a campaign such as an ad or an email link | 6 months |
Cookies used by YouTube
YouTube videos are available to watch on our website.
| Cookie name | Type | Description | Expires |
|---|---|---|---|
| VISITOR_INFO1_LIVE | Third Party | Lets Youtube count the views of embedded Youtube videos | 6 months |
| _use_hitbox | Third Party | This is a randomly generated number that identifies your browser | When you close your browser |
Please refer to YouTube help for further details on the cookies set.
Cookies set by Siteimprove
We use Siteimprove to identify errors and problems on our website which helps to improve the quality and accessibility of our content.
| Cookie name | Type | Description | Expires |
|---|---|---|---|
| nmstat | Persistent | This cookie is used to help record the visitor’s use of the website. It is used to collect statistics about site usage such as when the visitor last visited the site. This information is then used to improve the user experience on the website. This Siteimprove Analytics cookie contains a randomly generated ID used to recognize the browser when a visitor reads a page. The cookie contains no personal information and is used only for web analytics | After 1000 days |
| siteimproveses | Session | This cookie is used purely to track the sequence of pages a visitor looks at during a visit to the site. This information can be used to reduce user journeys, and enable visitors to find relevant information quicker | When you close your browser |
| szcib | Persistent | This cookie is used to determine if the user has accepted or declined cookies. This is only set if you use the Siteimprove Cookie Info Banner solution | After 400 days |
| sz-feedback-should-hide | Session | This cookie is used to hide/close a feedback widget for specific sessions (visits) on the Analytics Feedback feature. It is set when a user clicks a button in the feedback widget which indicates they don't wish to see the widget again. The cookie contains no personal information and is used only for web analytics. It simply contains the text 'true' when it is set | When you close your browser |
| _cfduid | Persistent | The "__cfduid" cookie is set by the CloudFlare service to identify trusted web traffic. It does not correspond to any user id in the web application, nor does the cookie store any personally identifiable information | After 30 days |
Cookies set by Cludo
Cludo is Bexley website's search engine. It uses cookies to gather information about user behaviour and the data helps improve user experience.
Cludo uses local storage to store a session ID, which is used to determine unique versus total and ineffective searches.
| Cookie name | Type | Description | Expires |
|---|---|---|---|
| cludoSessionId | Session | Unique ID for the session: Connects user sessions across multiple page views | Does not expire automatically and will stay until removed manually by the user |
| cludoSessionIdStart | Session | Indicates the beginning of the current session, specified by _cludoSessionId_ | Does not expire automatically and will stay until removed manually by the user |