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Accessibility Statement

Our website accessibility statement for www.highpeak.gov.uk.

High Peak 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.

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

This website is partially compliant with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines version 2.2 AA standard, due to the non-compliance and exemptions listed below.

Non-accessible content

The content listed below is non-accessible for the following reasons:

Non-compliance with the accessibility regulations.

  • Some images don't have a text alternative - this fails WCAG 2.2 success criterion 1.1.1. We plan to add text alternatives for all images by December 2024. When we publish new content we'll make sure our use of images meets accessibility standards.
  • Some images used as links don't have a text alternative - this fails WCAG 2.2 success criterion 2.4.4, 2.4.9 and 4.1.2. We plan to add text alternatives for all images by December 2026. When we publish new content we'll make sure our use of images meets accessibility standards.
  • The same text is used for different links on some pages - this fails WCAG 2.2 techniques 1.1.1, 2.4.4 and 2.4.9. This will be fixed as part of our ongoing upgrade program and will be completed by December 2026.
  • The home page tab panel on the home page currently uses aria attributes that are no longer valid - this fails Home Pages  - WCAG 2.2 - 1.3.1 Info and Relationships + 4.1.2 Name, Role, Value. We plan to fix this by December 2026.
  • Some older PDF's, Word, Excel, CSV and PowerPoint documents may not be accessible. The accessibility regulations do not require us to fix PDFs or other documents published before 23 September 2018 if they're not essential to providing our services. Any new PDFs or Word documents we publish will meet accessibility standards. We are currently working to make sure all our published documents are accessible.

We are also aware that:

Disproportionate burden.

Some of our online application forms may be difficult to navigate using a keyboard. Our forms are built and hosted through third party software (IEG4, Civica and Digital Interactive) and 'skinned' so they look like our website. This fails WCAG 2.2 success criterion 1.3.1.

We've assessed the cost of fixing the issues with navigation and accessing information, and with interactive tools and transactions. We believe that doing so now would be a disproportionate burden within the meaning of the accessibility regulations. We will make further assessments as and when relevant contracts are up for renewal. 

Third party software suppliers: Disproportionate burden assessment (PDF, 73 KB)

We are also aware that some service areas third party software has customer facing web pages which have also been 'skinned' to look like our website do not comply with accessibility and usability standards. Some is old software that we cannot easily change. We've assessed the cost of fixing all the issues on the applications listed below and believe that doing so now would be a disproportionate burden within the meaning of the accessibility regulations:

Third party software suppliers: Disproportionate burden assessment (PDF, 73 KB)

Interactive tools and transactions.

Some of our interactive forms are difficult to navigate using a keyboard. For example, this could be because some form controls are missing a 'label' tag.

Our forms are built and hosted through third party software and 'skinned' to look like our website.

We've assessed the cost of fixing the issues with navigation and accessing information, and with interactive tools and transactions. We believe that doing so now would be a disproportionate burden within the meaning of the accessibility regulations. We will make another assessment when the supplier contract is up for renewal.

Third party software suppliers: Disproportionate burden assessment (PDF, 73 KB)

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 how users can access our services, and forms published as Word documents. By December 2024, we plan to either fix these or replace them with accessible PDFs or HTML pages.

The accessibility regulations do not require us to fix PDFs or other documents published before 23 September 2018 if they're not essential to providing our services.

Any new PDFs or Word documents we publish will meet accessibility standards.

PDF document conversion: Disproportionate burden assessment (PDF, 69 KB)

Live video.

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

External links.

This website links to third-party, external websites or services that may not be fully accessible.

Preparation of this accessibility statement

This statement was first prepared on 18 September 2020 following self-assessment by the council and external accessibility audit by Sitemorse.

The Statement was last reviewed on 31 March 2026 following self-assessment by the council and external accessibility audit by Sitemorse.

This website is tested weekly by Sitemorse. A sample of 125 pages including a variety of layouts is tested and reviewed regularly along with the use of colour contrast checkers.

    Feedback and contact information.

    If you wish to provide feedback to the council you can contact us by completing our online feedback form by clicking on the green rectangular button below. You can also email communications@highpeak.gov.uk or call our customer service team on 0345 129 7777.

    Click this button to send us your feedback.

    If you need information on this website in a different format such accessible PDF, large print, easy read, audio recording or braille contact us using this online form or by emailing communications@highpeak.gov.uk. You can also call our customer service team on 0345 129 7777.

    If you cannot view the map on our 'find us' page, call 0345 129 7777 or 01298 28400 for directions.

    If you find any problems not listed on this page or think we're not meeting accessibility requirements, contact us using our online form. You can also email communications@highpeak.gov.uk or call our customer service team on 0345 129 7777.

    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).

    What we're doing to improve accessibility.

    We are working with service areas to make sure that any newly commissioned third party software complies with the latest accessibility regulations. We are also working to make sure that any new documents created and published online are accessible.

    Last modified on 31 March 2026