Cookies

About cookies

We put small files, known as cookies, onto your computer, tablet or smartphone. We use cookies to:

remember your preferences
improve site performance
see how people use our site so we can improve it

There are two types of cookies:

session cookies, these are deleted when you close your browser
persistent cookies, these last longer and expire after a certain amount of time

Manage or delete cookies

You can manage and delete cookies. Find out how to change your cookie settings on the aboutcookies.org.uk website. There is also information about managing cookies Go to https://ico.org.uk/your-data-matters/online/cookies/ (opens new window) on the Information Commissioners Office (ICO) website.

If you delete or disable our cookies, you might not be able to register on our site or use some of our online features.

Email website@bristol.gov.uk if you find any cookies not listed here.

Google Analytics cookies

We use Google Analytics cookies to collect information about how you use our websites.

This includes:

what pages you visit on our sites
how long you spend on each page

We do this to make sure the sites meet peoples needs and to help us make the sites better.

We use different Google Analytics cookies on our different sites, including:

AMP_TOKEN: persistent, expires after an hour
_ga: persistent, expires after two years
_gat: persistent, expires after one minute
_gid: persistent, expires after 24 hours
_utma: persistent, expires after two years
_utmb: persistent, expires after 30 minutes
_utmc: session, deleted when you close your browser
_utmt: persistent, expires after 10 minutes
_utmv: expires immediately
_utmz: persistent, expires after six months

You can opt out of Google Analytics Go to https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout (opens new window) using a browser add-on, supplied by Google.

Cookies on www.bristol.gov.uk and digital.bristol.gov.uk

We use the following cookies on www.bristol.gov.uk and digital.bristol.gov.uk.

amlbcookie
Used to keep you signed into the site.
Session cookie, deleted when you close your browser.

AMAuthCookie
Used for authentication when you sign in to the site.
Session cookie, deleted when you close your browser.

ApplicationGatewayAffinity
Used for maintaining user sessions. This cookie is set by this website because it runs on the Windows Azure cloud platform.

ARRAffinity
Set by the Azure app service, allows the service to choose the right instance established by a user to deliver subsequent requests made by that user.

ARRAffinitySameSite
Set by Windows Azure cloud, used for load balancing to make sure the visitor page requests are routed to the same server in any browsing session.

AWSELB (Amazon Web Services Elastic Load Balancer)
Used to distribute web traffic to different servers to optimise response times.
Session cookie, deleted when you close your browser.

BccAuthCookie
Used to keep you signed in to the site.
Session cookie, deleted when you close your browser.

COOKIE_SUPPORT
Used to let us know if your browser supports cookies.
Persistent cookie, expires after 11 months.

cookieconsent_status
Used to record that youve consented to the use of cookies on your computer.
Persistent cookie, expires after 12 months.

GUEST_LANGUAGE_ID
Used to let us know your language preference, so we can present content in that language.
Persistent cookie, expires after 12 months.

JSESSIONID
Used to maintain your user session.
Session cookie, deleted when you close your browser.

LFR_SESSION_STATE_
Used to hold the date and time of your last session activity.
Session cookie, deleted when you close your browser.

VISITOR_INFO1_LIVE
Set by YouTube to measure bandwidth that determines whether the user gets the new or old player interface.

X-Mapping-nbplmack
Used to distribute web traffic to different servers to optimise response times.
Session cookie, deleted when you close your browser.

YSC
Set by YouTube, used to track the views of embedded videos on YouTube pages.

yt-remote-connected-devices
yt-remote-device-id
YouTube sets these cookies to store the video preferences of the user using embedded YouTube video.

Analytics
We also use Google Analytics cookies on www.bristol.gov.uk.

Cookies on our other sites

Archives Go to http://archives.bristol.gov.uk/ (opens new window)

ASP.NET_SessionId
Used to identify the session.
Session cookie, deleted when you close your browser.

GUEST_LANGUAGE_ID
Used to let us know your language preference, so we can present content in that language.
Persistent cookie, expires after 12 months.

Analytics
We also use Google Analytics cookies on the archives site.

Bristol's Clean Air Zone

We use Chipside MiPermit to process exemptions from our Clean Air Zone charge. MiPermit uses these cookies:

ASP.NET_SessionId: session cookie, deleted when you close your browser

MiPermit privacy and cookies statement

Complaints, feedback and freedom of information requests

We use iCasework as part of our complaints, feedback and freedom of information requests. iCasework uses these cookies:

AWSALB: persistent, expires after 1 week
CookiesSupported: session cookie, deleted when you close the browser
JSESSIONID: session cookie, deleted when you close the browser
_osm_totp_token: persistent, expires after 1 minute

Analytics
iCasework also uses Google Analytics cookies.

Council tax and housing benefits

Govtech
We use Govtech forms as part of our council tax and housing benefit service. For example, when you tell us about a change of circumstances or apply for some council tax discounts.

Govtech uses these cookies:

JSESSIONID: session cookie, deleted when you close the browser
lang: persistent, expires after 8 hours
myAccount: persistent, expires after 8 hours
startLink: persistent, expires after 8 hours

Northgate
We use Northgate as part of our council tax and housing benefit service. For example, when you set up an account and view your bills.

Northgate uses these cookies:

NESPW_SESSION: session cookie, deleted when you close your browser
car_workplace_cookie: session cookie, deleted when you close your browser
car_account_type_cookie: session cookie, deleted when you close your browser
seen_cookie_message: persistent, expires after 90 days

Democracy Go to https://democracy.bristol.gov.uk/ (opens new window)

ASP.NET_SessionId
Used to identify the session.
Session cookie, deleted when you close your browser.

GUEST_LANGUAGE_ID
Used to let us know your language preference, so we can present content in that language.
Persistent cookie, expires after 12 months.

LFR_SESSION_STATE_
Used to hold the date and time of your last session activity.
Session cookie, deleted when you close your browser.

Analytics
We also use Google Analytics cookies on the democracy site.

Fix my street Go to https://fixmystreet.bristol.gov.uk/ (opens new window)

fixmystreet_app_session
Used to identify the session.
Persistent cookie, expires after one month.

GUEST_LANGUAGE_ID
Used to let us know your language preference, so we can present content in that language.
Persistent cookie, expires after 12 months.

Analytics
We also use Google Analytics cookies on fix my street.

Jobs

ajax_search_cookie
Used to hold a search string.
Persistent cookie, expires after 10 days.

ccp_name5212
ccp_user5212
hs_ccp_user5212
wedeputy_reg_email_6287
wedeputy_reg_username_6287
Used to identify a logged in user.
Session cookie, deleted when you close your browser.

GUEST_LANGUAGE_ID
Used to let us know your language preference, so we can present content in that language.
Persistent cookie, expires after 12 months.

lastaccesstime5212
hs_lastaccesstime5212
Used to record when a page is called from the server.
Session cookie, deleted when you close your browser.

sessionid5212
hs_sessionid5212
Used to identify the session.
Session cookie, deleted when you close your browser.

Analytics
We also use Google Analytics cookies on the jobs site.

Maps Go to http://maps.bristol.gov.uk/pinpoint/ (opens new window)

GUEST_LANGUAGE_ID
Used to let us know your language preference, so we can present content in that language.
Persistent cookie, expires after 12 months.

Analytics
We also use Google Analytics cookies on the maps site.

Museums Go to http://museums.bristol.gov.uk/ (opens new window)

GUEST_LANGUAGE_ID
Used to let us know your language preference, so we can present content in that language.
Persistent cookie, expires after 12 months.

smcx_0_last_shown_at
Used so that the Survey Monkey pop-up only shows on one page.
Session cookie, deleted when you close your browser.

Analytics
We also use Google Analytics cookies on the museums site.

Newsroom Go to https://news.bristol.gov.uk/ (opens new window)

cookieconsent_status
Used to record that youve consented to the use of cookies on your computer.
Persistent cookie, expires after 12 months.

GUEST_LANGUAGE_ID
Used to let us know your language preference, so we can present content in that language.
Persistent cookie, expires after 12 months.

Analytics
We also use Google Analytics cookies on the newsroom site.

Online payments Go to https://ip.e-paycapita.com/AIP/itemSelectionPage.do?link=showItemSelectionPage&siteId=036&languageCode=EN&source=AIP (opens new window)

We use Capita to handle online payments such as, when you make a one-off council tax payment or pay for a bulky waste collection. Capita uses this cookie:

JSESSIONID
Used to maintain your user session.
Session cookie, deleted when you close your browser.

Online shops

We have online shops, including:

The shops use the following cookies:

MarketPlaceSearchUrl: persistent, expires after three years
AnalyticsBrowserSession: persistent, expires after three years
AnalyticsBrowserSessionId: persistent, expires after three years
AnalyticsBrowserSessionStarted: persistent, expires after three years
AnalyticsSessionId: persistent, expires after three years
MachineId: persistent, expires after three years
SessioId: persistent, expires after three years

Open data

See the open data cookies page Go to https://opendata.bristol.gov.uk/pages/cookies/ (opens new window).

Parent portal Go to https://parent.bristol.gov.uk/web/portal/pages/parents/admissions (opens new window)

acceptCookies
Used to remember if youve accepted the cookie policy.
Persistent cookie, expires after three months.

BIGipServer~
Used to distribute web traffic to different servers to optimise response times.
Session cookie, deleted when you close your browser.

JSESSIONID
Used to maintain your user session.
Session cookie, deleted when you close your browser.

oiduser
Used to identify your session.
Session cookie, deleted when you close your browser.

Analytics
We also use Google Analytics cookies on the parent portal.

Planning portal Go to https://planningonline.bristol.gov.uk/online-applications/ (opens new window)

CASTGC
Used for authentication when you sign in to the site.
Session cookie, deleted when you close your browser.

GUEST_LANGUAGE_ID
Used to let us know your language preference, so we can present content in that language.
Persistent cookie, expires after 12 months.

JSESSIONID
Used to maintain your user session.
Session cookie, deleted when you close your browser.

Analytics
We also use Google Analytics cookies on the planning portal.

We use Stopford Information Systems as part of our registrations service to book appointments to register a birth, register a death, give notice of marriage or give notice of civil partnership. Stopford use these cookies:

ASP.NET_SessionId: session cookie, deleted when you close your browser
Registrar.OnlineBookings: session cookie, deleted when you close your browser
RegPED: session cookie, deleted when you close your browser

Residents' parking permits(RPS)

We use Chipside MiPermit as part of our residents' parking permits scheme. MiPermit uses these cookies:

ASP.NET_SessionId: session cookie, deleted when you close your browser
MiPermit: persistent, expires after 25 years

Analytics
MiPermit also uses Google Analytics cookies.

Cookies from embedded content

When using our websites, you might notice some cookies that are not related to bristol.gov.uk. This happens when you visit a page that contains content from a third party.

Facebook

See Facebooks cookie policy Go to https://www.facebook.com/policy/cookies/ (opens new window).

Google services

We embed Google maps and sheets on our site. Google uses cookies to remember your preferences such as your preferred language, collect usage data and show personalised information.

How Google uses cookies Go to https://policies.google.com/technologies/cookies?hl=en-US (opens new window)
Types of cookies used by Google Go to https://policies.google.com/technologies/types?hl=en-US (opens new window)

Twitter

See Twitters cookie policy Go to https://help.twitter.com/en/rules-and-policies/twitter-cookies (opens new window).

Vimeo

We embed Vimeo videos on our site. Vimeo uses this cookie:

vuid
Used to count how many times a video is watched.
Persistent cookie, expires after two years.

Vimeos cookie policy Go to https://vimeo.com/cookie_policy (opens new window)

Youtube

We embed Youtube videos on our site. Youtube uses cookies to collect data, such as:

the number of views a video gets
how many different people watch a video
where they are

Youtube uses these cookies:

GPS: persistent cookie, expires after 30 minutes
PREF: persistent cookie, expires after seven months
VISITOR_INFO1_LIVE: persistent cookie, expires after six months
YSC: session cookie, deleted when you close your browser
remote_sid: session cookie, deleted when you close your browser

Youtube is part of Google and uses their cookie policy:

If youre signed into a Google account, these cookies will be linked with it.

Cookies on other websites

We link out to external websites. These websites will use their own cookies and you should check their privacy or cookies pages for details. For example:

Tell us about a problem with a form, page or online account