Understanding cookies
What is a cookie?
A cookie is a simple text file, which usually contains a site name and a unique user ID. If a site uses cookies, a cookie will be downloaded onto your device when you first visit that site. If you then return to the site, your device checks to see if it has a cookie that is relevant (contains the site name) and will then send that information back to the site.
What do we use cookies for?
We use cookies to measure how people use the website, so it can be updated and improved based on user needs. Cookies on our website are not used to identify you personally.
The type of cookies we use :
- are fundamental to the use of the site (known as a session cookie)
- help us evaluate and improve our site usage and plan improvements using Google Analytics and Siteimprove (session cookie)
- enhance the site. We sometimes use photo and video content from other websites, for example, YouTube. Pages with embedded content, such as video, may present cookies from these sites. These are third party cookies, and as we do not have control over these sites, you should check the third party website for more information.
How can I turn off or control cookies?
You can set your preferences in your browser to block cookies. Find out how to do this at All About Cookies.
You can change your cookie preference on our site.
It is worth noting that if you change your browser settings and reject cookies it may limit your use of the council and other websites.
Cookies used on our website
Cookies on guildford.gov.uk
We limit cookies as much as possible however we do use them when we feel it will lead to improved user experience. The tables below show what cookies we use and where.
These are the cookies that are used on the main website www.guildford.gov.uk.
| Cookie name | What the cookie does | How long it lasts | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| .AspNet.ApplicationCookie | Random string identifying browsing session to server | Until user exits browser | Session |
| guildfordacceptedcookie | This records that the user has accepted the cookies policy that is displayed at the start of a new session. | Until user exits browser | Session |
Cookies used on specific subpages
My GuildfordAccount
MyGuildford Account uses cookies. Please visit the Salesforce webpage (opens new window) directly to find out more.
Planning consultation webpages
These are the cookies that are used on the planning consultation pages.
You can also visit the planning consultation cookies pages directly to find out about the cookies used.
| Cookie name | What the cookie does | How long it lasts | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| JSESSIONID | This cookie contains a session key that allows the application to give you an individual user session and remember who you are (if you have logged in) and where you are in any workflow (eg. answering a multi-page questionnaire). | Until user exits browser | Session |
| ECONSLOGON | If you have logged in with a username and | Until browser close, or logout, | Session or Persistent |
| ECONSUSERPREFS | This cookie remembers any viewing preferences (eg. how many rows to show on a table etc) so you don't have to set them each time you view information in the application. | After 1 month | Persistent |
Cookies used for transparency purposes
ModernGov
These are the cookies that are used on our council minutes, meetings, agendas etc. pages.
| Cookie name | What the cookie does | How long it lasts | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| ASP.NET_SessionId | Random string identifying browsing session to server. | Until user exits browser | Session |
Webcasting
Please visit the Public-i webcasting cookie pages directly to find out more about the cookies used.
Cookies used for analysis and improvement
Google Analytics
We use Google Analytics software to collect information about how you use www.guildford.gov.uk, we don't allow Google to use or share our analytics data.
You can opt out of Google Analytics using the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on.
These are the cookies that Google Analytics uses.
| Cookie name | What the cookie does | How long it lasts | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| _ga | This helps us count how many people visit guildford.gov.uk by tracking if you've visited before. | 2 years | Persistent |
| _gid | This helps us count how many people visit guildford.gov.uk by tracking if you've visited before. | 24 hours | Persistent |
Siteimprove
We use Siteimprove to learn more about how people use the website.
These are the cookies that Siteimprove uses.
| Cookie name | What the cookie does | How long it lasts | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| siteimproveses | This cookie is used purely to track the sequence of pages a visitor looks at | Until user exits browser | Session |
| nmstat | This cookie is used to help visitors' use of the website. | Expires after 1000 days | Persistent |