Publication
Accessibility of local authority services 2026
A survey of 240 services delivered by Commonwealth local authorities, and what it found about testing, statements, and assisted digital routes.
What we found
We reviewed 240 services delivered by the Commonwealth's 48 local authorities between October 2025 and February 2026, covering the services with the highest transaction volumes in each authority.
- 71% had never been tested with assistive technology by a person
- 38% had no accessibility statement
- Of those that had one, 54% had not been updated in over two years
- 29% offered no route through for someone who could not complete the service online
- 12% met the Commonwealth accessibility requirements in full
What we are doing about it
The accessibility audit programme was extended to local authorities from 1 July 2026, and is free including retesting. We are also publishing a shorter accessibility statement template, because the length of the current one is the reason most often given for not having published one.
Related publications
Commonwealth accessibility policy
The accessibility obligations that apply to every Commonwealth public service, website, and internal tool.
Accessibility audit request form (ODS-31)
Request an accessibility audit of a service you deliver, and tell us which journeys matter most.