Accessibility Statement
This accessibility statement applies to the South Ribble Borough Council website and the following domains:
- https://southribble.gov.uk/
- https://southribble.moderngov.co.uk/
- https://southribble-ss.achieveservice.com/
This website is run by South Ribble Borough Council. We want as many people as possible to be able to use this website on a variety of devices. For example, that means you should be able to:
- change colours, contrast levels and fonts
- zoom in up to 400% without the text spilling off the screen
- navigate most of the website using just a keyboard
- listen to most of the website using a screen reader (including the most recent versions of JAWS, NVDA, VoiceOver and TalkBack)
- discern the structure and order of web pages and content
we have 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.
View the website your way
We use BrowseAloud accessibility tool on our website, which lets you customise your website experience to work in a way that helps you.
To use BrowseAloud accessibility tool, select 'Speak' option from the circular orange button on the top bar on the right.
View more information on accessibility tools on this website.
How accessible this website is
We know some parts of this website are not fully accessible:
- there is no skip to content link on some pages of the website
- links on some pages are only distinguished by a change in colour and are not descriptive enough to tell a user where that link will take them
- the focus order is not logical in places
- error messaging is not announced by a screen reader
- not all PDF and other documents are fully accessible to screen reader software
- content and functionality provided by third party suppliers is not always fully accessible
- people with sight loss may not be able to see some images clearly on a page.
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 info@southribble.gov.uk
- call 01772 625 625
We will consider your request and get back to you in 10 working days.
Reporting accessibility problems with this website
We are always looking to improve the accessibility of this website. If you find any problems not listed on this page or think we are not meeting accessibility requirements, please email info@southribble.gov.uk
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 are 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
We can provide a text service for people who are 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.
Technical information about this website's accessibility
South Ribble Borough 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, due to the non-compliances and exemptions listed below.
Non-accessible content
The content listed below is non-accessible for the following reasons.
Accessibility Issue | Where the issue is found | Plans to fix the issue |
WCAG 2.4.3 Focus Order Users should be able to navigate a web page in an order that makes sense. Keyboard navigation should reflect a navigation sequence that is consistent with the meaning of content | Home page
| Our website provider is aware of the issue and will initiate a fix in the next update of the system.
The update will amend the tab order so it is semantically correct in the flow of items. This will be complete, latest 30 June 2022. |
WCAG 2.4.4 Link Purpose (In Context) and WCAG 4.1.2 Name, Role, Value Links must have discernible text. | Accessibility statement
Contact us
Coronavirus This refers to:
Other instances of non-compiance accross the site | All links have been updated on said pages and a programme of work to update all links without discernible text across the website is underway and should be complete by April 2024. |
WCAG 1.1.1 Non-text Content
People with sight loss may not be able to see an image clearly on a page. Text alternatives can be used by screen readers to share the same information a sighted user would get from the image. | Make a complaint
| We are currently in the process of replacing our Firmstep system, which is our CRM and form solution that is used for customers to report issues to the Council. The above issue will be resolved as part of the new solution which is estimated to be in place by April 2024. |
| Some PDF documents published post September 2018 inaccessible | Across the website | Some of our PDFs and Word documents are essential to providing our services. For example, we have PDFs with information on planning policies, and minutes of council meetings, and forms published as Word documents. By April 2024, we plan to either fix inaccessible PDFs or replace them with accessible HTML pages. Any new PDFs or Word documents we publish will meet accessibility standards or will be used only as an accompanyment to where the same information can be found via HTML page. |
| Accessibility issues with Firmstep platform which is our CRM and form solution that is used for customers to report issues to the Council | There are known accessibility issues with the Firmstep platform and we have raised a ticket with the provider to provide a breakdown of elements which are inaccessible, not meeting Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018. | There are some known accessibility issues within our Firmstep system which is our CRM and form solution that is used for customers to report issues to the Council. The system is currently under review, with replacement on the forward plan as part of the Council's Digital Strategy. The full system is to be replaced in April 2024. |
Disproportionate burden
Firmstep accessibility issues
There are some known accessibility issues within our Firmstep system which is our CRM and form solution that is used for customers to report issues to the Council.
The system is currently under review, with replacement on the forward plan as part of the Council's Digital Strategy.
We have assessed the cost of fixing all of the issues within Firmstep and believe doing so would be a disproportionate burden considering the full system is to be replaced in April 2024.
Content that's not within the scope of the accessibility regulations
PDFs and other documents
Some of our PDFs and Word documents are essential to providing our services. For example, we have PDFs with information on planning policies, and minutes of council meetings, and forms published as Word documents. By April 2024, 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 are not essential to providing our services.
Any new PDFs or Word documents we publish will meet accessibility standards or will be used only as an accompanyment to where the same information can be found via HTML page.
What we are doing to improve accessibility
We plan to identify and fix issues with accessibility as soon as issues are discovered.
We will carry out an accessibility audit on an annual basis applying WCAG 2.1 AA standards once the Firmstep solution is upgraded April 2024.
Use of PDF accessibility software will be in use April 2024.
Preparation of this accessibility statement
This statement was prepared on 12 May 2022. It was last reviewed on 05 July 2023.
This website was last tested on 8 February 2022. The website will undergo a new accessibility audit on an upgrade of the Firmstep solution expected April 2024.
This website was tested for compliance with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines V2.1 level A and level AA, and the test was carried out by Cabinet Office.
We value your feedback
We value feedback from real website users and would love to hear from you and the experience you had with us.
Share this page
