Torfaen County Borough Council uses cookies to personalise user experience on the website, and to track how our site is being used. Here you can find out more about how we use them.
What are cookies?
Cookies are small, harmless files placed on your computer’s hard drive or in your browser memory when you visit a website
What do cookies do?
Cookies help to make the interaction between users and websites faster and easier. What cookies don't do is store any personal or confidential information about you.
Are cookies safe?
Yes, cookies are harmless text files. They can’t look into your computer or read any personal information or other material on your hard drive. Cookies can’t carry viruses or install anything harmful on your computer.
Why should I keep cookies switched on?
We advise you to keep cookies active during your visits to our website because parts of the site rely on them to work properly.
Types of cookie we use
Like most large websites, Torfaen County Borough Council uses session cookies and persistent cookies. Neither session cookies nor persistent cookies collect any personally identifiable information.
Session cookies
We use session cookies, which last only for the duration of your visit (your 'session') and are deleted when you close your browser. These simply enable us to identify that the same person is moving from page to page.
Persistent cookies
We also use certain cookies that are persistent, meaning that they last beyond your session. Persistent cookies help our website remember you as a user each time you use the same computer to revisit us.
Cookies currently used
This website uses cookies in several places – we’ve listed each of them below along with more details about why we use them and how long they will last.
User Preferences
These cookies are set by the user. They typically include when you are asked to make a choice such as "remind me later". These type of cookies are used to remember your choice.
| Cookie name | Purpose | Expiry |
|---|---|---|
| redirect1 or redirect2 | To remember English or Welsh Language choice for future visits | 30 days after the user has chosen their preference from the intro page |
| t | -1 | Stored in Local Storage, never deleted |
| UKTORFAEN_subscribe_overlay | 1 (Set when you choose "No Thanks" on the Gov Delivery popup) | Stored in Local Storage, never deleted |
| UKTORFAEN_subscribe_overlay | Timestamp number (Set when you choose "Remind me Later" on the Gov Delivery popup) | Stored in Local Storage, updated based on users choice after 30 days |
Council Advertising Network
The adverts on our website are provided by the Council Advertising Network. View the Council Advertising Network Privacy Policy for information on what data they collect and how to opt-out.
Get Involved (Consultation Software)
https://getinvolved.torfaen.gov.uk uses essential cookies in some places – we've listed each of them explicitly in a table below with more details about why we use them and how long they will last.
These essential cookies are used for site navigation and session management, and this service may not function correctly without them. They are used only to help you navigate through the site and to view and fill in consultations.
| Cookie name | Purpose | Expiry |
|---|---|---|
| _engagementhq_v3 Engagement HQ | These cookies are necessary for enabling the core functionality of the site. The website cannot function properly without these cookies | 2 day(s) |
| ehq_last_visit | Engagement HQ allows us to recognise the number of visitors and to see how visitors move around our website when they are using it | 2 years |
| _ehq_uid Engagement | HQ allow us to count the number of visitors and to see how visitors move around our website when they are using it | 2 years |
| gat_gtag_UA_2679674_22 | Google Universal Analytics For targeted advertising | Session |
| _ehq_session_id | Engagement HQ helps us to analyse user behaviour, mainly to see if the users are able to find and act on things that they are looking for. They allow us to recognise and count the number of visitors and to see how visitors move around our website when they are using it | Session |
Google Analytics
We use Google Analytics cookies to collect information about how visitors use this site and when issues are encountered (such as broken links). Google analytics stores information about what pages you visit, how long you were on the site, how you got here and what you click on. We do not store your personal information so this information cannot be used to identify who you are. We do not allow Google to use or share our data.
We use Google Analytics to make sure our website is meeting our users’ needs and to help prioritise improvements. Google provides more details on the Google privacy and cookie policy page. Google also provides a browser add-on which allows you to opt out of Google Analytics across all websites.
| Cookie name | Purpose | Expiry |
|---|---|---|
| _gid | to store and count pageviews | 1 day |
| _ga | to store and count pageviews | 2 years |
| _gat | to read and filter requests from bots | 1 minute |
| __utmb | to store time of visit | End of session |
| __utma | to store the calculation of days and time to purchase | Persistent |
| _utmc | to store time of visit | 30 minutes |
| _utmz | to store used keyword and search engine | 6 months |
| __utmt | to store number of service requests | 10 minutes |
Google Ads
| Cookie name | Purpose | Expiry |
|---|---|---|
| __Secure-3PSIDCC | Used by for targeting purposes to build a profile of the website visitor's interests in order to show relevant & personalised Google advertising | 2 years |
| __Secure-3PSIDCC | Used by for targeting purposes to build a profile of the website visitor's interests in order to show relevant and personalised Google advertising | 2 years |
| __Secure-3PSID | Used by for targeting purposes to build a profile of the website visitor's interests in order to show relevant and personalised Google advertising | 2 years |
| __Secure-3PSIDCC | Used by for targeting purposes to build a profile of the website visitor's interests in order to show relevant and personalised Google advertising | 1 year |
| SID | Google uses security cookies to authenticate users, prevent fraudulent use of login credentials, and protect user data from unauthorized parties. | 2 years |
| SAPISID | These cookies are used by Google to display personalized advertisements on Google sites, based on recent searches and previous interactions. | 2 years |
| HSID | Contains encrypted entries of your Google account and the last login time to protect against attacks and data theft from form entries. | 2 years |
| SAPISID | These cookies are used by Google to display personalized advertisements on Google sites, based on recent searches and previous interactions. | 2 years |
| SIDCC | This cookie carries out information about how the end user uses the website and any advertising that the end user may have seen before visiting the said website | 1 year |
| __Secure-1PAPISID | Used by for targeting purposes to build a profile of the website visitor's interests in order to show relevant and personalised Google advertising | 2 years |
| SAPISID | These cookies are used by Google to display personalized advertisements on Google sites, based on recent searches and previous interactions. | 2 years |
| __Secure-3PAPISID | Used by for targeting purposes to build a profile of the website visitor's interests in order to show relevant and personalised Google advertising | 2 years |
| SSID | These cookies are used by Google to display personalized advertisements on Google sites, based on recent searches and previous interactions., SSID, APISID and SAPISID cookies | 2 years |
| APISID | These cookies are used by Google to display personalized advertisements on Google sites, based on recent searches and previous interactions., | 2 years |
| __Secure-3PSID | Used by for targeting purposes to build a profile of the website visitor's interests in order to show relevant and personalised Google advertising | 2 years |
| __Secure-1PSIDCC | Cookie required to use website options and services | 1 year |
| OGPC | Google ads optimisation | At least one session |
Cookie Bar
Quantcast
| Cookie name | Purpose | Expiry |
|---|---|---|
| __qca | to store and track audience reach | 5 years |
Criteo
| Cookie name | Purpose | Expiry |
|---|---|---|
| Cto_bundle | to provide functions across pages | 13 months |
Others
| Cookie name | Purpose | Expiry |
|---|---|---|
| addtl_consent | Additional consent | 1 month |
| _pbjs_userid_consent_data | this cookie is used to know if the user's consent choices have changed since the last page load | 1 month |
| euconsent-v2 | stores User advertising tracking preferences | 13 months |
Library Catalogue
| Cookie name | Purpose | Expiry |
|---|---|---|
| JSESSIONID | Providing core application functionality to the end user. This session cookie falls into the exception section of the directive | End of session |
| cookieconsent_status | Used to determine if the informational cookie bar has been dismissed | End of session |
ReciteMe (web accessibility) Toolbar
| Name | Purpose | Expires |
|---|---|---|
| Recite.Persist | Allows the toolbar to remain on the screen across the site until closed | Clears when browser completely exits |
| Recite_Session | Validates the user when requesting to run the toolbar from the host. No personal data is transferred | End of the session |
Request/Report It Forms
| Cookie name | Purpose | Expiry |
|---|---|---|
| ORA_WWV_APP_1030 | This cookie is used to store current application ID | 48 hours after end of last session |
Online Mapping System
| Cookie name | Purpose | Expiry |
|---|---|---|
| JSESSIONID | Does not store any personal information. Allows the app to run | End of session |
Civica E-Pay
| Cookie name | Purpose | Expiry |
|---|---|---|
| BIGipServerPOOL_A4 | A necessary cookie that manages the server load for the site | End of session |
| __RequestVerificationToken | Anti-forgery cookie designed to stop unauthorised posting of content to our website. | End of session |
| ASP.NET_SessionId | Preserves your session state across page requests. | End of session |
Planning & Building Control Public Access Service
| Cookie name | Purpose | Expiry |
|---|---|---|
| WSLang-TCB001 | Saves the language of the page | Never |
| JSESSIONID | Does not store any personal information. Allows the app to run | End of session |
Chat Bot
| Cookie name | Purpose | Expiry |
|---|---|---|
| wbb-user-api | Maintains user sessions so that when a user closes the tab and comes back, the bot remembers and they don't have to start the conversation over again | One week |
CAN Digital
| Cookie name | Purpose | Expiry |
|---|---|---|
| _gat_CANTracker | Used to throttle request rate. This is a third party cookie used for advertising. | 1 minute |
Dewis Cymru
| Cookie name | Purpose | Expiry |
|---|---|---|
| ASP.NET_SessionId | Preserves your session state across page requests. | End of session |
| analytics | shows if user has accepted the cookies | 3 months |
Modern Gov
| Cookie name | Purpose | Expiry |
|---|---|---|
| ASP.NET_SessionId | Preserves your session state across page requests. | End of session |
Citizen Portal
| Cookie name | Purpose | Expiry |
|---|---|---|
| 6C4FF4B1EC6F6017E0530F01A8C0FBAA | Allows the app to function | 1 day |
| CookiesPolicyDismiss | sets cookie based on whether cookie message has been dismissed | 1 year |
Gov Delivery
| Cookie name | Purpose | Expiry |
|---|---|---|
| _trunk_session | Session cookie required to use the app | End of session |
Turning cookies on or off
You have a number of options when it comes to receiving cookies. You can set your browser either to reject all cookies, to allow only ‘trusted’ sites to send them, or to accept only those cookies from websites you are currently using.
We recommend that you don’t block all cookies because parts of our website rely on them to work properly.
To find out how to turn cookies on and off in your browser, select your browser below:
To learn more about cookies and how to manage them, visit www.aboutcookies.org