Accessibility
Accessibility Statement
This accessibility statement applies to the information on:
Using this website
We want as many people as possible to be able to use this website.
You can:
- change colours, contrast levels and fonts
- zoom in 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
- use most of the website using a screen reader
Some parts of our website are not fully accessible
- some pages and document attachments are not clearly written
- some heading elements are not consistent
- some page titles are not unique
- some form labels are not unique
- some images do not have good alternative text
- some pages scroll in two dimensions on small screens
- many documents are in PDF format and are not accessible
Meeting accessibility requirements
Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No.2) Accessibility Regulations 2018) came into force on 23rd September 2018
We are working towards making sure:
- Our website text is as simple as possible to understand
- Text is kept short, plain and simply formatted
- Our default is to create all content in the article body of the website, and avoid publishing PDF’s where possible
- If PDF’s are unavoidable, they will meet accessibility standards before being placed in the public domain
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: enquiries@pembrokeshire.gov.uk
phone: (01437) 764551
Reporting accessibility issues with our website
We’re always looking to improve the accessibility of our website. If you find any issues or feel we’re not meeting accessibility requirements contact:
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, please contact the Equality Advisory and Support Service (EASS) (opens in a new tab).
Contacting us by phone or visiting us in person
We provide a text relay service for people who are Deaf, deaf, hearing impaired or have a speech impediment.
Our offices have audio induction loops, or if you contact us before your visit we can arrange a British Sign Language (BSL) interpreter.
email: enquiries@pembrokeshire.gov.uk
phone: (01437) 764551
For more information about our accessibility arrangements, please contact:
Jessica Hatchett, Pembrokeshire County Council Access Officer
email: jessica.hatchett@pembrokeshire.gov.uk
phone: (01437) 775148
Technical information about this website’s accessibility
We are committed to making our 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 (opens in a new tab), due to the non-compliances listed below.
Non-accessible content - Non-compliance regulations
The content listed below is non-accessible for the following reasons:
- Some tables do not have table row headers when needed WCAG 2.1 A 1.3.1 success criterion (Info and Relationships).
- Headings on some pages are not in a logical order WCAG 2.1 1.3.1 A success criterion (Info and Relationships).
- Some page titles are not unique. They do not accurately describe the topic or purpose of the page WCAG 2.4.2 A success criterion (Page Titled).
- Link text does not identify the purpose of the link WCAG 2.1 2.4.4 A success criterion (Link Purpose (In Context).
- Images on pages do not always have suitable alternative text. Some images are missing alternative text and some have incomplete text WCAG 2.1 1.1.1 A success criterion (Non-text Content).
- Some pages do not allow the use of a keyboard to access all content and functionality WCAG 2.1.1 (Keyboard)
- Content is not presented without loss of information or functionality and without required scrolling in two dimensions WCAG 2.1 1.4.10 (Reflow)
We are currently in the process of a full web review of our corporate site, in order to resolve the non-accessible content highlighted above. Review to be completed and changes across the site implemented by January 2023
Content that’s not within the scope of the accessibility regulations
PDFs and other documents
New documents we publish to access our services should be fully accessible.
However, we know that some of our older documents are not accessible. For example, some of them:
- are not marked up in a way that allows screen reader users to understand them
- are not tagged up properly, for example they do not contain proper headings
- are not written in plain English
- do not have a specified language attributed
Some of these are historic documents and are not essential to providing our services. These types of documents are exempt from the regulations. We do not currently have any plans to make them accessible.
If you need to access information in one of these document types, please contact us on enquiries@pembrokeshire.gov.uk and ask for an alternative format.
Live video
We do not plan to add captions to live video streams because live video is exempt from meeting the accessibility regulations (opens in a new tab) .
Licensing Applications
All application form templates used in relation to the Licensing Act 2003 and the Gambling Act 2005 follow a standard statutory template issued by the Home Office, which we are unable to amend
Third Party systems and applications
We link to and use content provided by other websites and these are not always as accessible. These include:
- Modern.gov Councillor information, meetings, agendas, and minutes
- Online library
- Planning portal
- idox/EROS (electoral services)
- iCasework (Disclosure log: Freedom of Information Act 2000 and the Environmental Information Regulations 2004)
We have started discussions with our suppliers to address accessibility issues on systems we have bought from them.
Disproportionate burden
Statement of Accounts
Due to the complexity of the document and the nature and format of the tables included in the CIPFA Code, further consideration is needed to help ensure that the Statement of Accounts are presented in a way that is fully accessible.
We will work towards achieving compliance, whilst adhering to the complexities of the prescribed presentation reporting requirements of CIPFA’s Code of Practice on Local Authority Accounting.
Landscape Character Assessment
This is a complex and technical document due to the use of LANDMAP. This is a unique assessment system, allowing information about landscape to be gathered, organised and evaluated into a complete nationally consistent dataset using the LANDMAP Portal and GIS mapping (Mapinfo or ArcGIS) Due to the use of the LANDMAP assessment system the Assessment report contains, 62 maps, 64 accompanying images to support the maps and table data from the LANDMAP aspects tool. For this reason, further consideration is needed, to look at how the Landscape Character Assessment can be presented in a way that is fully accessible.
Local Development Plan
Due to the technical evidence base which includes a large amount of maps, images and data tables further consideration is needed to help ensure that the evidence base for the Local Development Plan is presented in a way that is fully accessible.
In order to address this going forward, the Planning Team have included a stipulation that any reports, assessments or consultations produced by external consultants will need to be made available in an accessible format in order to meet the new procurement requirements.
What we are doing to improve accessibility
Website testing is carried out by our Web Team for compliance with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines V2.1 level A and level AA.
We use Silktide tool to monitor any issues regarding accessibility and aim to fix any issues that has been found as soon as possible. We use Adobe Pro's accessibility checker to check the PDF documents. Where possible, we are publishing documents in HTML format.
How we tested our website’s accessibility
Silktide tests our site every month. For the latest report, please visit the results page at the Silktide website (opens in a new tab)
Our Digital Team uses the WAVE Evaluation Tool and Axe browser extension for checking individual web pages, and the Silktide tool for checking and monitoring the whole site's accessibility status.
A sample of our website content is regularly being used to update and calculate the Pembrokeshire County Council website on the Silktide index (opens in a new tab)
Preparation of this accessibility statement
This statement was prepared on 1st November 2021.
It was last reviewed on 23rd November 2023
This website was last tested on 14th March 2024