The 2025 Practitioners’ Guide introduced a crucial update: Assertion 10 – Digital and Data Compliance. This new requirement places a clear and strengthened focus on how smaller authorities manage their digital presence, data protection, and IT systems.
Councils have always been required to comply with the Data Protection Act 2018 and UK GDPR 2016, but Assertion 10 has placed a sharper spotlight on this duty. What that means in practice, though, isn’t always straightforward.
SALC acknowledges the impact of these changes and is developing guidance to support councils. To assist members, SALC hosted a free webinar on October 20th titled "Navigating Assertion 10 - Update on Data Compliance".
The session was led by Daniel Purchese, Strategic advisor on data protection and digital communications for local councils at Breakthrough Communications.
The aim of this practical session was to refresh the key principles of data protection compliance, unpack what Assertion 10 requires in relation to the Data Protection Act and UK GDPR, and give clerks and officers clear, workable steps to build confidence in achieving and maintaining compliance.
The session was followed by a short Q & A. The ICO factsheet on the use of personal devices discussed is available here.
If you were unable to attend, you can catch up by watching the session recording and reviewing the presentation slides.