Accessibility Statement

This accessibility statement applies to the www.torfaen.gov.uk website.

This website is run by Torfaen County Borough 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 know some parts of this website are not fully accessible:

most older PDF documents are not fully accessible to screen reader software
videos do not have captions or transcripts
some images contain text which you may not be able to read
some of the content is not written in plain English
the same link text is used for links going to different destinations
some of our online forms are difficult to navigate using just a keyboard
some content and functionality provided by third party suppliers are not fully accessible.
interactive maps are difficult to navigate using a keyboard only
interactive maps do not include sufficient button labelling or colour contrast
adverts include elements that are not accessible when navigating using a keyboard only or using assistive technology

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: webmaster@torfaen.gov.uk
Telephone: 01495 762200

Alternatively, you can write to us at:

Torfaen County Borough Council
Civic Centre
Pontypool
Torfaen
NP4 6YB

We’ll consider your request and get back to you in 5 working days.

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, contact our web team via email at webmaster@torfaen.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’re 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

Our offices have audio induction loops, or if you contact us before your visit we can arrange a British Sign Language (BSL) interpreter.

Telephone: 01495 762200 (08:30 to 17:00 - Monday to Friday)
Email: calltorfaen@torfaen.gov.uk
Visit: Torfaen County Borough Council, Civic Centre, Pontypool, NP4 6YB

Technical information about this website’s accessibility

Torfaen County 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 2.1 AA standard, due to the non-compliances listed below.

Non-accessible content

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

Non-compliance with the accessibility regulations

Some images contain text, so people with dyslexia or using a screen reader will not be able to read the information. This doesn't meet WCAG success criterion 1.4.5 (Images of Text). We plan to remove or replace images containing text by April 2021. When we publish new content we’ll make sure our use of images meets accessibility standards.

On some pages the same link text is used for different link destinations. This doesn’t meet WCAG 2.1 success criterion 2.4.4 Link Purpose (In Context). We plan to resolve this issue on all pages by April 2021. When we publish new pages we’ll make sure link text meets accessibility standards.

Some of our PDFs and other documents published after 23 September 2018 are not formatted so they’re accessible to a screen reader. This doesn’t meet WCAG 2.1 success criterion 4.1.2 (Name, role value).

We aim to replace PDF and Word documents on our website with accessible HTML pages where possible. Where PDF and Word documents are still required, we aim to make these accessible over the coming months.

On some pages HTML is used to format content rather than CSS. This doesn’t meet WCAG 2.1 success criterion 1.3.1 Information and Relationships. We plan to fix these issues by April 2021.

Most of our videos do not have captions. This does not meet WCAG 2.1 success criterion 1.2.2 Captions (Prerecorded). Most of our videos do not have transcripts available. Some of the videos are provided by other organisations, so we do not have control over them. Any new videos created by Torfaen County Borough Council from 23 September 2020 onwards will have captions and transcripts available as standard.

Third party applications

We are aware that the following third party systems do not comply fully with accessibility and usability standards as they are outside of our control:

Online forms (supplied by Abavus)
Geographical Information (Maps) system (supplied by Pitney Bowes)
Payments system (supplied by Civica)
Library Catalogue System (supplied by Sirsi Dynix)
Library Computer Booking System (supplied by Netloan)
Planning portal system (supplied by idox Group)
Councillors, committee minutes and agendas system (supplied by moderngov)
Committee Meeting Webcasting system (supplied by Public-i)
Website advertising (supplied by CAN)
Text to speech system (supplied by Reciteme)
Engagement and consultation system (supplied by Citizen Space from Delib)
Customer Portal (supplied by Abavus)
Revenues and Benefits system (supplied by Northgate and Abavus)
Social Care Search (supplied by Dewis Cymru)
School Admissions system (supplied by Capita)
Surveys (supplied by SNAP)
Torfaen Community Support (Covid-19) system (supplied by ??)
Tableau Charts (supplied by Tableau Software)
Stay Connected bulletin (supplied by GovDelivery)

We are currently reviewing our third party applications and working with suppliers to improve the accessibility of these systems.

Content that’s not within the scope of the accessibility regulations

PDFs and other documents

Many of our older PDFs and other documents don’t meet accessibility standards. For example, they may not be structured so they’re accessible to a screen reader. This doesn’t meet WCAG 2.1 success criterion 4.1.2 Name, Role Value.

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. For example, we do not plan to fix some of our annual statement of accounts.

Any new PDFs or Word documents we publish will meet accessibility standards unless we determine that they represent a disproportionate burden within the meaning of the accessibility regulations.

Video

Live video streams may not include captions. This doesn’t meet WCAG 2.1 success criterion 1.2.4 Captions (Live). We will not add captions to live video streams because live video is exempt from meeting the accessibility regulations.

Some pre-recorded videos published before 23 September 2020 do not include captions. This doesn’t meet WCAG 2.1 success criteria 1.2.2 Captions (Pre-recorded). We will not add captions to these videos because pre-recorded video published before 23 September 2020 is exempt from meeting the accessibility regulations.

Some pre-recorded videos published before 23 September 2020 may require, but don't include, audio description. This doesn’t meet WCAG 2.1 success criteria 1.2.5 Audio Description (Pre-recorded). We will not add audio description to these videos because pre-recorded video published before 23 September 2020 is exempt from meeting the accessibility regulations.

Any pre-recorded video content we publish after 23 September 2020 will meet accessibility standards.

Maps

Online maps and mapping services are exempt from meeting the accessibility regulations. From 23 September 2020 we'll ensure that where maps are intended for navigational use essential information is provided in an accessible digital manner.

Preparation of this accessibility statement

This statement was prepared on 10th September 2020. It was last reviewed on 8th January 2021.

This website was last tested on 3rd January 2021. The test was carried out by SiteImprove.com and Torfaen County Borough Council. All pages of the website and a sample of PDF documents within the website were tested.

Siteimprove currently scores www.torfaen.gov.uk at 99 out of 100 for accessibility.

You can contact webmaster@torfaen.gov.uk by email to get a copy of reports and to ask for further details on reports.

Last Modified: 08/01/2021

For more information contact:

Call Torfaen
Tel: 01495 762200