This accessibility statement applies to the website www.manchester.gov.uk, which is managed by Manchester City Council.
We want as many people as possible to be able to use the site, so have designed it to let you edit your preferred settings, with options to:
change colours, contrast levels and fonts
zoom in up to 400% 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)
See how you can adapt the website to meet your needs.
AbilityNet can help you to make your device easier to use if you have a disability.
How accessible this website is
We know some parts of the platform are not fully accessible, including:
● Keyboard focus indicator visibility and contrast issues
● Search results and error message announcements for screen readers
● Incorrect HTML semantics and labels
Feedback and contact information
Please email webfeedback@manchester.gov.uk if you would like to:
- report any accessibility problems not listed on this page
- request information in a different, more accessible format.
We'll consider your request and get back to you within 14 days.
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
We provide a text relay service for people with hearing impairment or speech impediment. The number is 0161 234 3760.
If you're visiting us to make an enquiry, pay a bill or attend an interview or a meeting, please let the person you're meeting know if you need to use an audio induction loop. Many of our facilities have them, at the main entrance or reception area, or inside some of the offices and meeting rooms.
British Sign Language users can call us using SignVideo Web Access, an online sign language interpreting service, from their own home for free.
Alternatively, find out how to arrange an interpreter or translation for your visit.
Technical information about this website's accessibility
Manchester City 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 platform has been tested against the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines version 2.2 AA standards.
This website is partially compliant with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines version 2.2 AA standard, due to the non-compliances and exemptions listed below.
Non-accessible content
The content listed below is non-accessible for the following reasons.
Non-compliance with the accessibility regulations
Colour contrast
The colour contrast of text against a coloured background does not meet the ratio of 4.5:1 across the platform. This fails WCAG 1.4.3 Contrast Minimum Level AA. We plan to make sure the colour contrast meets a 4.5:1 ratio by summer 2026. We will make sure that any new content or features meet the accessible contrast ratio.
Keyboard accessible
There are some interactive elements on the platform that are not accessible for keyboard users. This fails WCAG 2.1.1 Keyboard Level A. We plan to fix these elements and make them accessible for keyboard navigation by summer 2026. We will make sure that any new interactive elements added are accessible for keyboard users.
Missing keyboard focus
The Keyboard focus indicator is missing on some interactive elements. This fails WCAG 2.4.7 Focus Visible Level AA. We plan to add keyboard focus indicators to all interactive elements by summer 2026. We will make sure that any new interactive features will have clear keyboard focus indicators.
Keyboard focus order
The keyboard focus order has some inconsistencies where the focus order changes direction or causes the user to restart the navigation from the top of the page. This fails WCAG 3.2.3 Consistent Navigation Level AA. We plan to update the focus order to make sure it is consistent across the platform by summer 2026. We will make sure that the focus order is consistent on all new content.
Zoom to 400%
Some elements such as the calendar date picker do not reflow correctly when the browser is resized to 400% zoom. This fails WCAG 1.4.10 Reflow AA. We plan to make sure that the content on the platform reflows correctly at 400% zoom by summer 2026. We will make sure that all new content is available and accessible at 400% zoom.
Screen reader support
Some elements such as the search results are not announced correctly by screen readers when results are updated. This fails WCAG 4.1.3 Status Messages (Level AA). We plan to ensure that search results are properly announced to screen reader users by summer 2026. We will make sure that all new functionality provides appropriate announcements for dynamic content updates.
Older images
Images uploaded to the site before 2018 may not have alt tags or captions. This fails WCAG 2.2 success criterion 1.1.1 (non-text content).
We will correct insufficient or missing alt-text over time as we review sections of the site. When we publish new content, we'll make sure our use of images meets accessibility standards.
CSV files
Wherever possible, we present data in more accessible formats (like directly on the web page). But in some cases, we add CSV downloads if the size of the data set requires it.
Cookiebot
At 400% zoom, focus states are imperceptible on the banner.
In the 'Details' section, there are many links with the same link text of 'Learn more about this provider' (for example, in the accordion element for 'Necessary').
At 200% and 400% zoom on the Privacy notice and cookie policy page, the text in the table headers is partially cut off on each table. This also happens in mobile view (320 x 256 pixels).
On the Privacy notice and cookie policy page, some elements have been created using non-standard methods which cannot be parsed by some technologies. This might cause some assistive technology to show errors when accessing the page.
Other sites
We link to different websites to provide some of our services. Some are styled to look similar to www.manchester.gov.uk. However, they are all separate platforms. For accessibility queries about these, please visit those sites directly.
Other websites include:
- Councillors, minutes and papers on democracy.manchester.gov.uk
- Payments made by manchester.civicapayforms.co.uk
Documents that are supplied by other organisations or members of the public will not be edited to make them accessible.
This site is styled to look like manchester.gov.uk but not actually part of it.
Census content on Microsoft Power BI
This is a third-party app used to compare census data between years and wards.
We've provided accessible summaries of the census data: Census results 2021
This is a third-party platform containing data about Manchester on a range of topics, including education and crime.
Due to the graphical and geographical nature of the data shown, some users may require data in alternative accessible formats. This can be requested by emailing intelligence@manchester.gov.uk.
Disproportionate burden
Read our Disproportionate Burden Assessment
Content that's not within the scope of the accessibility regulations
PDFs and other documents
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 the State of the City Reports from before that time. These are annual reports, used as an archive reference for work conducted in that year.
Any new PDFs or Word documents we publish will meet accessibility standards.
Live video
We do not plan to add captions to live video streams, because live video is exempt from meeting the accessibility regulations. All of our pre-recorded and edited film clips will feature subtitles, captions, and a transcript.
Embedded clips from YouTube
We add subtitles and transcripts to all videos uploaded after September 2018.
Embedded images from Flickr
We have a selection of historical photo albums on the site, some of which are only hosted on the photo-sharing website flickr.com. The code used to embed an image or album can create non-compliant elements.
Maps
Maps and mapping services are exempt as long as essential information is provided in an accessible digital manner. We have implemented this methodology wherever maps are used.
We aim to meet the needs of all visitors to our site, but we don't yet have a way of presenting geographical information (maps and site plans, etc.) in a fully achievable and accessible format. Currently, all accessible map solutions would be impossible to implement for all residents due to both resource and installation issues. As new technologies emerge, we will reevaluate this.
We sometimes use Google Maps on the site. We are aware of some accessibility issues with them: form controls missing accessible names, pins missing alternative text, and some text being clipped when resized.
As these issues lie within Google's coding, we cannot change them. However, we only use Google Maps to provide a visual enhancement of information, and this information is always presented as accessible text descriptions.
If you need help to understand our maps, contact webfeedback@manchester.gov.uk.
Preparation of this accessibility statement
This statement was prepared on 15 September 2020. It was last reviewed on 25 March 2026.
The platform was last tested on 17 March 2026 against the WCAG 2.2 AA standard.
The test was carried out by Invuse. The most viewed pages and key user journeys were tested using automated and manual testing tools using Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge and Apple Safari.