This accessibility statement applies to the Leeds Parish Council website: leedskent.org.uk.

This website is run by Leeds Parish Council. We want as many people as possible to be able to use this website.

For example, you should be able to:

• change colours, contrast levels and fonts using your browser or device settings;
• 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; and
• listen to most of the website using a screen reader, including recent versions of JAWS, NVDA and VoiceOver.

We have also tried to make the website text as clear and 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 that some parts of this website may not be fully accessible.

In particular:

• some older PDF and Word documents may not be fully accessible to screen reader software;
• some documents supplied to the Parish Council by third parties may not meet accessibility standards;
• some elements provided by the website platform or third-party services may have accessibility issues; and
• some third-party content, including planning information and online maps, may not be fully accessible.

Further information is provided under Non-accessible content below.

Feedback and contact information

If you find any problems with the accessibility of this website, or need information published on the website in a different format, such as an accessible PDF, large print, easy read or another accessible format, please contact us:

Parish Clerk
Leeds Parish Council
4 Birkhall Close
Chatham
Kent
ME5 7QD

Telephone: 01634 867173
Email: [email protected]

We will consider your request and aim to respond within 15 working days.

Reporting accessibility problems with this website

We are always looking to improve the accessibility of this website.

If you find any problems that are not listed in this statement, or believe that we are not meeting accessibility requirements, please contact:

Mrs S Babington
Parish Clerk

Telephone: 01634 867173
Email: [email protected]

Postal address:
Leeds Parish Council
4 Birkhall Close
Chatham
Kent
ME5 7QD

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.

If you are not satisfied with how we respond to your complaint, you can contact the Equality Advisory and Support Service (EASS).

Technical information about this website's accessibility

Leeds Parish 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 (WCAG) version 2.2 AA standard due to the non-compliances and exemptions listed below.

Non-accessible content

The content listed below may not be fully accessible.

Non-compliance with the accessibility regulations

Some elements of the website that are provided through the website platform or third-party services may not meet accessibility requirements. These may include:

• insufficient colour contrast on some links, icons or website elements;
• some links that may not have sufficiently descriptive text for screen reader users;
• some form controls or checkboxes that may not be adequately labelled for assistive technology users; and
• keyboard focus not being sufficiently visible on some navigation or third-party elements.

Where these elements are controlled by the website provider or another third party, the Parish Council will raise identified accessibility issues with the relevant provider.

Disproportionate burden

Leeds Parish Council is not currently claiming that fixing any accessibility issue would be a disproportionate burden within the meaning of the accessibility regulations.

Content not within the scope of the accessibility regulations

PDFs and other documents

Some PDF and Word documents published on this website may not be fully accessible.

The accessibility regulations do not require us to make PDFs or other documents published before 23 September 2018 accessible if they are not essential to providing our services. This may include historical agendas, minutes and other archived Parish Council documents.

Some documents published on the website are provided to the Parish Council by third parties, including statutory or official documents. Where the Parish Council is required to publish such documents and cannot alter the original document, an accessible alternative can be requested from the Parish Clerk where reasonably possible.

We aim to ensure that documents created and published by the Parish Council meet applicable accessibility requirements.

If you require an accessible version of a document published on this website, please contact the Parish Clerk.

Planning information

The website may use a planning information service or plugin that obtains information from the relevant local planning authority.

As this information and functionality may be provided by a third party, some elements may not be fully accessible. If you are unable to access planning information through the website, please contact the Parish Clerk and we will assist where reasonably possible.

Online maps

Online maps are generally exempt from the accessibility regulations where they are not used for navigational purposes.

The Parish Council may use maps to display planning, geographical or other local information. If you require an accessible alternative to information displayed on a map, please contact the Parish Clerk.

Third-party content

Some content or functionality available through the website is supplied by third parties and may be outside the Parish Council's direct control.

Where we become aware of an accessibility problem with third-party content or functionality, we will seek to provide an accessible alternative where reasonably possible and, where appropriate, raise the issue with the relevant provider.

What we are doing to improve accessibility

Leeds Parish Council is committed to improving the accessibility of its website.

We will:

• consider accessibility when adding new website content;
• aim to ensure new documents produced by the Parish Council are accessible;
• review and improve older documents where appropriate;
• respond to accessibility issues reported by website users; and
• raise accessibility issues relating to the website platform or third-party functionality with the relevant provider.

Preparation of this accessibility statement

This statement was originally prepared on 22 September 2020.

It was reviewed and updated on 10 September 2026.

The Parish Council will keep this statement under review and update it when there are significant changes to the website or its accessibility.