Accessibility Statement
This statement applies to content published on the cherwell.gov.uk website.
This Council’s website has been created and is managed by Cherwell District Council.
Select the + sign at the end of each heading to expand the content.
Our aim
We want as many people as possible to be able to use this website and find the information they are looking for. The text should be clear and simple to understand. You should be able to:
- Change colours, contrast levels and fonts
- Zoom in up to 300 per cent without the text spilling off the screen
- Navigate most of the website using only 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 provides advice on making your device easier to use if you have a disability.
How accessible is this website?
We know some parts of this website are not fully accessible:
- You can’t modify the line height or spacing of text
- Most older PDF documents aren’t fully accessible to screen reader software
- There is a limit to how much you can magnify the map on our ‘where to find us’ page
Alternative formats
Information on this website is available in various formats. These include accessible PDF, large print, easy read, audio recording or braille.
If you would like to receive one of these formats, please email: webteam@cherwell-dc.gov.uk. We will consider your request and reply within 7 working days.
If you cannot view the map on our ‘contact us’ page, you can call or email us for directions. Contact details are available on our contact us page.
Reporting accessibility problems with this website
We’re continually working 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 email webteam@cherwell-dc.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, known as the ‘accessibility regulations’. If you’re not satisfied with our response to your complaint, contact the Equality Advisory and Support Service (EASS)
Contacting us by phone or visiting us in person
We provide a SignVideo link on our website. This starts a video link to a British Sign Language (BSL) interpreter who will speak to us on your behalf.
We also offer a telephone translation service for those whose first language is not English.
Our offices operate an appointment system, allowing us to prepare for your visit. For instance, we have rooms equipped with audio induction loops that can be used during your appointment. We will also discuss your requirements to find the best solution for arranging your visit.
Use our Contact us page to arrange a meeting.
Compliance Status
Cherwell District Council is dedicated to making its website accessible, in line with the Public Sector Bodies (Website and Mobile Application) (No.2) Accessibility Regulations 2018.
This website is partially compliant with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines version 2.2 AA standard. The issues listed below indicate areas where we do not meet the requirements.
Issues with technology
No ‘skip to main content’ option on any pages.
It’s not possible for users to modify text spacing or line height.
Non-accessible content
Issues with PDFs and other documents
Many of our older PDFs and Word documents do not meet accessibility standards. For instance, they may lack proper markup, making them inaccessible to a screen reader.
The accessibility regulations don’t require us to fix PDFs or other documents published before 23 September 2018 if they aren’t essential to providing our services.
PDFs and Word documents, essential for providing our services, have been replaced with accessible HTML pages or online forms.
Some forms cannot be converted to electronic versions because they are third-party forms outside Cherwell District Council's control. Known forms in this category include:
- Register of Interests form - for new town or parish councillors
- Acceptance of Office form - for new and returning Parish Councillors
Given the large number of documents on the website, updating every single one would be time-consuming and costly. We will evaluate the complexity and cost of fixing specific documents if we are unable to resolve an accessibility issue. If you notice any problems with documents that you believe do not meet accessibility requirements, please email. webteam@cherwell-dc.gov.uk.
If we are claiming a disproportionate burden for the document, we will share our assessment.
Non-Compliance with the accessibility regulations
Issues with interactive tools and transactions
We are aware that some internal applications and externally hosted systems do not meet accessibility and usability standards.
We will work with our suppliers to improve the accessibility of these sites as much as possible.
We are aware that Cookiebot we use for cookie consent management are compliant with WCAG 2.0 and are actively working on improving this.
We are also aware that Google Recaptcha, which is used to authenticate users completing our feedback forms, does not meet accessibility requirements. This is neither funded, developed by, nor under the control of Cherwell District Council.
Additionally, we recognise that Esri, which we use for My Neighbourhood mapping, does not meet accessibility standards. Esri is working towards developing products that are compliant with WCAG 2.1.
Some parts of this site link to or use content from other websites, which are not always as accessible as our site. Examples include:
- YouTube videos
- Google Maps
What we’re doing to improve accessibility
We are working to fix the accessibility issues listed in this statement.
We have put monitoring in place to review the accessibility of the site on an ongoing basis. We use this monitoring to identify and fix any new issues that arise.
We are training our web editors to ensure they are aware of accessibility requirements and have published internal guidance on how to achieve compliance.
We are also engaging with third-party suppliers to fix accessibility issues found in the web applications that we use to provide our services.
Preparation of this accessibility statement
This statement was prepared on 28 November 2019. It was last reviewed December 2025.