Data Protection Healthchecks

A clear read on where your council stands on data protection

A focused, expert-led review of how your parish or town council is handling personal data right now — what is in place, what is missing, and the most useful things to fix next. One snapshot, one written report, no long-term commitment.

Book a Healthcheck Call › See what is included

What it is

A snapshot review, not a full programme

A Data Protection Healthcheck is a structured, one-off review of how your council is handling personal data today. Our team looks at your key documents, processes and arrangements and gives you a clear, honest picture of where you stand against UK GDPR, the Data Protection Act and the latest Assertion 10 expectations — plus the practical next steps that will make the biggest difference. There is no annual subscription and no tie-in. The Healthcheck can sit on its own, or act as the foundation for a wider compliance programme later on.

What you get

Three practical outputs from one short review

Everything is written for clerks and councillors, in plain English — ready to take into a meeting and act on.

Where you stand today

A clear, jargon-free summary of how your council currently sits against the core requirements of UK GDPR, the Data Protection Act and Assertion 10 — with no scare tactics and no inflated risk language.

Quick wins to do now

A prioritised list of the most useful changes to make first, focused on the actions that reduce real risk fastest and are realistic with the time and resources your council actually has.

A clear next-steps plan

A simple roadmap your clerk and councillors can take into a meeting: what to tackle this quarter, what can wait, and where outside support might help.

How it works

Three simple steps

A lightweight process designed to fit around busy clerks and councillors. Most Healthchecks are completed within four weeks of the discovery call.

Short discovery call

A 30-minute call to agree the scope, confirm what you want us to look at, and explain the documents and information we will need from your council.

Focused expert review

Our data protection team reviews your privacy notices, retention arrangements, training records, key policies, and any specific concerns the council has flagged.

Written findings and follow-up call

You receive a structured written report with prioritised recommendations, plus a 45-minute follow-up call so the clerk and councillors can ask questions and confirm next steps.

What is included

Everything your council needs from a Healthcheck

A scoped, fixed-price piece of work — pricing is confirmed on the discovery call once we know the size of your council and what you want covered.

✓A 30-minute scoping and discovery call with one of our data protection specialists

✓Expert review of your privacy notice, retention schedule, training records and key data protection policies

✓A check of how your council handles SARs, FOI requests, CCTV, photography, and resident correspondence

✓A plain-English written report with a RAG-rated summary of where the council stands

✓A prioritised list of recommended actions, with quick wins flagged separately

✓A 45-minute follow-up call so the clerk and councillors can ask questions and agree next steps

✓A short council-ready summary your clerk can take straight into a meeting

Need to take this to council first?

Healthchecks sit comfortably within most governance, training or compliance budgets. If you need a short delay while the spend goes through council, give us a call on 01903 299000 and we will hold the scope and price for you.

Ready for a clear read on where your council stands?

Book a quick call and we will explain how the Healthcheck works, what it covers, and whether it is the right fit for your council right now.

Call 01903 299000

Frequently asked questions

No. A Healthcheck is a focused, proportionate snapshot — ideal for parish and town councils that want a clear, honest read without the cost, depth or paperwork of a full external audit. If you do need something more in-depth, the Healthcheck is a great first step that helps us scope it accurately.

From the discovery call to receiving your written report, most Healthchecks are completed within three to four weeks. The follow-up call is then booked at a time that suits your clerk and councillors.

In most cases the clerk leads the work with us, with input from the chair or the councillor responsible for governance. We design the process so it does not eat up volunteer councillor time, and we are happy to present the findings to a meeting if helpful.

The Healthcheck is mapped against the data protection expectations behind Assertion 10 of the Local Council Award Scheme, so the report shows where your council already meets the bar and where evidence or improvements are needed. It is a sensible way to prepare before submitting an Assertion 10 self-assessment.

Pricing is fixed per Healthcheck and depends on the size of your council and what you want covered. We confirm the price on the discovery call, before any work starts — so there are no surprises and no hourly billing.

Not at all. The Healthcheck is a one-off piece of work. Many councils use the report on its own; others choose to follow up with our Data Protection Toolkit, ad-hoc Data Protection Advice or Council Hive support — but only if and when it makes sense for them.

Each Healthcheck is scoped to a single council so the findings are specific and actionable. If you are part of a cluster or working with neighbouring councils, give us a call and we can talk through sensible options.