The start of a new year is a natural time for councils to review how well their website is serving residents. Information changes, regulations evolve and expectations around digital access continue to rise. A short, structured review can help ensure your website remains compliant, useful and easy to manage.
This practical checklist is designed to help councils work step by step through a website refresh, whether you manage updates in-house or use an external provider.
Step 1: Check Legal and Accessibility Compliance
Before looking at design or content, confirm that your website meets current legal requirements.
- Ensure your accessibility statement is present, easy to find and up to date
- Check that pages meet WCAG 2.1 (or later) Level AA standards
- Confirm images include alternative text
- Make sure the site can be navigated using a keyboard
- Review colour contrast and text readability
- Check PDFs and documents are accessible or have accessible alternatives
If accessibility has not been reviewed in the past year, this should be the top priority.
Step 2: Review Core Council Information
Visitors should be able to find essential council information quickly and without confusion.
- Clerk and councillor contact details
- Meeting dates, agendas and minutes
- Financial information and annual accounts
- Policies and statutory documents
- Election and governance information
- Remove outdated documents and clearly label the most recent versions.
Step 3: Test Navigation and Ease of Use
A well-structured website saves time for both residents and council staff.
- Can key information be found within two or three clicks?
- Are menu labels clear and written in plain English?
- Is the site easy to use on mobile phones and tablets?
- Are links working and pointing to the correct pages?
- Ask someone unfamiliar with the site to try finding common items such as meeting minutes or contact details. Their feedback is often revealing.
Step 4: Review Content Quality and Tone
Council websites should be clear, neutral and easy to understand.
- Replace jargon with plain language where possible
- Break long pages into shorter sections with headings
- Check spelling, grammar and formatting
- Ensure content is factually accurate and current
- Clear content improves accessibility and helps build trust with residents.
Step 5: Check News, Events and Updates
An active website reassures residents that information is current.
- Remove expired news items and events
- Confirm recurring meetings are listed correctly
- Check that publication dates are visible where appropriate
If updates are infrequent, consider setting a reminder to review content quarterly.
Step 6: Review Security and Technical Health
Even simple council websites need basic technical care.
- Confirm the site uses HTTPS
- Ensure passwords are secure and access is limited to authorised users
- Check backups are running correctly
- Confirm software and plugins are up to date
Step 7: Consider Future Improvements
Once the basics are covered, think about how the site could better support residents.
- Clearer signposting to services and documents
- Improved search functionality
- Better support for mobile users
- Easier document management for council staff
Small improvements made consistently often have the biggest impact.
A council website does not need to be complex, but it does need to be reliable, accessible and up to date. A simple annual review using a checklist like this can prevent problems, reduce complaints and ensure your website continues to meet both legal requirements and community expectations.
Starting the year with a clear plan for your website is a practical step toward better communication and transparency.
If you’d like assistance updating your website content, get in touch with our team.