Your Parish Council’s Digital Compliance Guide
Parish councils across the UK are facing new digital compliance requirements with the introduction of Assertion 10 in the 2025 Annual Governance and Accountability Return (AGAR).
This significant change is one of the most important updates to parish council governance in recent years, and getting your head around its requirements is essential for all local councils.
What is Assertion 10?
Assertion 10 is a new declaration added to the 2025 edition of the Practitioner’s Guide by the Smaller Authorities Proper Practices Panel (SAPPP).
Previously covered under Assertion 3, this dedicated assertion clarifies data compliance requirements that parish and town councils must meet when completing their Annual Governance and Accountability Returns.
This assertion specifically focuses on digital and data compliance, requiring councils to demonstrate they have proper governance frameworks in place for their digital presence, data protection practices and IT management.
From the 2025/26 financial year onwards, all parish and town councils will need to be able to tick this box as part of the AGAR submission.
Why do parish councils need to know about Assertion 10?
The introduction of Assertion 10 reflects the growing importance of digital governance in modern local government. Parish councils handle increasing amounts of personal data, manage websites, and engage in many other digital communications every day.
This assertion ensures councils meet their legal obligations while protecting residents’ data and providing accessible digital services.
Assertion 10 explicitly requires parish and town councils to comply with UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018, making compliance more visible and accountable than ever before.
Councils that cannot demonstrate compliance will be unable to answer “Yes” to this assertion, which could potentially trigger audit requirements and additional scrutiny.
Is Assertion 10 important to your parish council?
Absolutely. Assertion 10 is not optional; it’s a mandatory requirement for all parish and town councils completing AGAR returns.
The assertion covers several critical areas that directly impact how councils operate.
Website legal & accessibility requirements
All smaller authorities with websites must ensure their sites meet strict accessibility standards. Your website must meet WCAG 2.2 AA compliance, which replaced 2.1 AA in October 2024.
This isn’t usually automatic (except for HugoFox sites), so councils with existing websites need to verify their compliance has been upgraded to the current standard. It’s also essential to maintain up-to-date accessibility statements and ensure all required documents are published and accessible to the public.
Council-owned domain & professional email
Parish and town councils must use email addresses on domains they own and control, rather than relying on free services like Gmail or personal accounts.
This requirement ensures professional communication standards and proper data governance.
GDPR & data protection compliance
The 2025 edition of the Practitioners Guide contains requirements for email management and website accessibility, alongside comprehensive data protection obligations.
Parish councils must understand all personal data they hold, implement proper security measures, and provide appropriate training for staff and councillors.
IT & digital governance policies
Councils need robust IT policies that cover device use, security protocols, backup procedures, and provide clear guidelines for when councillors or staff leave.
This includes defining responsibilities for password management, software updates and acceptable use policies.
Key deadlines & compliance timeline
The changes took effect with the 2025 edition of the Practitioners’ Guide, and Assertion 10 will appear in AGAR for the 2025/26 financial year.
This means councils should already be implementing necessary changes, as some requirements (such as domain changes, website updates and policy development) can take considerable time to complete correctly.
HugoFox ensures your parish council website meets Assertion 10 requirements
Understanding these complex requirements is one thing; implementing them effectively is another. This is where choosing the right website provider becomes crucial for parish councils seeking full compliance.
Built-in accessibility compliance
HugoFox websites are designed from the ground up to meet all current and future accessibility standards. Our responsive, accessible websites ensure your council can confidently meet WCAG 2.2 AA requirements without the technical complexity of managing compliance yourself.
Every HugoFox website includes necessary accessibility features and documentation your council needs for Assertion 10 compliance.
Professional domain management
As part of our comprehensive service, HugoFox helps parish councils establish and maintain professional domain ownership. We support parish councils in securing .gov.uk domains, ensuring you meet Assertion 10 requirements for council-owned digital presence.
We also ensure your .gov.uk domain is free forever, so you won’t have any unexpected fees to worry about in the future.
Our hosting services include full domain management, giving your council complete control over your digital identity.
Automated document publishing
Meeting Assertion 10 requires councils to publish various documents in accessible formats. HugoFox makes this effortless with our intuitive content management system.
Upload your AGAR returns, meeting minutes, policies, and other required documents with just a few clicks. We ensure all of your content remains accessible and properly formatted for public access.
Data protection by design
HugoFox websites incorporate data protection principles from the outset. Our secure hosting environment, encryption protocols, and privacy-focused design help councils meet their GDPR obligations.
We provide the technical safeguards you need while keeping administrative overhead. Saving you time to focus on the important things your community needs.
Support for parish councils
Unlike generic website builders, HugoFox understands the specific needs of parish councils.
Our platform includes features tailored to local government requirements, such as planning application trackers, secure member areas, and integrated tools for transparency and compliance.
We also have a dedicated support team that specialises in the needs of of Parish Councils, understanding everything from transparency regulations to election procedures and available 24/7.
Planning tracker & enhanced features
For eligible parish councils, HugoFox offers advanced features like our planning tracker, which automatically displays planning applications in filterable, accessible formats.
These tools demonstrate the depth of our commitment to supporting the digital requirements of our parish councils.
Getting started with compliance
The path to Assertion 10 compliance doesn’t have to be overwhelming. HugoFox offers parish councils a straightforward solution that addresses multiple compliance requirements simultaneously.
Our 30-day free trial also allows councils to explore the platform and understand how it supports your specific compliance needs.
With unlimited pages, storage, and content, plus the ability to manage your website from any device, anywhere, at any time, we provide you with the flexibility and reliability you need.
Our commitment to community organisations means we understand the unique challenges facing your parish council and can provide solutions that work in the real world.
Moving forward with confidence
Assertion 10 represents a significant shift towards more robust digital governance for parish councils. Rather than viewing this as a burden, you can see it as an opportunity to modernise your digital presence and better serve your community.
By choosing a specialist website provider like HugoFox, your parish council gains not only a compliant website but a comprehensive digital platform explicitly designed to meet your needs.
Our UK-based team understands the regulatory environment and provides ongoing support to ensure you remain compliant, even as regulations change.
The deadline for Assertion 10 compliance is approaching quickly. Don’t leave your council’s digital compliance to chance.
Find out more about how HugoFox can provide you with the right website to meet these essential requirements while enhancing your service to your community.
Book a call with our UK-based team for more information, or start your 30-day free trial now to ensure your parish council’s journey towards full Assertion 10 compliance and beyond.