Parish, town and community council websites should make important public information easy to find, easy to understand and kept up to date.
The exact information a council needs to publish can depend on its size, turnover, legal duties, audit position and local governance requirements. This checklist is intended as general website support guidance, not legal advice.
Core Council Information
- Council name and contact details.
- Clerk or office contact details.
- Councillor names and relevant council details.
- Meeting dates, times and locations.
- Agendas and minutes.
- Accessibility statement.
Governance And Policy Documents
Councils commonly publish key governance and policy documents so residents can understand how the council operates. These may include standing orders, financial regulations, code of conduct, privacy information, publication scheme details and other council policies.
Finance And Audit Information
Councils should make sure required finance and audit information is published in the correct place and kept for the required period. This may include AGAR documents, annual governance statements, accounting statements, internal audit information, public rights notices, expenditure information, budget or precept information and other finance documents where required.
Assets, Local Information And Community Content
Depending on the website setup, the Clerk may also be able to update local information such as defibrillators, noticeboards, useful contacts, public land or assets, council facilities, community links and local services.
Documents Must Be Suitable For Publication
Before uploading a document, the Clerk should check that it is the final approved version, that dates and details are correct, and that the document is suitable for public access. Documents should also be prepared with accessibility in mind.
Keeping Content Up To Date
Outdated information can confuse residents and make the council website harder to use. Councils should regularly review meeting information, documents, councillor details, contact information, local notices and policy pages.
Website Accessibility
Public sector websites should meet WCAG 2.2 AA accessibility requirements and include an accessibility statement. This applies to the website structure and also affects how councils prepare and publish content.
Using The Admin Panel
On Easy Web Sites Ltd parish, town and community council websites, the Clerk can usually update standard areas through the admin panel. These may include meeting dates, agendas and minutes, documents, councillor details, defibrillators, noticeboards, useful contacts and PTC settings.
When To Ask For Support
If the Clerk needs extra support with a standard admin panel update, email admin@easywebsites.co.uk.
If the request involves new functionality, layout changes, technical issues or development work, email changes@easywebsites.co.uk.
Important
This article is a practical website checklist. Councils should confirm their own publication requirements with their Clerk, auditor, monitoring officer, sector body or legal adviser where needed.