Clarity on SAPPP 2025 Practitioners Guide Assertion 10 - 08th September 2025 (FREE)

Join Mark Tomkins, a leading expert in council website compliance and the Founding Director of Aubergine, as he explains the key updates in the 2025 edition of the Smaller Authorities Practitioners’ Guide (SAPPP) with a focus on Assertion 10 of the Annual Governance Statement.

This FREE session is designed to help local councils understand their responsibilities regarding the governance and management of their digital presence — including domain names, official email use, website standards, and IT policies.

Key topics covered:

• Overview of SAPPP 2025 updates
  Key changes and additions that impact digital governance.
  
  

• Deep Dive: What Assertion 10 Really Means
  Understanding the assertion around trust and how it now extends to councils' IT governance and data integrity.
  

• Domain Name Ownership & Security
  

  Why councils must own and control their .gov.uk or .org.uk domains.

  Risks of third-party-managed domains.
  

• Official Email Use for Councillors & Officers

  The importance of using council-issued email addresses (not personal or generic ones).

  Benefits for FOI/SAR, GDPR, and accountability.
  
  

• Website Compliance Expectations

  Accessibility, transparency, and the need for up-to-date, compliant council websites.

  What to check and how to stay compliant.
  
  

• IT & Data Policies for Councils

  Minimum IT policies now expected under Assertion 10.

  What to include and best practices.
  
  

Who Should Attend: Clerks, RFOs, councillors, and anyone involved in council governance, digital communications, or compliance.

Gain clarity on Assertion 10’s digital implications and learn practical steps to ensure your council meets its compliance obligations by AGAR 2025/26.