Many Parish and Town Councils still use personal email addresses such as Gmail, Hotmail or councillors’ private accounts.
However, governance guidance — including AGAR Assertion 10 — is placing greater emphasis on councils using official domains and council-owned email addresses.
One of the simplest ways to improve governance and professionalism is by using a .gov.uk domain name.
At Hightrees Hosting, we help Parish and Town Councils with .gov.uk domain registration and council email setup, making the process straightforward and affordable.
/What is a .gov.uk Domain?
A .gov.uk domain is a domain name reserved for UK public sector organisations such as Parish and Town Councils.
Examples include:
- yourparishcouncil.gov.uk
- yourtowncouncil.gov.uk
These domains are verified before registration to ensure they are only used by legitimate public bodies.
Using a .gov.uk domain helps residents easily recognise official council communications.
Why Town & Parish Councils Should Use a .gov.uk Domain
Moving to a .gov.uk domain provides several important benefits for councils.
Official Council Email Addresses
Councils can use email addresses such as:
clerk@yourcouncil.gov.uk
This makes it clear that emails are coming from an official council source.
Improved Governance
Using council-owned email accounts supports transparency and governance expectations referenced in AGAR Assertion 10.
Better Security
A managed domain allows councils to implement security protections such as:
- email authentication (SPF, DKIM and DMARC)
- managed user accounts
- central control of email access
Continuity When Councillors Change
Council email addresses remain owned by the council and can be reassigned when councillors or staff change
.
How Hightrees Hosting Helps Councils Register a .gov.uk Domain
Hightrees Hosting provides .gov.uk domain registration for Parish and Town Councils, along with the technical setup required to start using the domain.
Our service includes:
- assistance with .gov.uk domain applications
- registration of the council domain
- DNS setup and management
- creation of official council email addresses
- integration with services such as Microsoft 365
- ongoing technical support if required
We handle the technical work so councils can focus on their day-to-day responsibilities.
Supporting AGAR Assertion 10
AGAR Assertion 10 requires councils to demonstrate that they have proper governance arrangements and transparent communication systems.
Using a .gov.uk domain and official council email addresses helps show that:
- council communications are clearly identifiable
- email accounts are properly managed
- information remains within council systems
For many councils, moving to a .gov.uk domain is becoming best practice.
Register Your Council’s .gov.uk Domain
If your Parish or Town Council would like help with .gov.uk domain registration or council email setup, Hightrees Hosting can assist.
We specialise in simple, reliable hosting and IT services for Parish and Town Councils, with straightforward pricing and practical support.
Contact Hightrees Hosting to discuss registering your council’s official domain.