Melton Ross & New Barnetby Parish Council – Website Accessibility Policy

Melton Ross & New Barnetby Parish Council is committed to ensuring that its website is accessible to as many people as possible. We want every resident, regardless of ability or technology, to be able to use this site with ease. This policy explains our approach to accessibility, the standards we aim to meet, and how you can report issues.

1. Our Commitment to Accessibility

We aim to make this website compliant with the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) Accessibility Regulations 2018 and consistent with the principles of the Transparency Code for Smaller Authorities, ensuring that all required public information is accessible, readable, and available in open formats wherever possible.

We are committed to:

Providing clear, structured, and easy‑to‑navigate content

Ensuring text is readable and resizable

Supporting assistive technologies

Offering alternative formats for essential documents

Continually improving accessibility as part of our ongoing website management

2. Website Features Supporting Accessibility

The website platform (HugoFox) includes built‑in accessibility tools to support users with visual or cognitive impairments. These include:

Adjustable contrast settings

Text enlargement

Simplified layouts

Keyboard navigation support

Users can turn these features ON or OFF using the accessibility toggle available on every page of the site .

3. Compliance Status

We aim to meet WCAG 2.1 AA standards. This website is partially compliant, meaning some content may not yet fully meet accessibility requirements. These areas include:

Older PDF documents that may not be fully screen‑reader compatible

Scanned documents that cannot be read by assistive technology

Third‑party content not under our control

We are working to improve these areas as part of our ongoing commitment to transparency and accessibility.

4. Documents and Transparency Requirements

Under the Transparency Code for Smaller Authorities, we publish a range of documents including:

Meeting agendas and minutes

Financial reports and AGAR forms

Policies and procedures

Councillor information

Where possible, these documents are provided in accessible formats. If a document is not accessible (for example, a scanned PDF), we will provide an alternative version on request.

5. Reporting Accessibility Issues

If you experience difficulty accessing any part of this website or require information in a different format (such as large print, audio, or accessible PDF), please contact:

Melton Ross & New Barnetby Parish Council C/o 6 Darbeck Road Scotter Gainsborough Lincolnshire DN21 3SU

Email: Clerk@meltonross-newbarnetby-pc.gov.uk

We will respond within 10 working days.

6. Enforcement Procedure

If you are not satisfied with our response, you can contact the Equality Advisory and Support Service (EASS), which provides advice and assistance on equality and discrimination issues.

7. Ongoing Improvements

We review this website regularly and update content to improve accessibility and transparency. We also review this policy annually or when significant changes are made to the website or legal requirements.

Last updated: May 2026