Council Services
South Ayrshire Community Web
South Ayrshire Council’s policy for offering free web-space
on its Internet web server to interested community groups and
voluntary organisations. Essentially this is disk space on our
Internet server which is known as hosting a web site.
The basic qualification for free web space on the South
Ayrshire Council server would be that the organisation
must be in the public or voluntary sectors and that it is either
based in or provides services for South Ayrshire. This definition
includes, but is not limited to community councils, churches,
health organisations, community care organisations, voluntary
organisations and registered charities.
Commercial companies who provide public services in the South
Ayrshire area on behalf of South Ayrshire Council (for example,
services which are contracted out) could qualify, but only for
the provision of information about their public services. Some
non-commercial clubs and societies providing services to the
community may also qualify.
Private individuals, wholly commercial companies, pressure groups and
party political bodies would not qualify.
This policy will not apply to council departments, business
units or collaborative projects where South Ayrshire Council
is the major funder. These type of initiatives should always
be part of the main South Ayrshire Council website.
It is important to note that the Council would not be responsible
for creating and maintaining these websites. South Ayrshire Council
would merely be providing the web address or URL and the space
to put the web pages. The Council’s only resource impact
would be in maintaining links from the Community area of the
Internet site to these community web pages.
Conditions of the Community web space offer
- There are no statutory obligations on the Council to provide
free web hosting to community groups. As a result South Ayrshire
Council can reserve the right to accept or reject applications
for web space if it is felt that the applicants use of the
space would bring harm to the Council or those accessing the
Council’s website.
- Hosted sites may choose whatever page style they wish to
use for their site but must abide by our content policy and
the data
protection act. People using the webspace are responsible
for complying with the data protection act and it is not the
responsibility of the council.
- South Ayrshire Council do not approve or endorse the information
in any Community site. The Council accept no responsibility
for, and therefore will have no liability in connection with
any Community site.
- All free hosted web pages must display a South Ayrshire Council
icon and link at an agreed place
of each page using an extract of HTML supplied at the time
of setting up your web space. The icon will include a South
Ayrshire Council logo and an appropriate message. The content
of the graphic will be determined by South Ayrshire Council.
The icon assigned to your organisation may differ slightly.
- From time to time, South Ayrshire Council may contact you
regarding the administration or content of your web pages and
by accepting this offer it is deemed that you agree to carry
out such alterations as may be reasonably expected by South
Ayrshire Council.
- When you apply for web space a contact name and email address
will be requested. Any future changes in respect of the individual
responsible for the maintenance of the hosted pages must be
notified without undue delay to South Ayrshire Council.
- Advertising and/or banners promoting products or services
of a third party organisation is not permitted on free hosted
web sites.
- All free web space sites are prohibited from trading goods
or services (often known as "e-commerce") without
the prior consent of South Ayrshire Council.
- A hosted web site must not exceed 10mb in size and not use
excessive bandwith. Any web site not observing this rule is
subject to being removed permanently.
- South Ayrshire Council does not support server extensions.
CGI scripts are permitted subject to vetting by South Ayrshire
Council ICT Services but certain restrictions do apply. For
example it is not possible to establish a bulletin board or
chat room on hosted web space. The use of unauthorised scripts
may result in affected pages being suspended or removed from
the South Ayrshire Council Server without notice.
- Expiry for webspace: A hosted web site not used within 12
months will be removed. Similarly any webspace that is not
updated over a twelve month period will be suspended or removed.
- Site updates are limited to one update per month by email.
No ftp access is provided. Limited support and advice is only
available during normal working hours Monday to Friday, excluding
public holidays, through the South Ayrshire Council ICT
Services by Email.
If you have any queries, please contact South
Ayrshire Council ICT Services.
