We’ve been continuing our work to improve the council website so that it feels quicker, easier to navigate and better value for money. One of the big steps forward has been moving several parts of the website onto our new Drupal system so everything sits together in one place.
What we’ve changed
Some tools and features used to run on separate systems managed by outside companies. This made them slower to update and sometimes more expensive to run. We’ve now rebuilt a number of these directly into our main website.
For example, the city centre map, showing the exciting regeneration of Colchester city centre is now completely managed by our digital team. We can update businesses, points of interest and other details much more quickly, which means the map will stay accurate.
Our job vacancies are now published through our own website too. Instead of paying for external services, we use simple RSS feeds that give the same information in a more efficient way.
We’ve also brought a range of smaller tools into the main site. This means fewer systems to keep track of and a more consistent experience for residents.
Why we’ve done this
By moving these tools in‑house, we can reduce the amount of money spent on external suppliers. Those savings can then be used to improve the website and other digital services you rely on.
It also means we can make updates more quickly, because everything is looked after by our in‑house team. With fewer separate systems, there is less that can go wrong and information is kept more accurate because it is all managed in one place.
What this means for you
Even though most of this work happens behind the scenes, it should make a noticeable difference. The new city centre map is clearer and more up to date. Job listings are easier to look through. Pages should load more smoothly. And because the site is simpler for us to maintain, we can keep improving it.
Our aim is to give you a website that helps you find what you need quickly and confidently, while also making sure we get the best value for public money.