Planning Advice Note 70: electronic planning service delivery

WEBSITE DESIGN & MANAGEMENT

72. There needs to be a clear understanding on where the responsibility lies for designing and managing a planning authority's website. The staff responsible for the site should develop and maintain webpages that are rich in authoritative and up-to-date information. They need to ensure that the website is developed under the direction of senior management and that all parts of the organisation consider their web presence, and take ownership of their part of the site.

73. The website contents should be accessible, well written and cater for the needs of a wide range of visitors. Publication online should generally be simultaneous with publication in other media, such as hard copy. Attaching a 'display by' date and where there is one a 'remove by' date will help ensure that the site is kept up-to-date. Regular editing and proof reading will be required. It is good practice to ensure that the main sections of the website are accessible within one click from the homepage and that no information is more than 2 or 3 clicks away. The dynamic nature of the internet makes it necessary to carry out frequent monitoring of the performance and use of the website. In addition, it is important that regular and authoritative reports about visitor numbers and experience are available. Further information on website design and management is available from the UK e-Government Unit, and from the Local Authority Website ( LAW) project.

Guidelines for Accessibility

74. It is essential that information on the web is available to everyone in Scotland regardless of web browsers used or physical characteristics of users. Information on web usability for people with disabilities can be obtained from the Web Accessibility Initiative or the Royal National Institute of the Blind ( RNIB ).