Accessibility statement

This accessibility statement applies to www.southend.gov.uk

This website is run by Southend-on-Sea City Council. We want as many people as possible to be able to use this website. For example, that means you should be able to:

• change colours, contrast levels and fonts
• zoom in up to 300% 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
• listen to most of the website using a screen reader (including the most recent versions of JAWS, NVDA and VoiceOver)

AbilityNet has advice on making your device easier to use if you have a disability.

How accessible this website is

We have upgraded this website to an improved platform that has been designed with accessibility in mind.

We have systematically gone through the content on this website, and continue to do so, to ensure text is in plain English, free from jargon and of a reading level lower than secondary education (WCAG 3.1.5). The majority of this website complies with this, however some policy documents or planning applications do not meet this criteria.

All buttons, images and banners have colour contrast that adheres to the accessibility regulations.

All videos uploaded after 17 June 2020 have captions and/or a transcript.

We know some parts of this website are not fully accessible:

• you cannot modify the line height or spacing of text
• most older PDF documents are not fully accessible to screen reader software
• live video streams do not have captions

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 council@southend.gov.uk
• call 01702 215000
• or see our contact us page for specific services contact details

We will consider your request and get back to you within 5 days.

If you cannot view the map on our contact us page, call or email us council@southend.gov.uk for directions.

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, contact: webmaster@southend.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 provide a text relay service for people who are D/deaf, hearing impaired or have a speech impediment.

Our offices have audio induction loops.

Find out how to contact us

Technical information about this websites accessibility

Southend-on-Sea City 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 as follows is not accessible for the following reasons.

• contrast levels are set and not able to be altered. However in re-designing this website, we have ensured that all navigation and body content has colour contrast compliant with WCAG 2.1 AA
• many of our pdf downloads are not accessible. We have created a register of PDFs which are essential for service delivery and are working through these to create HTML pages and forms. We have reduced the pdfs on the site by approximately a quarter and continue to reduce these, placing all necessary content on web pages where appropriate. Many documents in the planning section are not accessible and contain legal wording and architect drawings that do not comply
• there are a number of policy documents that are necessary to have on our website and that are not compliant

Non-compliant content/documents include:

• Our budget and financial processes - a wide selection of long and complex key financial documents that must be published by law.
• Care sector support offer
• Modern slavery statement
• Education policies, plans and strategies
• Development plan documents
• Weekly List of Planning Applications Registered - we have looked in to making this accessible but due to the way this list is populated and the fact it changes each week we are currently not able to do so
• Empty Homes Strategy - we are currently working on fixing and tagging this pdf so it is as accesible as can be
• Public Space Protection Order (Leigh-on-Sea and Chalkwell Seafront and Adjoining Areas) No.1 of 2021 - this is a legal document that has to be uploaded in this scanned format to show the seal and signature
• Pathway Referral Map for Transition to Adults Services
• Subject Access Request (SAR) Form 2023
• PTO's/Traffic Regulation orders - most of the documents linked to from this page are not accessible due the maps on them, we are unable to change these as we legally have to display them, however we are looking in to ways to make the written content on the documents more accessible
• LGA Corporate Peer Challenge Positon Statement
• Cost of Care Report for 65+ Care Homes
• Cost of Care Report for Home Care (18+)
• Hosting an event on council land - Event Managment Plan - part 1
• Hosting an event on council land - Event Managment Plan - part 2
• Ward profiles
• Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) Map
• School appeal form secondary school - This form will be available online soon.
• Market Sustainability Plan 2023
• Our spending over £500 2023 - The Local government transparency code 2015 states that local authorities must publish the spending of public funds on their website. Due to length and complexity of this data, this cannot be recreated in HTML.
• Public Spaces Protection Order (Southend Town Centre, Seafront and Adjoining Areas) No. 1 of 2022 - this is a legal document that has to be uploaded in this scanned format to show the seal and signature
• Car cruise PSPO final order 2023 - this is a legal document that has to be uploaded in this scanned format to show the seal and signature
• Independent flood reports
• Article 4 Direction - Chelmsford Ave Conservation Area
• Article 4 Direction - Crowstone Conservation Area
• Organisation structure chart - this information is also available in an accessible format
• Our spending over £500 2024 - The Local government transparency code 2015 states that local authorities must publish the spending of public funds on their website. Due to length and complexity of this data, this cannot be recreated in HTML.
• Business rates explanatory notes - we are unable to improve readability of this information as it is dictated by the Government
• Business Rates download area - the data for business rates is supplied on our website so it is available for many FOI requests that we receive for this information, it is normally updated every quarter to ensure that accurate information is provided for those seeking the data. The forms are needed for those businesses that have sole traders that may be vulnerable or have limited access to online forms to be able to apply for reductions against their business rates.
• Election notices and forms
• Pavement licence notice - this is a document that needs to be printed following a successful application. The document once printed and signed, will need to be displayed in the premises window.
• Guidance on photographs for licence applications – this is a document that supports online applications. It needs a wet signature to confirm true likeness for a photograph before being returned to the licencing team.
• Application to administer massage or special treatment - this is a document that supports an online application. It needs a wet signature to confirm true likeness for a photograph before being returned to the licencing team.
• Grass cutting programme - a more user friendly and accessible version is being looked in to
• SCC Scheme for Financing Schools June 2024
• Template UU for RAMS - The document is a template legal agreement that can be filled in by a developer. It is a rarely used technical document, but we are required to provide an alternative payment method to the direct payment option via My Southend.
• Publication scheme - To meet the requirements of the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO), this information must be published in PDF format
• Inaccessible PDF documents are linked on our Policies and Procedures web page. In 2024, the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) made practice recommendations relation to our Freedom of Information requests and associated activity (Freedom of Information performance). This included a recommendation to review our publication scheme on the website and ensure that council policies and procedures are available in full. As such, we have added these documents as they currently exist - going forward effort will be made to ensure such documents are accessible as and when they are reviewed.
• Primary and Secondary schools admissions booklet - The regulations place a statutory duty to the LA to produce a 'composite prospectus' that can also be provided in hardcopy when requested. The set up therefore needs to be in a format that can be produced in printed format. It is the view of the Schools Admissions team that a PDF meets this duty, and it is a format agreed with the schools in the City.
• Code of Conduct for issuing Penalty Notices - Under The Education (Penalty Notices) (England) Regulations 2007 we are legally required to publish this information on our corporate website. This is highlighted under part 196 of the Governments Statutory guidance for maintained schools, academies, independent schools and local authorities. Due to the complex letter templates and tables within the appendices, this content cannot be recreated in HTML.
• Infrastructure Funding Statements - These documents are too long and contain complex tables and charts that cannot be recreated in accessible HTML format. The Service area takes responsibility and they offer alternative formats including Braille, audio- tape, large print and in range of different languages - to request any of these, email: S106andCILadministration@southend.gov.uk
• Information request statistics - full statistics as recommended in the ICO's Freedom of Information Code of Practice. The most recent 3 months statistics are available as HTML content
• Audio ballots for the Leigh-on-Sea Town Council by elections - these have been added as an extra format to usual ballot papers to make voting more inclusive and accessible
• Annual reports - The annual report is a key council policy document. To meet the requirements of our updated publication scheme and ICO recommendations, it is published on our website in pdf format.
• Corporate plan - The corporate plan is a key council policy document. To meet the requirements of our updated publication scheme and ICO recommendations, it is published on our website in pdf format.
• Work experience application form - The intention is to build a digital version of this form through MySouthend. Due to resources, this is not possible at this time. The team have agreed to revisit this in the near future.
• Southend on Sea City Council CTax Reduction S13A Scheme - Since 2013 all local authorities must (by law) publish their locally set working age policies. Due to the complex and extensive nature of the policy it cannot be recreated in an accessible HTML format.
• Freedom of Information Guide - What to expect when making a Freedom of Information request' - this is an extensive guide, an accessible, simplified HTML version is available on our Freedom of Information Requests page.
• Hackney Carriage Bylaws - this information cannot be altered as the legal wording has been through parliament.
• Contracts Register - The Local government transparency code 2015 states that local authorities must publish the spending of public funds on their website. Due to length and complexity of this data, this cannot be recreated in HTML.
• Housing assistance, adaptations and Disabled Facilities Grant - Guidance states that the full policy must be made available on local authority websites. Due to the length, complexity and certain images, this policy cannot be recreated in HTML format. To further adhere to the guidance, we have also published a series of easy to read guidance pages
• Chalkwell ramp handout - This was a printed handout given to attendees of a public meeting. It has been published online for those who were unable to attend in person. As these are slides from a PowerPoint presentation that contain some complex drawing and maps, we are unable to replicate in HTML format.
• Street Works Licence (Section 50) guidance - Due to the legal terminology required, these pages do no meet plain English standards. Work has been completed to make them as simple as possible.
• Design approval example letter for a Section 50 application - we currently have no way to recreate the required format of a letter as HTML content

Non-compliance with the accessibility regulations

Some text is written in language that is not plain English. We are reviewing all content and by September 2020, all on-page content will comply with WCAG 2.1 AA.

WCAG 2.2.1 (A) Timing Adjustable

There is a 10-minute time limit to complete each page of an online form but no warning when this time is getting near, or no way to extend the time limit. A business decision was made that each form page should have a 10-minute completion time limit in the interest of security, for if a form was being completed in a public place for example. We add the following text to the top of each online form: ;Each page in this form has a 10-minute time limit. If you think you will need more time, write your answers in another document, then copy and paste them into the form. This helps ensure your information won't be lost.; We realise that this does not adhere to WCAG 2.2.1 Timing Adjustable and options will be explored with our online forms provider in the Autumn of 2024.

More on WCAG 2.2.1 Timing Adjustable

Cookies

The cookie banner company Civic UK has dropped Internet Explorer 11 compatibility and the cookie tool will not show on any Internet Explorer 11 websites.

Google Maps

Microsoft ended Internet Explorer 11 browser support on 15 June 2022, which may affect Google Maps on any Internet Explorer 11 websites.

Disproportionate burden

There are no issues that are currently being listed as being assessed as a disproportionate burden within the meaning of the accessibility regulations.

Content that is 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 how users can access our services, and council policies. 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 where possible, if for any reason they can not meet the standards we will add them to non compliant list on this statement.

Live video

We do not plan to add captions to live video streams because live video is exempt from meeting the accessibility regulations.

What we are doing to improve accessibility

We have already relaunched the website on to an improved and accessible platform.

The roadmap to becoming fully accessible is as follows

• relaunch site to fix back-end accessibility issues (complete)
• making sure body copy of web pages are in plain English (partially compliant as at April 2024)
• removing non-essential pdfs and placing content on web pages where possible (partially compliant as at April 2024)
• making sure new pdfs created after September 2020 are accessible where possible, and adding them to non compliant list on this statement where not
• making sure new videos have subtitles

Preparation of this accessibility statement

This statement was prepared on 15 June 2020. It was last reviewed on 09 July 2025.

This site had a formal external accessibility audit by The Shaw Trust on 27 April 2021.