It will cost parish councils over £3.5m a year to implement new data rules, the National Association of Local Councils (NALC) has warned.
NALC said that every council will be forced to appoint a Data Protection Officer under the introduction of General Data Protection Regulations regardless of their size or data use.
Chairman of NALC, cllr Sue Baxter has called on the Government to provide local councils with funding to help implement the new legislation in May.
Cllr Baxter said: 'While NALC broadly welcomes the principles of the Data Protection Bill, it is vital these new measures are proportionate and the impact of GDPR on our sector is fully understood by the Government. On a number of occasions recently the Government has acknowledged the very important services delivered by parish councils and their role in improving quality of life and well being of communities.
'It is therefore vital the Government mitigates the financial impact of the Bill and GDPR on our councils, and ultimately residents in our communities, by providing new burdens funding. I have stressed to the Government my keenness to work with them on this important issue.'
