Accessibility Statement
EARL SHILTON TOWN COUNCIL – PUBLIC WEBSITE ACCESSIBILITY STATEMENT
This accessibility statement applies to the public website of Earl Shilton Town Council only:
This website is run by Earl Shilton Town Council. We want as many people as possible to be able to use this website. For example, that means you should be able to:
• zoom + to enlarge text.
• navigate each open page of the website using to some extent a keyboard.
• possibly navigate some of the website using speech recognition software.
• possibly listen to most of the website using a screen reader (including the most recent versions of JAWS, NVDA and VoiceOver).
We’ve also made the website text as simple as possible to understand.
AbilityNet has advice on making your device easier to use if you have a disability.
We know some parts of this website are not fully accessible:
• the text will not reflow in a single column when you change the size of the browser window.
• you cannot modify the line height or spacing of text.
• most older PDF documents are not fully accessible to screen reader software.
• live video streams if employed will not have captions.
• some of our online forms are difficult to navigate using just a keyboard.
• you cannot skip to the main content when using a screen reader.
• there’s a limit to how far you can magnify the map on our ‘contact us’ page.
Feedback and contact information:
If you need information on this website in a large print different format please call or email:
• email [email protected]
• call 01455 843386
We’ll consider your request and get back to you in as soon as possible.
If you cannot view the map on our ‘contact us’ page, telephone (01455 843386) or email ([email protected]) us [https://www.earlshiltontc.gov.uk/Town-Council.aspx] for directions.
Reporting accessibility problems with this website:
We’re always looking to improve the accessibility of this website. If you find any problems not listed on this page or think we’re not meeting accessibility requirements, contact the Town Clerk using the means described above and by which method you prefer. If necessary, ask a relative, friend or trusted carer to make initial contact with the Town Clerk.
Enforcement procedure
The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) is responsible for enforcing the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018 (the ‘accessibility regulations’). If you’re not happy with how we respond to any potential complaint, contact the Equality Advisory and Support Service (EASS).
Contacting us by telephone or visiting us in person.
We do not provide a text relay service for people who are D/deaf, hearing impaired or have a speech impediment.
Our Office does not have audio induction loops. If you need to, before your visit, please arrange a British Sign Language (BSL) interpreter to come with you.
Find out how to contact us [https://www.earlshiltontowncouncil.gov.uk/Town-Council.aspx].
Earl Shilton Town Council is committed to making its website accessible, in accordance with the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018.
Compliance status
There’s a legally required way of expressing the compliance status of the Council’s website, so it cannot be changed. The 3 options are as follows:]
1. This website is fully compliant with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines version 2.1 AA standard. Not applicable.
2. This website is partially compliant with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines version 2.1 AA standard, due to the non-compliances and exemptions listed below.
3. This website is not compliant with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines version 2.1 AA standard. The [insert one of the following: ‘non-compliances’, ‘exemptions’ or ‘non-compliances and exemptions’] are listed below. Not applicable
Non-accessible content (and see below Disproportionate burden)
The content listed below is non-accessible for the following reasons:
• the text will not reflow in a single column when you change the size of the browser window.
• you cannot modify the line height or spacing of text.
• most older PDF documents are not fully accessible to screen reader software.
• live video streams if any employed do not have captions.
• some of our online forms are difficult to navigate using just a keyboard.
• you cannot skip to the main content when using a screen reader.
• there’s a limit to how far you can magnify the map on our ‘contact us’ page.
Non-compliance with the accessibility regulations
• accessibility problems – see below Disproportionate burden.
• which of the WCAG 2.1 AA success criteria the problem fails on – see below Disproportionate burden.
• when you plan to fix the problem – see below Disproportionate burden.
Some images do not have a text alternative, so people using a screen reader cannot access the information. This fails WCAG 2.1 success criterion 1.1.1 (non-text content). – see below Disproportionate burden.
We plan to add text alternatives for all images by September 2020. When we publish new content we’ll make sure our use of images meets accessibility standards. – see below Disproportionate burden.
Disproportionate burden
Examples List:
Navigation and accessing information.
- There’s no way to skip the repeated content in the page header (for example, a ‘skip to main content’ option).
- It’s not always possible to change the device orientation from horizontal to vertical without making it more difficult to view the content.
- It’s not possible for users to change text size without some of the content overlapping.
Interactive tools and transactions.
- Some of our interactive forms are difficult to navigate using a keyboard. For example, because some form controls are missing a ‘label’ tag.
- Our forms are built and hosted through third party software and ‘skinned’ to look like our website.
Earl Shilton Town Council (ESTC) assessed the cost of fixing the issues with navigation and accessing information, and with interactive tools and transactions. ESTC believe that doing so now would be a disproportionate burden within the meaning of the accessibility regulations. We will make another assessment when the website supplier contract is reviewed.
Content that’s not within the scope of the accessibility regulations, e.g. historical deeds.
PDFs and other documents.
Some of our PDFs and Word documents may be essential to providing our services. For example, we may have PDFs with information on how users can access our services, and forms published as Word documents.
The accessibility regulations do not require us to fix PDFs or other documents published before 23 September 2018 if they’re not essential to providing our services. For example, we do not plan to fix, e.g. a third party poster published as a ‘news’ item.
We do not plan to add captions to any live video streams created because live video is exempt from meeting the accessibility regulations.
Preparation of this accessibility statement:
This statement was prepared on 10 August 2020. It was last reviewed on 10 August 2020.
This website was last tested on 18 June 2024. The test was carried out by Aubergine 262.
ESTC used a ‘click and turn’ method of deciding on sample pages to test starting with the ‘Home Page’.
In compiling this statement ESTC have followed the Government Digital Service template and guidance notes*** and the Statutory Instrument see the Annex below for the latter.
***
ESTC have limited staff, resources and budget. The main reason for the existence of the Town Council is to operate and maintain the Town’s Parks, Cemetery and a very limited number of public open spaces. Current documents of interest fall largely into the category of minutes of meetings of Council and Financial Accounts that largely comprise of invoices etc from third parties.
The other main effort of ESTC is to guide residents to the most appropriate principal Council (County or Borough) or other agency and this is usually done by word of mouth or ‘signposting’ individuals to the appropriate principal Council’s website.
This Council will always, in a timely and comprehensive manner, discharge its accessibility obligation to any person in genuine need by providing free of charge a:
- Workable word format document electronically.
- Suitable colour printed copy document.
- Suitable colour photocopy document, historical or current.
ME Jackson, Town Clerk
Annex to Public Website Accessibility Statement – Earl Shilton Town Council
STATUTORY INSTRUMENTS 2018 No. 952 EQUALITY –
PUBLIC SECTOR INFORMATION
The Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) –
Accessibility Regulations 2018
PART 2
Obligations for public sector bodies
Obligation to make websites and mobile applications accessible
Subject to regulation 7, public sector bodies must comply with the accessibility requirement.
Disproportionate burden assessment
7.—(1) Regulation 6 does not require a public sector body to comply with the accessibility requirement if doing so would impose a disproportionate burden on the public sector body.
(2) A public sector body must perform an assessment of the extent to which compliance with the accessibility requirement imposes a disproportionate burden.
(3) In undertaking such an assessment, a public sector body must take account of relevant circumstances, including—
(a) The size, resources and nature of the public sector body; and
(b) The estimated costs and benefits for the public sector body in relation to the estimated benefits for persons with disabilities, taking into account the frequency and duration of use of the specific website or mobile application.
(4) If, following the assessment, a public sector body determines that compliance with the accessibility requirement would impose a disproportionate burden, it must—
(a) Explain in its accessibility statement the parts of the accessibility requirement that could not be complied with; and
(b) Where appropriate, provide accessible alternatives to documents held by that public sector body that are not available on their website or mobile application.