While Parish Councils are not directly required by law to have a website, having one is the simplest way to meet transparency regulations.
Understanding the legal position
There is no piece of legislation that directly states a Parish Council must have its own website. However, Councils are required to make certain information publicly available, and a website is one of the easiest ways to do this.
Since 2015, the Transparency Code for Smaller Authorities has set clear expectations for how Councils publish their documents, decisions and spending. Councils that do not provide this information online must still ensure it is easily accessible to the public in an alternative manner.
In practice, this can be really challenging without a website. Publishing documents only on noticeboards or on request can make access slower and less consistent.
A website makes transparency simpler, clearer, and more reliable, and it helps demonstrate good governance.
Transparency and accountability
Transparency is a central responsibility of every Parish Council. Agendas, minutes, financial data, and policy documents must be shared in a manner that allows residents to easily find and understand them.
Having a website allows councils to organise this information in one place, improving public confidence and reducing the number of information requests clerks receive by phone or email.
This clarity also supports stronger relationships within the community.
Because when information is easily accessible, residents are more likely to engage with local decisions and activities.
Accessibility for all Parishioners
Since September 2020, council websites have been required to meet WCAG 2.2 AA accessibility standards. This ensures that everyone, including individuals using assistive technology, can access information equally.
Accessibility isn’t just a legal requirement; it reflects the values of local governance, where every resident should be able to stay informed and take part in community life.
It’s also worth remembering that councils serve residents with different levels of digital confidence. A website designed to be straightforward, readable, and intuitive helps ensure that information is genuinely available to all.
Using a .gov.uk domain
Many Parish Councils choose to use a .gov.uk domain. While this is not mandatory, it is strongly recommended because it signals trust, helps prevent impersonation, and provides reassurance to residents that official council information is authentic and reliable.
To register and manage a .gov.uk domain correctly, Councils need to follow Government Digital Service guidance and meet specific email security standards.
Although this can feel a little overwhelming, it really doesn’t need to be. You can read our .gov.uk domain guide, or let us take care of everything with a free .gov.uk domain for life from HugoFox when you choose us as your website builder.
Efficiency and workload
A website does more than meet basic requirements and obligations. It can reduce the administrative burden on clerks and councillors.
By publishing documents online, councils avoid repeated requests for the same information. Features such as event listings or planning updates also help residents self-serve rather than contacting the clerk directly.
This gives councils more time to focus on community priorities rather than paperwork.
Does a website need to be expensive or complicated?
Not at all. Modern Parish Council websites are designed for people with no web-building experience. The aim is to make managing information reliable and straightforward, without any technical learning curve.
Importantly, Councils can choose solutions that are flexible, affordable, and tailored to their responsibilities.
How HugoFox can help
HugoFox is designed specifically for Parish Councils. We offer a straightforward way to build and manage a fully compliant, accessible website without needing technical skills.
Every Parish Council website from HugoFox includes a free .gov.uk domain for life, full accessibility and compliance features, and support from our friendly UK-based support team.
We focus on making websites feel manageable and stress-free, so clerks and councillors can get on with supporting their communities.
Why not try HugoFox free for 30 days? No need to add any payment details, simply discover what we’re all about and how easy it is to build your Parish Council website.