Glasgow Public Sector Accessibility Checklist

Civil Rights and Equity Scotland 3 Minutes Read · published February 11, 2026 Flag of Scotland

Glasgow, Scotland public bodies must follow the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) Accessibility Regulations 2018 and related guidance when publishing digital services and accessibility statements. This checklist summarises practical compliance steps for Glasgow agencies, what to publish, how to handle complaints and where to seek enforcement or technical support. It is written for council officers, contracted web teams and accessibility leads responsible for meeting statutory requirements and for members of the public wanting to report issues.

Review and publish your accessibility statement and a remediation plan after any major site change.

What the regulations require

Key obligations include auditing websites and apps, publishing an accessibility statement that notes compliance and exemptions, providing contact routes for feedback and a way to request an accessible alternative. Public bodies must make reasonable efforts to fix issues and to publish a timeline for remediation where parts are not accessible.[1]

  • Conduct an accessibility audit covering pages, templates and mobile apps.
  • Publish an accessibility statement and update it when content changes.
  • Provide a clear contact for reporting barriers and offer an accessible alternative on request.
  • Keep records of fixes, exceptions and the remediation plan.

Penalties & Enforcement

The 2018 regulations do not set fixed monetary fines on the face of the instrument; specific fine amounts are not specified on the cited guidance page.[1] Enforcement and complaint escalation are handled via the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) in Great Britain; the EHRC may investigate and take action under equality law and related powers.[2]

  • Fine amounts: not specified on the cited page.
  • Escalation: initial contact to the public body; if unresolved, complain to EHRC (time limits not specified on the cited page).
  • Non-monetary sanctions: orders to comply, investigations, and potential court action—specific remedies depend on enforcement decisions.
  • Enforcer and complaints pathway: Equality and Human Rights Commission for GB; local complaints route via Glasgow City Council contact points.
  • Defences and discretion: reasonable excuse or published exemptions may apply; public bodies should document justifications.
The regulations themselves do not prescribe set fines; consult the enforcing authority for remedies.

Applications & Forms

No specific licence or application form is required to comply with the regulations; organisations must publish an accessibility statement and a remediation plan where necessary. If you need to make a formal complaint, use the public body's complaints process first then the EHRC route if unresolved.[2]

Practical compliance checklist

  • Run a full accessibility audit against WCAG 2.1 AA (or newer standards the organisation adopts).
  • Publish an accessibility statement with scope, exceptions and a remediation plan.
  • Fix critical failures (forms, navigation, documents) and track unresolved items in a public plan.
  • Set regular review dates and accessibility testing on any deployment schedule.
  • Provide clear contact and response times for accessibility reports and alternative formats.

FAQ

Do Glasgow public bodies have to comply with the UK regulations?
Yes. Glasgow public bodies are subject to the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) Accessibility Regulations 2018 and associated guidance; contact the council for specifics on local implementation.[1]
How do I report an accessibility issue with a Glasgow council service?
Report the issue using the council's published contact or complaints route; if unresolved, escalate to the Equality and Human Rights Commission.[2]
Are there fines for non-compliance?
The guidance does not list fixed fines; enforcement actions are handled by the EHRC and remedies depend on investigatory outcomes.

How-To

  1. Assign an accessibility lead and document responsibilities.
  2. Run an audit covering web content, templates and mobile apps; record results.
  3. Publish an accessibility statement and a remediation plan for any non-compliant items.
  4. Provide a simple contact route for users to report barriers and supply alternatives on request.
  5. Monitor progress, retest fixed items and update the public statement.

Key Takeaways

  • Publish a clear accessibility statement and remediation plan.
  • Audit, fix critical issues and keep public records of progress.
  • Provide contact routes and escalate unresolved complaints to the EHRC.

Help and Support / Resources

  1. [1] UK Government guidance - Accessibility requirements for public sector websites and apps
  2. [2] Equality and Human Rights Commission - Advice and guidance

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