Website Accessibility - Edinburgh WCAG & Equality Duties

Technology and Data Scotland 3 Minutes Read · published February 12, 2026 Flag of Scotland

Edinburgh, Scotland public bodies must consider website accessibility under the Equality Act 2010 and the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018. This guide explains what those duties mean for City of Edinburgh online services, how compliance is assessed against WCAG standards, and where to report problems or request reasonable adjustments.

Legal framework

The primary UK legal instruments applying to local authority websites are the Equality Act 2010 and the 2018 Public Sector Accessibility Regulations, which set technical standards derived from WCAG and require accessible content and published accessibility statements [1].

Public bodies must publish a website accessibility statement explaining known issues and fixes.

Penalties & Enforcement

Statutory texts and official guidance do not list fixed local-authority penalty tariffs; specific monetary fines for non‑compliant public websites are not specified on the cited page. Enforcement commonly involves regulatory or legal action led by national equality bodies or courts rather than automatic municipal fines [2].

  • Typical monetary penalties: not specified on the cited page; local councils do not publish fixed fines for website accessibility breaches (see source).
  • Escalation: first action often begins with a compliance request or notice; repeat or continuing failures may lead to legal proceedings—ranges are not specified on the cited page.
  • Non-monetary sanctions: compliance notices, injunctions or court orders may be sought; seizure or points systems are not applicable to websites.
  • Enforcer and complaint route: complaints about discrimination or accessibility can be raised with the Equality and Human Rights Commission and through the City of Edinburgh complaints channels listed by the council [3].
  • Appeal/review: routes and statutory time limits are not specified on the cited page; where legal steps follow, ordinary court appeal rules apply and will specify deadlines.
If you believe a council website discriminates on the basis of disability, raise the issue promptly using the council complaints or the national equality body.

Applications & Forms

The City of Edinburgh does not publish a dedicated statutory application form specifically for website accessibility remediation; no specific form is required or none is officially published on the council site as of the cited page. For accessibility complaints or requests for reasonable adjustments, use the council contact and complaints channels referenced above [3].

Compliance steps for public bodies and site owners

  • Set a remediation timeline tied to WCAG 2.1 AA milestones and publish progress in the accessibility statement.
  • Run automated and manual WCAG audits and document results in accessible formats.
  • Keep an accessible alternative and contact method for users until issues are fixed.
  • Retain audit records and user feedback to demonstrate due diligence in case of complaints.

FAQ

Who enforces website accessibility rules for Edinburgh Council?
The Equality and Human Rights Commission and the courts are the principal enforcement and remedy routes; local complaint channels at the council are the first practical step.
Does the council publish an accessibility statement?
Yes, the council publishes an accessibility statement on its website describing known issues and contact details for reports; check the council site for the current statement.
Are there fixed fines for non-compliance?
Fixed monetary penalties for website non-compliance are not specified on the cited official pages; enforcement focuses on compliance actions and legal remedies.

How-To

  1. Check the public website's accessibility statement and published WCAG conformance level.
  2. Run an automated accessibility scan and record the results.
  3. Prioritise fixes for content and navigation barriers, then re-test manually for key user journeys.
  4. If you are a user affected, contact the council via its accessibility or complaints page and request a reasonable adjustment.
  5. If unresolved, consider contacting the Equality and Human Rights Commission for advice on legal remedies.
Document your reports and the council response to support any later review or complaint.

Key Takeaways

  • WCAG plus Equality Act duties apply to Edinburgh Council digital services.
  • Report issues first to the council; national bodies can provide further enforcement.
  • Keep records of audits, user reports and remediation actions to demonstrate compliance efforts.

Help and Support / Resources

  1. [1] The Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018
  2. [2] Equality and Human Rights Commission - guidance and enforcement information
  3. [3] City of Edinburgh Council - Accessibility information and contact

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