Accessibility statement

Find out more about how we are working to make our website as accessible and usable as possible.

Accessibility Statement for Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council Website

Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council is committed to making our websites accessible, in accordance with the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018.

Scope

This statement covers all web pages, documents, and interactive features on the Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council website (and all other websites within the Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council web estate), ensuring that everyone, including people with disabilities, can access our content and services.

Compliance Status

Our website is partially compliant with WCAG 2.1 AA standards. We strive to meet all accessibility criteria but acknowledge that some areas may not fully comply due to the non-compliance elements listed in the 'Non-Accessible Content' section below. This includes certain PDFs, images, and interactive features, which may pose challenges for some users.

Non-Accessible Content

We are aware of specific accessibility issues:

  • PDF Documents: Some older PDFs and Word documents are not fully accessible to screen readers due to issues with titles, tagging, heading structures, and alt-text. We are working to convert these into accessible formats. This is based on the following WCAG guidelines below:
    • Guideline 1.3.1 (Info and Relationships): Content structure must be programmatically determined (e.g., headings, lists, tables) for screen readers.
    • Guideline 1.4.3 (Contrast): Text in PDFs must have sufficient contrast.
    • Guideline 2.4.6 (Headings and Labels): Descriptive headings should be used.
  • Images: A number of images lack alternative text, making them inaccessible to users who rely on screen readers. We are in the process of updating these. This is based on the following WCAG guidelines:
    • Guideline 1.1.1 (Non-text Content): All non-text content, like images, must have alternative text to convey their purpose or content.
  • Interactive Tools: Certain forms and interactive elements may not be fully usable with assistive technologies. We are reviewing these features to enhance their accessibility. This is based on the following WCAG guidelines:
    • Guideline 3.3.2 (Labels or Instructions): Forms must have clear labels and instructions.
    • Guideline 1.3.5 (Identify Input Purpose): Input fields should identify their purpose programmatically for assistive technologies.
    • Guideline 4.1.2 (Name, Role, Value): Forms and interactive elements must have appropriate labels and roles that assistive technologies can process.

Specific issues

We are aware of some specific issues that are currently not accessible. These are:

  • Guideline 2.4.7 (Focus visible): There is no visible focus on the 'this is Redcar & Cleveland' logo link in the page header.
  • Guideline 2.2.2 (Pause, Stop, Hide): The moving image above the page footer available at 200% & 400% zoom and on a small screen (320x256), cannot be paused, stopped or hidden.  

Fixes for both the issues detailed above have been identified with development tickets in place to resolve them. We estimate that these issues will be resolved with 30 working days from the date the issue was raised with our developer (9 September 2024). We will update any timescales should this change.

We are committed to addressing these issues through ongoing updates and improvements.

Feedback and Contact Information

We welcome your feedback on the accessibility of our website. If you encounter any barriers or need information in an alternative format, please reach out to us:

  • Email: webadministrator@redcar-cleveland.gov.uk – please include the word ‘accessibility’ in the subject line.
  • Phone: 01642 774774
  • Postal Address: Communications Team, Redcar and Cleveland House, Redcar, TS10 1RT

Our team will respond to your inquiries within twenty working days and work to resolve any accessibility issues promptly.

Preparation of this Accessibility Statement

This accessibility statement was prepared through self-assessment, where we evaluated our website’s accessibility against WCAG 2.1 AA standards. Feedback from users and internal audits informed our findings and actions. Moving forward, we plan to conduct a formal audit with external experts to ensure comprehensive compliance.

Statement Preparation Date

This accessibility statement was prepared on 29 August 2024. It reflects our ongoing commitment to improving accessibility for all users.

Review Date

We review our accessibility statement annually to ensure it remains accurate and up-to-date. The next review is scheduled for 24 August 2025. Any significant changes to the website or identified issues will prompt an earlier review.

Redcar & Cleveland Information Directory (RCiD)

The below information makes reference to the Redcar & Cleveland Information Directory website. 

To enhance the accessibility of our online content, we are undertaking a comprehensive project to convert all PDF documents on our site into HTML pages. This initiative addresses several key accessibility concerns:

  1. Improved Navigability and Readability: HTML pages are inherently more accessible than PDFs, as they allow for better integration with screen readers, keyboard navigation, and other assistive technologies. This change will ensure that users can more easily access, read, and interact with the content.
  2. Responsive Design: HTML content can be more easily adapted to different screen sizes and orientations, providing a better user experience on mobile devices and tablets.
  3. Consistent User Experience: By converting PDF documents to HTML, we ensure that all users have a consistent and seamless experience when accessing information on our site.

This project is ongoing and will be completed over a number of months given the scope and scale of the conversion process. 

In addition to this, we are also updating link text across our website to provide users with clear, descriptive information about the links' destinations and functions. This initiative will include:

  1. Descriptive Link Text: Ensuring that all link text clearly describes the purpose or destination of the link, avoiding generic phrases like "click here" or "read more." For example, instead of "click here for more information," a link might say "learn more about our accessibility features."
  2. Contextual Clarity: Providing enough context in link text so that users can understand the link's purpose without needing to rely on surrounding content.

We are committed to making our website as accessible and user-friendly as possible, and these enhancements are a vital part of that commitment. 

We appreciate your patience and support as we work to implement these important changes. If you have any feedback or encounter any accessibility issues, please do not hesitate to contact the Communications Team using the contact information detailed above. 

By prioritising accessibility, we aim to create an inclusive digital environment where all users can access the information and services they need with ease and confidence.

We will continue to assess and update all sites that form the RCBC corporate website estate to ensure ongoing compliance with WCAG standards. 

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).