Only 10 percent of UK local councils score 4-star rating for their websites, survey reveals

June 2018 - Local Government

Only 10% of UK local councils score 4-star rating for their websites: The websites of UK councils have been put to the test by a team of reviewers and only 42 out of 414 local authorities were awarded 4-star status by testers.

The annual SOCITM Better Connected survey reviews local government websites for their usability (how easily users can find information and navigate around

Only 10% of UK local councils score 4-star rating for their websites, survey reveals

the site), as well as how accessible they are for disabled users.

In the 2017-18 survey (conducted by Better Connected professional reviewers), 10% of councils were awarded a four-star ('very good') rating -- up from 9% last year.

This compares to 46% given a 3-star 'good' rating, the same as 16/17.

There were fewer 2-star ratings (31%) in 17/18 than the previous year (35%), however, the survey revealed one-star ratings were up - from 11% in 16/17 to 13% in 17/18.

Key findings

These latest survey findings show that in 17/18, more councils (94%) offer a responsive or mobile site – so can be used effectively by local people using a smartphone. This is up from 89% in 16/17 and up from 57% in 2015.

When it came to testing accessibility for disabled users 62% of websites passed the BetterConnected test - which includes all sites given a 4-star rating.

Performance testing of websites

Websites were also tested for how well they performed when users were trying to carry out particular ‘tasks’ such as reporting a broken streetlight, finding out about their local bin collection or local development plans. They were also tested on how easy the site is to navigate, on search and A-Z facilities. and how accessible it is for people with disabilities.

Seventy per cent of websites were awarded 3 or 4 star status for how easily they could find out about roadworks, while just over half (53%) had a good or very good rating for being able to find out about childcare.

When it came to accessing information about parking, only 32% were given a 3-4 star rating, and when it came to being able to sign up for e-resources via the council website, only 39% were 3 or 4 star.

The number of UK local authority websites achieving 3-4 star rating for service area tasks:

Service area	Tasks 2017-18	Awarded 3 & 4 stars
Highways	Find out about roadworks	70%
	Report streetlight failure	63%
Waste & Recycling	Take rubbish to tip	63%
	Find out about putting rubbish out for collection	60%
Social Care	Find childcare (m)	53%
Planning	Find out about local development plans	48%
Waste & Recycling	Order garden waste collection OR extra bin	47%
Social Care	Find services to help elderly relative stay in their own home	41%
Council & democracy	Find out about councillor	39%
Libraries	Sign up for e-resources	39%
Business	Apply for landlord licence	36%
Parking	Find out about parking (m)	32%

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