Cookies are small text files that are placed on your computer by websites that you visit.
They are widely used in order to make websites work, or work more efficiently, as well as to provide information to the owners of the site.
You do not have to allow cookies to be placed on your machine.
Opting out of using cookies
Most web browsers allow some control of most cookies through the browser settings.
You can set your browser to notify you before receiving a cookie so that you can decide whether to accept it or you can refuse all cookies although this can adversely affect the operation of some websites.
The first time you visit the Oxford City Council website you will be asked if you want to accept cookies. You have at this time the option to edit your cookie settings for the site.
To find out more about cookies, including how to see what cookies have been set and how to manage and delete them, visit the All About Cookies website.
Refusing to accept a cookie will not stop you using Oxford City Council's website, but it may have an impact on available functionality.
How we use cookies on our websites
We want to provide online services that are easy to use, useful and reliable.
This can involve placing cookies on your computer or other device.
Cookies cannot be used to identify you personally.
These pieces of information are used to improve services for you through, for example:
- enabling a service to recognise your device so you don't have to give the same information several times during one task
- recognising that you may already have given a username and password so you don't need to do it for every web page requested
- measuring how people are using services, so they can be improved
