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Digital Accessibility for Parish and Town Councils

Start somewhere. Start now.

Digital accessibility is a legal requirement for every parish and town council in England and Wales. Most councils are still working out what that means in practice, and that is exactly where we can help. You do not need to rebuild your website. You do not need a digital team. You just need to start.

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Five things your council needs to know

Digital accessibility is a legal requirement for every council, regardless of size. The Public Sector Bodies Accessibility Regulations (PSBAR) apply to all parish and town councils in England and Wales.

Assertion 10 is now part of your Annual Governance and Accountability Return (AGAR). Introduced in the 2025/26 AGAR, it covers digital compliance including website accessibility. It will appear every year from now on. Read our plain-English guide to Assertion 10.

You are not expected to be perfect. You are expected to evidence action. Proportionate progress is the standard, not a fully compliant website overnight.
Your documents and PDFs are covered too. Minutes, agendas and notices published on your website fall under the same regulations as the site itself. Inaccessible PDFs are one of the most common issues we find on parish council websites, and one of the most fixable.
Most councils are starting from the same place. What makes the difference is taking one small, documented step and building from there

Does your council have an Accessibility Statement?

An Accessibility Statement is a legal requirement under PSBAR, and one of the first things an auditor will look for. It tells residents what your council is doing about website accessibility, what is accessible, what is not, and what you plan to do next.

Many parish councils either do not have one, or have one that is out of date or missing key information. 

Download our free accessibility statement checklist

Accessibility is about your residents, not just the regulator

Somewhere in your parish, a resident is trying to read your council’s minutes and can’t. For many residents, an inaccessible website isn’t an inconvenience, it’s a barrier to information they have every right to access.

Six reasons to start your accessibility journey

Be ready for Assertion 10

Build a clear, honest evidence trail for your Annual Governance Statement and walk into next year’s AGAR with something to show.

Serve every resident

Make sure every resident, regardless of disability, age, or how they access the internet, can find what they need on your council website.

Answer the auditor's question

When an auditor asks what your council has done, you’ll have a documented, honest answer, not a blank page.

A website that works for everyone

Clearer headings, readable documents and mobile-friendly pages don’t just help residents with disabilities, they make your site better for everyone.

Take it off your to-do list

Clerks managing accessibility alongside everything else deserve practical support, not more jargon. We help you get it done without needing a digital team.

Show your community you care

An accessible council website tells residents that their council is thinking about them, all of them. That matters more than any compliance checkbox.
PDF open in acrobat being checked for accessibility

The PDF problem, and why it matters for parish councils

PDFs are one of the biggest accessibility risks for parish councils, and the most overlooked.
Meeting minutes, agendas, planning notices and council reports are published every week.

The good news: it is one of the more fixable issues. Understanding which of your documents are creating barriers is a practical, achievable first step.

Free PDF Remediation Scan

What are the risks of not taking action?

From audit failures to legal action, the risks of doing nothing are real.

Fines and legal action from the Equality and Human Rights Commission.
Unable to evidence Assertion 10 at audit.
Reputational damage within the local community.
Residents with disabilities unable to access council information.
Inaccessible documents and PDFs going undetected and uncorrected.
No evidence trail if a resident or organisation makes a formal complaint.

Free Resources for Parish and Town Councils

Not sure where to start? Everything below is free and built with parish and town councils in mind.

A Quick Guide to AGAR Assertion 10 and Accessibility for Local Councils

A Quick Guide to AGAR Assertion 10 and Accessibility for Local Councils

Everything your council needs to know about Assertion 10, what it requires, what evidence looks like, and what proportionate action means in practice. 

Read the guide
Two council employees review a document on a tablet, alongside text reading “The hidden cost of inaccessible PDFs for UK councils.”

The Hidden Cost of Inaccessible PDFs for UK Councils

Why the documents your council publishes every week may be creating barriers for residents, and what you can do about it.

Explore the hidden costs

Creating an Accessible PDF Checklist 

Most parish councils publish inaccessible PDFs without knowing it. This checklist tells you what to check before publishing minutes, agendas and notices.

Get Your Free Checklist

Trusted by Parish and Town Councils across England and Wales

Speak to an Expert

“We really want to meet the needs of the people who live and work in Preston, and we believe the tools Recite Me offer helps us achieve this. Recite Me helps us by making our website and content accessible for all.”

Ian Heslop, Digital and Web Manager, Preston City Council