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Accessibility statement

Last updated: 30 September 2024

This accessibility statement applies to the Waverley website and other websites we use to deliver our services.

This website is run by Waverley Borough Council. We want as many people as possible to be able to use this website.  For example, this means you should be able to:

  • navigate most of the website using a keyboard
  • navigate most of the website using speech recognition software
  • listen to most of the website using a screenreader
  • change the font size of the text without the text spilling off the screen

We’ve also tried to make the website text as simple as possible to understand.

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

How accessible this website is

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

  • older PDF documents and some submitted by third parties are not fully accessible to screen reader software
  • live video streams  and videos of our council meetings do not have captions
  • some online forms and partner website we use to deliver our services are difficult to navigate using just a keyboard
  • online maps are not accessible to screen reader software.

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:

We’ll consider your request and get back to you in ten working days.

If you cannot view the map on our ‘Contact us’ page, call 01483 523333 or email us general.enquiries@waverley.gov.uk for directions.

Reporting accessibility problems with this website

We’re always looking to improve the accessibility of this website. If you find any problems not listed on this page or think we’re not meeting accessibility requirements, please contact the Website Manager:

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).

Visiting us in person

For people who have hearing aids, we have a standard hearing loop in reception and infra-red loops in the council chamber and our committee meeting rooms.

Please email general.enquiries@waverley.gov.uk to find out more.

Technical information about this website’s accessibility

Waverley 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 2.2 AA standard, due to the non-compliances and exemptions listed below.

September 2024 update: Following the introduction of new success criteria with WCAG 2.2, we carried out automated testing on our public-facing websites/digital services, which highlighted some non-compliances with this and previous guidelines (2.0, 2.1) requiring further investigation.

We are currently engaging with suppliers to understand what steps need to be taken to resolve these issues, and will provide the latest updates via this statement.


Non-accessible content

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

  • some older PDF documents, and some supplied by other parties, are not fully accessible to screen reader software
  • videos of council meetings do not have captions
  • our planning maps and Google maps are not accessible.

Non-compliances

Select the relevant heading below to see specific non-compliance issues.

https://www.waverley.gov.uk/

  • Link purpose: This fails WCAG 2.0 A 2.4.4 - Link purpose (in context). The purpose of a link should be clear from the text inside the link. Links like "learn more" are not helpful to users with assistive technology.
  • Image in link alt text: This fails WCAG 2.0 A 1.1.1 - Non-text content. When an image is the only content of a link, it should specify alternative text, via an alt attribute. The alternative text should describe the purpose of the link.
  • Form control contrast: This fails WCAG 2.1 AA 1.4.11 - Non-text contrast. Form controls must appear sufficiently distinct from their surroundings, so that people with visual impairments are still able to clearly see them.
  • Interactive component distance: This fails WCAG 2.2 AA 2.5.8 - Target size (Minimum). All interactive components on a page, such as buttons or menus, should be far enough apart from other interactive areas, to avoid them being used by mistake.
  • Form submit button: This fails WCAG 2.0 A 3.2.2 - On Input. Forms should always contain a submit button, otherwise some people using accessible technologies may not be able to submit the form.

Current status

We are working with our supplier to identify solutions to the issues detailed above and aim to provide a further update in December 2024.

https://planning360.waverley.gov.uk:4443/planning/

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

  • Some special characters and CSS are used that should be hidden. Also some inputs are used with no label. This fails WCAG 2.1 success criterion 1.1.1 (Non-text Content)
  • Some lists only contain one list item or are empty and some pages do not have a heading or the heading is skipped. This fails WCAG 2.1 success criterion 1.3.1 (Info and Relationships)
  • Some strikethrough text is used but does not have hidden text describing the meaning. This fails WCAG 2.1 success criterion 1.3.3 (Sensory Characteristics)
  • Some inputs are missing appropriate autocomplete values. This fails WCAG 2.1 success criterion 1.3.5 (Identify Input Purpose)
  • Some pages have poor colour contrast. This fails WCAG 2.1 success criterion 1.4.1 (Use of Colour)
  • Some links are missing href values. This fails WCAG 2.1 success criterion 2.1.1 (Keyboard)
  • Some pages have no main landmark. This fails WCAG 2.1 success criterion 2.4.1 (Bypass Blocks)
  • Some links have no text. This fails WCAG 2.1 success criterion 2.4.4 (Link Purpose - In Context)
  • Some placeholder text does not match label text. This fails WCAG 2.1 success criterion 2.4.6 (Headings and Labels)
  • Some titles are found on non-active elements. This fails WCAG 2.1 success criterion 3.3.2 (Labels or Instructions)
  • Some pages have multiple labelling techniques used, some buttons have no text, aria-label is used on certain elements which do not allow the attribute and a tabindex is used on a non-interaction component. Also characters are detected indicating a required field but is not defined as being required as well as on some pages there are no legends added. This fails WCAG 2.1 success criterion 4.1.2 (Name, Role, Value).

Our supplier is currently testing the platform against the 9 new success criteria introduced by WCAG 2.2, and will provide further details of the level of compliance and any development needed to address non-compliant content in January 2025.

https://wav-wrp.whitespacews.com/#!

Whitespace Resident Portal

The new Resident Portal, used for checking bin collection days and reporting missed collections, superceded the previous MOP app and was made available via our website in May 2022.

It is fully compliant on Microsoft Edge browser with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines version 2.2 AA standard, and partially compliant on other browsers due to the non-compliances listed below:

When using a screen reader with Internet Explorer and some mobile device browsers: Error messages due to non-completion of mandatory fields are not narrated.

When using a screen reader with the Chrome browser: The keyboard navigation of drop-down list selectors is impaired by the narration tool.

When using a screen reader with the Chrome browser and some mobile device browsers: The calendar date look-ups do not narrate and the user is not informed by the narration of search results.


Current status

We asked our supplier to fix these issues in July 2022 and expect these to be resolved as part of the next system update during 2024.

https://apps.adelante.co.uk/SmartPay/Waverley/pay4/


Current status

We are working with our supplier to identify solutions to the issues detailed above and aim to provide a further update in December 2024.

https://waverley-central.oncreate.app/w/webpage/welcome


Current status

We are working on solutions for the issues detailed above, starting with the text contrast, and aim to provide a further update in December 2024.

https://www.waverleyhomechoice.org.uk/

  • Links with different destinations: This fails WCAG 2.0 A 2.4.4 - Link purpose (in context). Screen reader users will see links on a page listed without context, so the same link text should not be used to point to different web addresses.
  • Form control contrast: This fails WCAG 2.1 AA 1.4.11 - Non-text contrast. Form controls must appear sufficiently distinct from their surroundings, so that people with visual impairments are still able to clearly see them.

Current status

We are working with our supplier to identify solutions to the issues detailed above and aim to provide a further update in December 2024.

Disproportionate burden

Regarding the sites listed below, we have engaged with the suppliers since the issues were first identified in the relevant accessibility check(s) and worked through options to fix them.

However, having assessed the costs involved – both in terms of system updates/upgrades and officer time – we believe that doing so now would be a disproportionate burden within the meaning of the accessibility regulations.

We are working to ensure accessibility is a key criteria for any third party site or system we use to deliver our online services.

Content outside the scope of the accessibility regulations

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 documents we produce are designed with accessibility in mind and checked for compliance before being published online. 

Preparation of this accessibility statement

  • Statement prepared: 13 January 2022
  • Last reviewed: 30 September 2024

This website was initially tested between 15 - 23 December 2021. The test was carried out by Smarter Digital Services (SDS).

SDS used a combination of semi-automated evaluation tools and manual testing on a variety of templates and pages. 

We chose a variety of templates and pages on our main website and other websites we use to deliver our services to get a good sample of content and the different types of templates used.  

You can read the full accessibility audit report.