Cookies

What are cookies?

A 'cookie' is a small piece of text stored on your computer, phone or whatever device you use to surf the Internet. Cookies have many uses, but fundamentally they are used to store information about you on your computer, or to help provide a service that you request.

How are cookies used on our websites?

The cookies we use at Gloucester City Council are there to enhance your experience of the site, or to allow you to perform the services you require. We do not use cookies to store information that identifies you as an individual, or pass information recorded in cookies to others.

We encourage you to accept the cookies we serve. Alternatively, you can amend your web browser settings to prevent cookies, but this might affect your use and the functionality of this site and some features will not work if cookies are turned off or restricted.

To find out more about managing cookies on your device, refer to http://www.allaboutcookies.org

What types of cookies do you use?

Cookie Type	Description
Session Cookies	Session Cookies are used by the server to store information about user page activities so users can easily pick up where they left off on the server's pages. They are usually removed when the browser is closed.
Persistent Cookies	Persistent Cookies are used to store user preferences. These changes make the site easier to navigate and/or lets user leave a part of the user's “personality” at the site. An example of this is the "My Gloucester" section of the site. These cookies expire after a certain period, or can be removed manually.
First Party	Cookies issued from the site you are visiting. We use a number of suppliers to provide the services we offer, but the majority of cookies we place on your machine fall under this category.
Third Party	Cookies issued that are different from the site you are visiting, for example a Twitter or Facebook feed on a page. At Gloucester City Council, payments go to a different site.

What cookies are used on Gloucester.gov.uk websites?

Common cookies

Cookie Name	Cookie Description	Cookie behaviour
ASP.NET_SessionId	Session, First Party: Stores transactional information only. Our suppliers have deemed this as essential to the operation of the service.	This cookie disappears when your browser closes.
__utma	Session: First Party: Used by Google Analytics to track user count of visits to a site, when a first visit was, and a last visit.	Persistent, lasts for 2 years.
__utmb	Session: First Party: Used by Google Analytics to track exactly when a user visits a site.	Persistent, lasts for 30 minutes.
__utmc	Session: First Party:Used by Google Analytics to track exactly when a user leaves a site.	Session only, expires on browser quit.
__utmz	Session: First Party:Used by Google Analytics to track how a user got to this site (where from), what link was used, what part of the world.	Persistent, lasts for 6 months.
We use Google Analytics cookies (_utma, _utmb, _utmc, _utmz) to hold information about your visit to our site. This helps us better identify those services that matter to you. If you do not wish us to do this, you may either remove these cookies, or opt out of the Analytics service by installing an add-on for your browser.

Website Area: Planning application viewing

Cookie Name	Cookie Description	Cookie behaviour
JSESSIONID	Session: First Party: Stores transactional information only.Our suppliers have deemed this as essential to the operation of the service.	This cookie disappears when your browser closes.

Website area: Paying for services online

Cookie name	Cookie description	Cookie behaviour
JSESSIONID	Session: Third Party: Stores transactional information only. Our suppliers have deemed this as essential to the operation of the service.	This cookie disappears when your browser closes.

Website Area: Gloucester parking permits

Our supplier is working with us to remove redundant cookies.

Cookie name	Cookie description	Cookie behaviour
SupportCookies	Session: First Party: Stores information on where cookies are supported by the user web browser.	This cookie disappears when your browser closes.

Website Area: Gloucester Guildhall

Persistent: First Party: Twitter cookie that is generated from twitter.com, contains version numbering.

Cookie Name	Cookie Description	Cookie behaviour
GuildhallCookiesAccepted	Persistent, First Party: This cookie is deployed when you elect to remove the red cookie policy banner.	Persistent, 2 years.
ASPSESSIONIDCSSDSBQT	Session: First Party: Stores information on where cookies are supported by the user web browser. Our supplier has deemed this as essential to the operation of the service.	This cookie disappears when your browser closes.
_twitter_sess	Session: First Party: Twitter cookie that store information on the current user session.	This cookie disappears when your browser closes.
Guest_id	Persistent, 2 years.
k	Persistent: First Party: Twitter cookie. Persistent, 1 week. Original_referrer Session: First Party: Twitter cookie that stores session information.	This cookie disappears when your browser closes.

Website Area: Gloucester museums

Cookie Name	Cookie Description	Cookie behaviour
MuseumCookiesAccepted	Persistent, First Party: This cookie is deployed when you elect to remove the red cookie policy banner.	Persistent, 2 years.