Accessibility & compliance — built in, not bolted on
We build with accessibility at the centre, following WCAG 2.2 AA standards, and we structure sites so a clerk has a clear place for the documents a council is expected to publish. No fake accessibility overlays. This page is general information for councils. It is not legal advice, and it is not a guarantee that a live site meets WCAG 2.2 AA.
Accessibility regulations
The Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018 apply to council websites. GOV.UK’s current expectation is WCAG 2.2 AA. We build with accessibility at the centre, following WCAG 2.2 AA standards. Automated scans cannot certify a live site. We do not claim that a council site meets WCAG 2.2 AA, and we do not add overlay widgets.
Transparency
Larger local authorities follow the Local Government Transparency Code 2015. The smallest parish councils (those at or under £25,000 turnover) follow the separate transparency code for smaller authorities. The two codes are not the same list. We do not say that every parish must publish every item in the 2015 Code. We do give spend, the AGAR, councillor responsibilities, minutes and agendas a clear place on the site.
AGAR and public rights
The Accounts and Audit Regulations 2015 require smaller authorities to publish the Annual Governance and Accountability Return and the notice of public rights. Assertion 10 of the annual governance statement is the council’s own statement that it has met its duties. We do not sign it, and we do not issue a certificate. We provide a page and remind you what it is for. NALC publishes practical guidance for clerks.
Freedom of information
Parish and town councils are public authorities under the Freedom of Information Act 2000. The Information Commissioner expects a publication scheme. We include a page for it. The council decides what the scheme covers and answers requests. We do not answer FOI requests for the council.
Data protection
The council is the controller of personal information on its own website. When we host that site, we are the processor and we act on the council’s instructions. Our privacy notice explains the difference, and our terms include the processor clauses.
.gov.uk domains and email
Parish and town councils can apply for a .gov.uk domain. It is the address residents expect, and it is what we recommend. It is not a rule that every council must already be using one. We are not a registrar. We help you apply through Krystal Hosting, an approved registrar, and we help point the domain at the new site.
What we provide
- A theme built with accessibility at the centre, following WCAG 2.2 AA standards
- Hosting, security updates and backups
- A template accessibility statement the council can maintain
- A structure for minutes, the AGAR, policies and councillor information
What the council is responsible for
- The accessibility of content it uploads, including PDFs, images and link text
- Publishing deadlines, including the notice of public rights
- Keeping its own accessibility statement up to date
- Its role as data controller, and answering FOI and resident requests
This is general information, not legal advice
Publication duties depend on the council’s size and on the latest guidance. Ask your clerk’s association, auditor, or a solicitor if you need a decision on what your council must publish. We will not tell you that a site meets WCAG 2.2 AA.