Terms of Use

1. Agreement to Terms

By accessing and using Harrogate Community Pulse ("Platform," "Service," "we," "us," or "our"), you agree to be bound by these Terms of Use ("Terms"). If you do not agree to these Terms, you may not use the Platform.

Acceptance: By registering an account, clicking "I Agree," or using any part of our Platform, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms and our Privacy Policy.

2. Eligibility

To use Harrogate Community Pulse, you must:

• Be at least 18 years of age
• Be a resident of Harrogate (as verified by postcode)
• Have the legal capacity to enter into binding contracts
• Provide accurate and complete registration information
• Maintain the security of your account credentials

Age Verification

By creating an account, you certify that you are at least 18 years old. We reserve the right to request proof of age and residency at any time.

Residency Verification

You must provide a valid Harrogate postcode during registration. We verify residency using the UK Postcodes.io API. Providing false information is grounds for immediate account termination.

3. Account Registration and Security

3.1 Account Creation

To use certain features, you must create an account by providing:

• Full name
• Valid email address
• Harrogate postcode
• Secure password (minimum 6 characters)

3.2 Account Security

You are responsible for:

• Maintaining the confidentiality of your password
• All activities that occur under your account
• Notifying us immediately of any unauthorized use
• Using a strong, unique password

3.3 Account Approval

New accounts require administrative approval before full access is granted. This typically takes 1-2 business days. We reserve the right to deny registration for any reason.

3.4 One Account Per Person

You may only create and maintain one account. Creating multiple accounts to manipulate voting or circumvent restrictions is strictly prohibited and will result in permanent ban.

4. Acceptable Use

4.1 Permitted Uses

You may use the Platform to:

• Vote on community polls and issues
• Create polls about local Harrogate matters
• Comment on polls and engage in constructive discussion
• Respond to polls (if you are an official or councillor)
• View community statistics and trends
• Follow issues that interest you

4.2 Prohibited Uses

5. Content Guidelines

5.1 User-Generated Content

When you create polls, comments, or other content ("User Content"), you agree that:

• Content must be relevant to Harrogate community matters
• Content must be civil, respectful, and constructive
• Content must not violate any laws or third-party rights
• You are solely responsible for your content
• We may (but are not obligated to) moderate content

5.2 Content Standards

Polls must:

• Relate to genuine community issues or questions
• Have clear, unbiased wording
• Provide meaningful voting options
• Not be duplicates of existing polls
• Not be jokes, pranks, or frivolous

Comments must:

• Be relevant to the poll being discussed
• Be constructive and add value to the conversation
• Respect differing opinions
• Not contain personal attacks

5.3 Content Ownership and License

You retain ownership of content you post, but by posting you grant us:

• A worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free license
• To use, display, reproduce, and distribute your content on the Platform
• To create aggregated, anonymized statistics from your content
• To archive content for the community record

This license continues even if you delete your account, as polls and discussions form part of the public community record.

5.4 Content Removal

We reserve the right to remove any content that:

• Violates these Terms
• Is reported by multiple users
• Is determined to be harmful or inappropriate
• Violates legal requirements

We will attempt to notify you of removed content, but are not obligated to do so.

6. Voting and Participation

6.1 Voting Rules

• One vote per poll: You may only vote once on each poll
• No vote changing: Votes are final and cannot be changed
• Vote privacy: Your specific vote choices are private (only you and admins can see)
• Vote counts: The number of votes you've cast may be public

6.2 Poll Creation

• All new polls require administrative approval before going live
• Polls may be edited or rejected if they don't meet standards
• You'll be notified of approval/rejection within 2 business days
• Rejected polls may be resubmitted with revisions

6.3 Vote Manipulation

The following are strictly prohibited and will result in permanent ban:

• Creating multiple accounts to vote multiple times
• Using bots or automation to vote
• Coordinating vote brigading
• Paying or incentivizing others to vote a certain way
• Any other form of vote manipulation

7. Intellectual Property

7.1 Platform Ownership

The Platform, including its design, code, graphics, logos, and content (excluding User Content), is owned by Harrogate Community Pulse and protected by UK and international copyright, trademark, and other intellectual property laws.

7.2 Permitted Use of Platform

You may:

• Access and use the Platform for personal, non-commercial purposes
• Share links to polls and pages
• Discuss the Platform publicly

7.3 Prohibited Use

You may NOT:

• Copy, modify, or create derivative works of the Platform
• Reverse engineer or decompile any part of the Platform
• Remove or alter copyright notices
• Use our trademarks without permission
• Frame or mirror the Platform on another website

7.4 Copyright Infringement

If you believe content on our Platform infringes your copyright:

Email: legal@harrogatepulse.co.uk
Include: Description of copyrighted work, location on our Platform, your contact information, and a statement of good faith belief that use is unauthorized.

8. Official and Councillor Accounts

8.1 Verification

Users claiming to be officials or councillors must provide verification:

• Official council email address
• Proof of elected/appointed position
• Identity verification

8.2 Additional Responsibilities

Officials and councillors must:

• Respond to community concerns professionally
• Provide honest, accurate information
• Disclose conflicts of interest
• Comply with relevant codes of conduct
• Not use the platform for political campaigning

8.3 Official Responses

Official responses are:

• Public record
• Attributed to the official
• Archived indefinitely
• May be cited or quoted publicly

9. Privacy and Data Use

Your use of the Platform is also governed by our Privacy Policy, which explains:

• What personal data we collect
• How we use and protect your data
• Your rights under UK GDPR
• How we use cookies
• How we share aggregated, anonymized data

By using the Platform, you consent to data collection and use as described in our Privacy Policy.

Aggregated Data

We may create and sell aggregated, anonymized data (e.g., "HG1 residents prioritize infrastructure 40%"). This data cannot identify individual users and is compliant with UK GDPR.

10. Disclaimers and Limitations of Liability

10.1 "As Is" Disclaimer

THE PLATFORM IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE" WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO:

• Warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose
• Non-infringement or accuracy of content
• Uninterrupted or error-free operation
• Freedom from viruses or harmful components

10.2 No Guarantee of Results

We do not guarantee that:

• Officials will respond to polls
• Polls will result in action by the council
• Your voice will influence specific decisions
• The Platform will always be available

10.3 Third-Party Content

We are not responsible for:

• Content posted by users
• Accuracy of user-submitted information
• Links to external websites
• Actions taken by officials in response to polls

10.4 Limitation of Liability

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW:

• WE SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES
• OUR TOTAL LIABILITY SHALL NOT EXCEED £100 (ONE HUNDRED POUNDS)
• THIS APPLIES EVEN IF WE HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES

10.5 Exceptions

Nothing in these Terms excludes or limits liability for:

• Death or personal injury caused by negligence
• Fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation
• Any other liability that cannot be excluded by UK law

11. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Harrogate Community Pulse, its officers, directors, employees, and agents from any claims, damages, losses, liabilities, and expenses (including legal fees) arising from:

• Your use of the Platform
• Your violation of these Terms
• Your violation of any law or third-party rights
• Your User Content
• Your negligence or misconduct

12. Termination

12.1 Termination by You

You may terminate your account at any time by:

• Emailing us at hello@harrogatepulse.co.uk

Upon termination, your personal data will be deleted as described in our Privacy Policy, but your public polls and comments will be anonymized (attributed to "Deleted User").

12.2 Termination by Us

We may suspend or terminate your account immediately if you:

• Violate these Terms
• Engage in prohibited conduct
• Manipulate voting or create multiple accounts
• Post illegal or harmful content
• Abuse other users or officials

12.3 Effect of Termination

Upon termination:

• You lose access to your account
• You may not create a new account without our permission
• Sections of these Terms that should survive (intellectual property, indemnification, disclaimers) remain in effect
• Public content is anonymized but not deleted

13. Changes to Terms

We may modify these Terms at any time. When we do:

• We'll update the "Last Updated" date
• For significant changes, we'll email you at least 7 days in advance
• Continued use after changes constitutes acceptance
• You may terminate your account if you disagree with changes

14. Changes to Platform

We reserve the right to:

• Modify or discontinue any feature of the Platform
• Change pricing (if we introduce paid features)
• Suspend the Platform for maintenance
• Permanently discontinue the Platform with 30 days notice

We will attempt to provide reasonable notice for significant changes.

15. Dispute Resolution

15.1 Informal Resolution

Before initiating formal proceedings, please contact us at legal@harrogatepulse.co.uk to attempt informal resolution. We'll work in good faith to resolve disputes.

15.2 Governing Law

These Terms are governed by the laws of England and Wales, without regard to conflict of law principles.

15.3 Jurisdiction

Any disputes shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales.

15.4 Class Action Waiver

You agree to bring claims only in your individual capacity and not as part of any class action or representative proceeding.

16. General Provisions

16.1 Entire Agreement

These Terms, together with our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy, constitute the entire agreement between you and Harrogate Community Pulse.

16.2 Severability

If any provision of these Terms is found invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions will remain in full effect.

16.3 No Waiver

Our failure to enforce any right or provision does not constitute a waiver of that right or provision.

16.4 Assignment

You may not assign or transfer these Terms. We may assign these Terms without restriction.

16.5 Force Majeure

We are not liable for delays or failures due to circumstances beyond our reasonable control (acts of God, war, strikes, internet outages, etc.).

16.6 Notices

Legal notices must be sent to:
Email: legal@harrogatepulse.co.uk

17. Contact Information

For questions about these Terms:

General Inquiries:
Email: hello@harrogatepulse.co.uk

Legal Matters:
Email: legal@harrogatepulse.co.uk

Privacy Questions:
Email: privacy@harrogatepulse.co.uk

Technical Support:
Email: support@harrogatepulse.co.uk

18. Acknowledgment

BY USING HARROGATE COMMUNITY PULSE, YOU ACKNOWLEDGE THAT:

• You have read and understood these Terms
• You agree to be bound by these Terms
• You are eligible to use the Platform
• You understand your rights and obligations
• You have read our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy