Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council

Linking policy

This page explains the linking policy applied across Stockton Council's websites.

Links from external sites to our website(s)

 
You do not have to ask permission to link directly to pages hosted on this site. However, we do not permit our pages to be loaded into frames on your site. Our pages must load into the user's entire window.

Stockton Council is not responsible for the content or reliability of any site to which it is linked and does not necessarily endorse the views expressed within them.

Linking to this site should not be taken as endorsement of any kind.

We cannot guarantee that the links others provide will work all of the time and we have no control over the availability of the linked pages.

Links to external sites from our website(s)

 
The Council does not generally respond to unsolicited requests to establish links from its site to third party sites but will enact appropriate links if deemed appropriate.

Given the size and scale of the council's websites we try and limit the number of external links we maintain. This is to ensure that the links that we do include can be regularly checked and amended to ensure they are current and operational within the confines of the human and technological link checking resources at our disposal.

Direct linking to all organisations from Stockton Council's websites is at the sole discretion of the Stockton Council web team who will apply the criteria below.

• The website is not commercial (Occasionally commercial links are made from the Council site on the following grounds: if they have content of a wider public value or are specifically related to service delivery requirements, wider Council objectives or policies, or meet other legislative requirements)
• That it is of a high standard and can be relied upon to be accurate and contemporaneous
• That the resource is liable to be maintained and available for a reasonable period of time 
• It relates directly to content on a Stockton Council website page
• It takes users directly to the information on the external site relevant to the content on the Stockton Council website page
• That the website works, is reliable and complete (not under construction)
• That the website is from a reputable source, with appropriate industry recognition
• That the website is accessible - meeting relevant W3C guidelines
• That banners on linked sites don't link to suspect sites
• That the website does not bring the Council into conflict or disrepute
• That the site is suitable for younger reader

There is no general duty to provide links from Stockton Council websites to businesses in the borough.