Website - Print version

Our terms and conditions

The terms and conditions of use for Coventry City Council's website and subsites.

Privacy notice

This notice explains what we do with any information that you provide us with, or is gathered automatically. We may change this without notice, at any time. Any changes will be shown here and you should therefore revisit this and any other relevant pages, from time to time to see what we do with such information.

Read the full Corporate Privacy Notice [http://www.coventry.gov.uk/privacynotice].

Use of information

For the prevention and detection of crime we may submit your information to law enforcement or government authorities if so requested by them.

Web statistics

Web statistics about your visit to our site are collected automatically. This information is used to help us follow browsing preferences so that we can regularly improve our website. How we record web statistics [/cookies].

Location awareness

If your experience would be improved by our website knowing your location, we will ask permission to obtain your current location from your device. This can include coordinates, direction of travel and the time the data was recorded. This location data is not tracked and is used in providing specific service requests.

E-mails / forms

In some areas of the Council website, we may ask you to register your name and e-mail address. We may also collect personal data from you if you complete any forms or if you contact us with comments or specific requests. The personal data collected will only be used for the specified purpose(s),  stated on the form and in accordance with the Data Protection Act 2018. E-mails to councillors are confidential between yourself and your councillor.

If you are using a public computer and do not wish others to be able to go back to view the details you have typed into a form on the web it is advisable to clear the contents of the form and your cache (temporary internet files) before leaving the computer.

Feedback and comments

We welcome your feedback and comments about the City Council and about the city [http://www.coventry.gov.uk/complaints].

Disclaimer

Although we make reasonable efforts to keep the information on this website up-to-date and accurate, we make no representations, warranties or guarantees whether express or implied, that the content on our site is accurate, complete or up-to-date. Coventry City Council, its employees or agents will not be held responsible for any loss, damage or inconvenience caused as a result of reliance on such information.

Links to other websites

Occasionally, links from our site lead to pages maintained by other organisations. These links are provided for your convenience, and do not imply that Coventry City Council endorses or supports those organisations, the information on their pages, or their products or services in any way. These sites are not under the control of Coventry City Council and we are not responsible for their content. We cannot guarantee that these links will work all of the time and we have no control over availability of linked pages. However, if you find a broken link on a page, please use the "Is there anything wrong with this page?" option, available at the foot of each page.

Copyright

Unless otherwise stated, the design and layout and all the material published on this website is the copyright of Coventry City Council.

We authorise you to view and download the material on this website only for your personal, non-commercial use. You must keep any copyright or other notices contained in the original material on any of the material you download. Any use of the material on this website, including distribution, requires express written permission from Coventry City Council.

Accessibility statement for www.coventry.gov.uk

This accessibility statement applies to www.coventry.gov.uk.

This website is run by Coventry City Council. We want as many people as possible to be able to use this website. For example, that means you should be able to:

• change colours, contrast levels and fonts
• 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
• listen to most of the website using a screen reader (including the most recent versions of JAWS, NVDA and VoiceOver)

We’ve also made the website text as simple as possible to understand.

AbilityNet [https://mcmw.abilitynet.org.uk/] has advice on making your device easier to use if you have a disability.

We also have the ReachDeck supportive toolbar enabled [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/tts]. The toolbar provides speech, reading, and translation support tools and makes online content more accessible for people with Dyslexia, Low Literacy, English as a Second Language, and those with mild visual impairments.

How accessible this website is

We know some parts of this website are not fully accessible:

• most older PDF documents are not fully accessible to screen reader software
• live video streams do not have captions
• you cannot skip to the main content when using a screen reader
• the image highlighting our online chat availability does not have alt text associated with it.

Feedback and contact information

If you need information on this website in a different format like accessible PDF, large print, easy read, audio recording or braille:

• email communications@coventry.gov.uk [mailto:communications@coventry.gov.uk?subject=Accessible%20information]
• call 024 7697 8000

We’ll consider your request and get back to you in 15 working days.

Reporting accessibility problems with this website

We’re always looking to improve the accessibility of this website. If you find any problems not listed on this page or think we’re not meeting accessibility requirements, email our E-Communications team webeditors@coventry.gov.uk [mailto:webeditors@coventry.gov.uk].

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) [https://www.equalityadvisoryservice.com/].

Technical information about this website’s accessibility

Coventry 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 website is partially compliant with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines version 2.1 [https://www.w3.org/TR/WCAG21/] AA standard.

Non-accessible content

The content listed below is non-accessible for the following reasons.

Non-compliance with the accessibility regulations

• Some of our historic PDFs and Word documents. 

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 [http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2018/952/regulation/4/made] if they’re not essential to providing our services.

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 [http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2018/952/regulation/4/made].

What we’re doing to improve accessibility

We are doing a number of things to improve our website accessibility:

• training for staff on how to create accessible pages and documents.
• ongoing monitoring of accessibility issues using automated testing via SiteImprove.
• weekly accessibility reports and schedule of changes.

Preparation of this accessibility statement

This statement was prepared on 10 August 2020. It was last reviewed on 16 August 2024.

This website was last tested on 16 August 2024. The test was carried out by SiteImprove which tested all pages within www.coventry.gov.uk.

Our current score is 89.1%. The current industry benchmark for Government sites is 87.5%.

Our cookies

What are cookies and why do we use them?

A cookie is a small text marker stored on your computer that enables us to track the use of our website. We use cookies to sign in and register with our website, to remember your accessibility settings and ensure the website is as user friendly as possible. Most big websites do this too.

If you delete or disable our cookies you may not be able to register on our site and benefit from some of our online features.

How do I change my cookie settings?

You have the opportunity to set your computer to accept all cookies, to notify you when a cookie is issued, or not to receive cookies at any time. The way in which you do this depends upon the web browser which you use.

To find out more about cookies, including how to see what cookies have been set, visit www.aboutcookies.org [http://www.aboutcookies.org/] or www.allaboutcookies.org [https://www.allaboutcookies.org/].

Find out how to manage cookies on popular browsers:

• Google Chrome
• Microsoft Edge [https://privacy.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-10-microsoft-edge-and-privacy]
• Mozilla Firefox [https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/enable-and-disable-cookies-website-preferences]
• Microsoft Internet Explorer [https://support.microsoft.com/en-gb/help/17442/windows-internet-explorer-delete-manage-cookies]
• Opera [https://www.opera.com/help/tutorials/security/privacy/]
• Apple Safari [https://support.apple.com/en-gb/safari]

Where does this website use cookies?

Our website uses cookies in several places - we've listed each of them below with more details about why we use them and how long they will last.

Registering or signing in

Server generated cookies

• AWSELB - "Amazon Web Services Elastic Load Balancer" - Used to direct your request to the appropriate server. No personal information is contained or used.
• Firmstep2server - Used to direct your request to the appropriate server. No personal information is stored.
• Firmstep2session - A unique identifier given to you for the duration of your site visit. It is used to ensure that you and only you are shown information relevant to you. It contains no personally identifiable information, but is temporarily linked to your user account when you log in.
• ASP.NET_SessionId - A unique identifier given to you for the duration of your site visit. It is used to ensure that you and only you are shown information relevant to you. It contains no personally identifiable information, but is temporarily linked to your user account if you log in.
• PHPSESSID - Same as above but unique to Self sites

Cookies set by javascript

• 0.js:
  • fs2logevents: Only set by explicit user action. Increases the level of internal debug information kept by the browser.
  • fs2debug: Only set by explicit user action. Causes the display of a button to allow the user to submit browser debug information for diagnostics.
  • fs2diag: Only set by explicit user action. Causes the display of a toolbar that can submit or display browser debug information.
  • NoAJAT: Used to disable AJAX. Only appears in redundant code. No longer actually set/used.
• combined.js:
  • ui-tabs: Used by the client to maintain tabs state when the user moves between pages.

ReachDeck

These cookies are set for customers who use the ReachDeck service, to read aloud and translate content on our site. The cookies enable the service to function by storing the user’s selections and preferences as they move around the site, including their settings for the tool, any language selection they might have made, the position of the toolbar, and their acceptance of the disclaimers.

This website uses ReachDeck, an accessibility and reading support add-on that helps you to read the content. To learn more about ReachDeck, visit www.texthelp.com [http://www.texthelp.com]

ReachDeck stores some data in the Local Storage in your browser, to enable the add-on to work correctly and remember your preferences. Examples of preferences include colour choices, translation language choices, or screen mask configuration. Look at the ReachDeck user settings panel to see all the different types of information.

ReachDeck also stores the toolbar state. This ensures that when you enable an icon, it will remain enabled when you return to the website, or navigate to another page.

ReachDeck does not transmit any of this information to Texthelp servers.

ReachDeck also continues to use anonymised Google Analytics to collect general usage statistics to help us improve ReachDeck in future releases. This usage is considered to be a Tracking Cookie under EU Cookie Law, and it is important that users are able to opt out of this.

IP Anonymisation is used to ensure that both Google and Texthelp cannot identify individual users. ReachDeck does not log any personally identifiable information in these Analytics.

Analytics

To improve our service we collect anonymous web statistics using programmes called Google Analytics and SiteImprove. They store several cookies on users' computers or mobile devices to tell us how many people have visited each web page, how they got there, and where they navigated to from there.

You can opt out of being tracked by Google Analytics across all websites [http://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout].

Social media cookies

We provide access to content from social media and networking websites such as YouTube and Twitter. Please check with these websites to find out how your information is used.

Orlo

Orlo is a social media management platform.

Third party cookies

Some of our pages use content from other websites, such as Google Maps. We do not have any control over these cookies. You should check the websites of the companies to find out how your information is used.

Internal search engine

Our site search uses Google Custom Search, which continuously monitors and indexes the content of the site. It is designed to work exactly like Google on the web.

Social sharing

Social sharing audio and video services are run by other companies, who may put cookies on your computer when you use them on our site or if you are already logged in to them.

Services that we may use and their use of cookies:

• Audioboom [https://audioboom.com/]
• Facebook [http://www.facebook.com/about/privacy/your-info-on-other]
• Instagram
• Flickr [http://info.yahoo.com/privacy/us/yahoo/flickr/details.html]
• Twitter [https://twitter.com/privacy]
• YouTube [http://www.google.com/intl/en/policies/privacy/faq/#toc-cookies]

Facebook pixel

We use a Facebook pixel [https://en-gb.facebook.com/business/help/742478679120153] as an Audience Engagement monitoring tool.

We use a Facebook pixel to identify visitor audiences who have responded to a Facebook advert the Council has commissioned. We do this to:

• analyse if Facebook adverts are delivering value for money
• analyse if the Facebook adverts are reaching their intended audience
• allow us to identify respondents to Facebook adverts (anonymously) and send follow up adverts to further promote a campaign, such as our Fostering recruitment campaigns, where we know it will take multiple adverts for a campaign message to be best delivered
• Facebook visitor audiences provide a greater level of detail around audience membership demographics than other methodologies

We use this information to judge the efficacy and performance of our Facebook advert campaigns.

Speech, reading and translation support tools via ReachDeck

Whether you are using a Smartphone, Tablet, PC or Mac, ReachDeck will provide the speech, reading and translation support tools you require for free.

ReachDeck is part of our website, so you do not need to install or buy any software to use it. It is available from the bottom left of each webpage via the ReachDeck icon.

ReachDeck adds speech, reading, and translation support tools to websites.  ReachDeck makes online content more accessible for people with Dyslexia, Low Literacy, English as a Second Language, and those with mild visual impairments.

Features include:

• dual-colour highlighting
• text magnification
• translation
• MP3 maker
• screen masking
• pronunciation modifier
• secure site reading
• PDF reading
• international languages

The Toolbar

There are several icons on the toolbar. Each button performs a different function - you can hear text read aloud, translate it, convert to MP3 and add a screen mask.  You can magnify text, simplify web pages, and set your own personalised settings.

Text to Speech

ReachDeck reads text on a webpage out loud. There are two options, Hover to Speak and Speak the Current Selection. Hover to Speak is turned on by default when the toolbar is launched.

Translation

ReachDeck translates web pages into 99 languages and can speak aloud 40 of those, in a high quality, natural sounding native voice.

MP3 Generation

ReachDeck converts any text that you select from a web page, into an audio file that you can then listen to at a later date at home, or on the move.

Screen Mask

This feature allows you to apply a colour filter to your screen.  A semi-opaque mask extends across the screen, leaving a letterbox reading window clear - the allows you to focus on a few lines at a time. 

Text Magnification

With ReachDeck you have the option to magnify the text as it’s being read aloud.  You can personalise the font, size and colour to suit your needs in settings.

Simplify

This feature removes the clutter and distractions, such as pictures and adverts, allowing you to focus on the text you want to read.

Settings

In the settings menu you can personalise the features to suit your own specific needs.  You can personalise the following:

• Highlight colours for text to speech and text magnification
• Set text magnifier on as default
• Select the size of the magnified text
• Switch hover to speak off
• Select voice speed
• Set the simplify feature on as default
• Identify links on a webpage

ReachDeck Feature Guide

Accessible documents at Coventry City Council

This policy explains how accessible the documents we publish on www.coventry.gov/uk are. It covers PDFs, spreadsheets, presentations and other types of document. It does not cover content published on www.coventry.gov.uk as HTML: the main accessibility statement [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/accessibilitystatement] covers this.

Using our documents

We publish documents in a range of formats.

We want as many people as possible to be able to use those documents. For example, when we produce a document we make sure to:

• provide an HTML option where possible
• tag headings and other parts of the document properly, so screen readers can understand the page structure
• make sure we include alt text alongside non-decorative images, so people who cannot see them understand what they’re there for
• avoid using tables, except when we’re presenting data
• write in plain English

How accessible our documents are

New documents we publish and documents you need to download or fill in to access one of the services we provide should be fully accessible.

However, we know that some of our older documents (published before 23 September 2018) are not accessible. For example, some of them:

• are just photocopies and are not marked up in a way that allows screen reader users to understand them
• are not tagged up properly - for example, they do not contain proper headings
• are not written in plain English

This mostly applies to our FOI response archive. These types of documents are exempt from the regulations [http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2018/952/regulation/4/made], so we do not currently have any plans to make them accessible.

But if you need to access information in one of these document types, you can contact us and ask for an alternative format.

What to do if you cannot use one of our documents

If you need a document we’ve published in a different format:

• email communications@coventry.gov.uk [mailto:communications@coventry.gov.uk?subject=Accessible%20information]
• call 024 7697 8000

We’ll consider the request and get back to you in 15 working days.

Reporting accessibility problems with one of our documents

We’re always looking to improve the accessibility of our documents. If you find any problems not listed on this page or you think we’re not meeting accessibility requirements, contact: [provide details of how to report these issues to your organisation, and contact details for the unit or person responsible for dealing with these reports].

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) [https://www.equalityadvisoryservice.com/].

Technical information about the accessibility of our documents

We are committed to making our documents accessible, in accordance with the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018.

Non accessible content

Non compliance with the accessibility regulations

A few of our older documents have diagrams. These images do not have a text alternative, so the information in them is not available to people using a screen reader. This does not meet WCAG 2.1 success criterion 1.1.1 (non-text content).

When we publish new documents we’ll make sure our use of diagrams meets accessibility standards.

Content that’s not within the scope of the accessibility regulations

Many of our older PDFs and Word documents do not meet accessibility standards - for example, they may not be structured so they’re accessible to a screen reader. This does not meet WCAG 2.1 success criterion 4.1.2 (name, role value).

The accessibility regulations do not require us to fix PDFs or other documents published before 23 September 2018 [http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2018/952/regulation/4/made] if they’re not essential to providing our services.

Any new PDFs or Word documents we publish will meet accessibility standards.

How we tested our documents

We last tested a sample of our documents on 7 September. The test was carried out by SiteImprove.

We tested all our documents.

What we’re doing to improve accessibility

This page was prepared on 12 August 2020. It was last updated on 7 September 2023.

Website feedback

We'd like to know what you like and don't like about this website. You can do this by:

Usability testing

Do you have a spare few minutes? Help us improve the usability of our most popular services, by registering with the Council Website Usability Dashboard [http://council.usability-test.org.uk/]. The feedback you give will be used to improve the content and design of the website.

Page feedback

There is a Website feedback [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/webpagefeedback] link at the bottom of every page to inform us about content problems. This feedback is sent to the E-Communications team.