Harrietsham Parish Council Accessibility Statement

This accessibility statement applies to the Harrietsham Parish Council Website harrietshampc.org.uk

This website is run by Harrietsham Parish Council. We want as many people as possible to be able to use this website. For example, that means you should be able to:

• change colours, contrast levels and fonts
• zoom in up to 300% without the text spilling off the screen
• navigate most of the website using just a keyboard
• navigate most of the website using speech recognition software
• 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.

 

How accessible this website is

We know some parts of this website are not fully accessible.  These issues are described in detail in the 'Non-accessible content' section of this statement.  As of 12th February 2024, we have been informed by HugoFox that our website is fully compliant with the new WCAG2.2AA accessibility standards.

 

Feedback and contact information

If you need information on this website in a different format like accessible PDF, large print, easy read, audio recording or braille:

● Email: [email protected]

● Call: 01622 850089

● Write to:       Harrietsham Parish Council

                        4 Southfields Way

                        Harrietsham

                        Maidstone

                        Kent

                        ME17 1GE

 

We will consider your request and get back to you in 15 working days.

 

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:

Mrs A Broadhurst

Parish Clerk

Email: [email protected]

● Call: 01622 850089

● Write to:      Harrietsham Parish Council

                      4 Southfields Way

                      Harrietsham

                      Maidstone

                      Kent

                      ME17 1GE

 

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 your complaint, contact the Equality Advisory and Support Service (EASS).

 

Contacting us by phone or visiting us in person

Find out how to contact us.

 

Technical information about this website’s accessibility

Harrietsham Parish 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

This website is partially compliant with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines version 2.1 AA standard. The non-compliances and exemptions are listed below.

As of 12th February 2024, we have been informed by HugoFox that our website is fully compliant with the new WCAG2.2AA accessibility standards.

 

Non-accessible content

The content listed below is non-accessible for the following reasons.

 

Non-compliance with the accessibility regulations

The privacy policy link in the footer, the share link in the sidebar content, and dropdown menu icons when viewed in certain high contrast modes all create contrast issues. This fails WCAG 1.4.3 Contrast Minimum (AA) and 1.4.11 Non-text Contrast (AA). We do not have control over these elements and have raise this issue with Hugh Fox.

 

The various social media links are not clearly described for screen readers and some links on the privacy policy page are presented as a full URL. These fail WCAG 2.4.4 Link Purpose (A). We do not have control over these elements and have raise this issue with Hugh Fox.

 

Within the Sign up for Email Alerts popup there is a selection of checkboxes which allow users to select what kinds of emails they would like to receive. These have a label to explain what the checkboxes are for but this is not read out for screen reader users when they first tab to the checkboxes. This fails WCAG 3.3.2 Labels or Instructions (A). We do not have control over these elements and have raise this issue with Hugh Fox.

 

Disproportionate burden

At this time we have made no claims of disproportionate burden.

 

Content that’s not within the scope of the accessibility regulations

Portable Document Format (PDF) and other documents

Some of our PDFs and Word documents are essential to providing our services. By September 2020, we plan to either fix these or replace them with accessible HTML pages.

 

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 historical council meeting minute documents published before 23rd September 2018. 

 

Some of the PDFs we publish are statutory requirements. We receive these in a locked or set format that we have limited or no control over but must publish. The regulations provide an exemption for such 3rd party documents.

 

Harrietsham Parish Council produced a Residential Planning Design Policy in 2015.  Whilst this was published before the 23rd September 2018, an accessible copy has also been added (found in Parish Council documents). 

 

Guidance for reporting Highway and Flytipping issues (found in Parish Council documents) are scanned flowcharts received from Kent County or Maidstone Borough Councils and can not be altered.  The regulations provide an exemption for such 3rd party content.

 

The Local Needs Housing Form (found in Parish Council documents) is a scanned copy of a Borough Council form.  The regulations provide an exemption for such 3rd party content.

Some documents such as the Ashford Road and Church Road Traffic Surveys (February 2021) (found on the Traffic Surveys page) were supplied to the Parish Council in a locked format that we have no control over.  These have been published on our website as they are of interest to Parishioners.  The regulations provide an exemption for such 3rd party content.

Any new PDFs or Word documents we publish will meet accessibility standards.

Planning Tracker

This website uses a Planning tracker plugin which connects to the local Borough Council Planning information. Harrietsham Parish Council neither funds, has control of or developed this service and so claims exemption for 3rd party content.

Focus indication is lost when moving through the navigation menu and on some links on the Planning Tracker Page. This fails WCAG 2.4.7 Focus Visible (AA).

User input fields on the Planning Tracker refine options are not correctly labelled. This fails WCAG 1.3.5 Identify Input Purpose (AA) and 3.3.2 Labels and Instructions (A).

 

Online Maps

Maps that are present on our website and are not used for navigational purposes are exempt under the regulations. We use several maps to show planning or other geographical information.  If users require an accessible alternative to this information, please contact us.

 

3rd Party Content

There are sections of the website that are provided by the supplier which the Council has no control over, did not develop and does not pay for, as the website is provided at no charge to the Council.

 

What we’re doing to improve accessibility

Harrietsham Parish Council is working with the website supplier Hugo Fox to resolve accessibility issues on the website.

 

Preparation of this accessibility statement

This statement was prepared on 25th August 2020. It was last reviewed on 19th February 2024. This website was last tested on 16th September 2020. The test was carried out by All Able Ltd. All pages of the website were tested along with a sample of the documents from each area of the website.