Streamlining LGR communications across nine councils

The nine councils across Nottingham and Nottinghamshire needed a neutral digital space where they could communicate clearly with residents about local government reorganisation. Working with tight deadlines and complex stakeholder requirements, they turned to Rohallion and the LocalGov Drupal microsites platform to deliver a solution that would serve the entire county.

The challenge

Local government reorganisation affects everyone in a region, but communicating these changes presents unique challenges. When nine councils across Nottingham and Nottinghamshire needed to engage residents about LGR, they faced several obstacles:

• The information couldn't simply live on one council's website. Residents needed to access neutral, impartial information that represented all nine authorities fairly. This was essential for conducting meaningful public engagement.
• The timeline was tight. With statutory requirements to meet and public consultation periods to honour, there was no room for lengthy development cycles or complicated approval processes.
• The message needed to be clear. LGR is complex by nature, and the team needed to break down intricate governance changes into information that residents could easily understand and act upon.
• Multiple stakeholders needed to approve content. Getting sign-off from nine separate councils could easily become a bottleneck if the right tools weren't in place. And the nine councils were not prepared to let that happen.

Why a dedicated microsite made sense

Rather than trying to coordinate across nine separate council websites, the team recognised that a dedicated microsite offered the best solution. This approach provided a single, authoritative source of information that all councils could direct residents towards.

The microsite needed to serve several distinct purposes. It would act as the central hub for public engagement, simplifying the complex LGR narrative so residents could complete the online survey. It would provide a shared news library where all nine councils could publish media information without duplicating effort across separate sites. And crucially, it would offer a single point of contact for anyone with questions about the reorganisation process.

The LocalGov Drupal microsites solution

The LocalGov Drupal microsites platform proved ideal for this multi-council collaboration. The platform's simplicity meant the leading communications team could build and update pages quickly themselves, without waiting for developer support at every turn.

The ability to embed video content helped break down complex information into digestible segments. For residents trying to understand how reorganisation would affect them, these visual explanations made all the difference.

Perhaps most valuable given the tight deadlines was the immediate publish capability. When information needed updating or correcting, the team could make changes live straight away. They could also share unpublished links with colleagues across all nine Councils for approval before content went public, streamlining what could have been a cumbersome review process.

Delivering at speed

From initial discussion to launching the live site took less than three weeks. Remarkably, this timeline included training and learning to use LocalGov Drupal for the first time. Newark & Sherwood District Council, as the lead authority, had never worked with the platform before, yet the design and build phases still took only a matter of days.

The fact that a team new to the system could deliver a multi-council website this quickly demonstrates the platform's intuitive design. The timeline was driven by content preparation rather than technical development or learning curves, allowing the councils to focus their energy where it mattered most.

Throughout the project, Rohallion provided clear guidance on accessibility and user experience. With limited time for extensive testing, this expert advice proved invaluable in ensuring the site would work well for all residents from day one.

When the team needed customisable elements to communicate clear information concisely, these were built quickly without disrupting the overall timeline. The support available meant questions were answered promptly and the project kept moving forward.

Results that exceeded expectations

The microsite delivered impressive results. When the public engagement launched via lgrnotts.org, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire achieved one of the highest response rates for any LGR engagement exercise, with almost 11,500 residents taking part. To put this in perspective, neighbouring Derbyshire achieved half that number despite also recording significantly higher engagement than other areas.

The engagement results themselves showed that people felt well informed about LGR. This validated the approach of creating a clear, navigable website that presented complex information in accessible ways.

For the communications teams across all nine councils, the microsite delivered ongoing benefits beyond the initial engagement period. It provided a central hub for communicating information approved by all councils, giving everyone a single, authoritative source to direct residents towards.

Why it worked

Several factors contributed to the project's success. The LocalGov Drupal platform's simplicity meant it was genuinely easy to use compared to the existing lead council’s content management system. This wasn't just about technical capability but about empowering the people who needed to publish and update content daily.

The platform's design flexibility allowed for personalisation while maintaining accessibility as a top priority. Each council could see their brand represented fairly while residents benefited from consistent, standards-compliant design.

Working with Rohallion meant having a partner who understood both the technical requirements and the political sensitivities of multi-council collaboration. The speed, professionalism and expert guidance throughout the project made what could have been a complex procurement and delivery process remarkably straightforward.

A model for regional collaboration

The lgrnotts.org microsite demonstrates how the right digital platform can facilitate effective collaboration across multiple local authorities. When councils face shared challenges that require coordinated communication, a neutral microsite offers practical advantages that go beyond what any single council website can achieve.

For other councils navigating reorganisation, the results speak for themselves. Nearly 11,500 engaged residents, clear communication across nine authorities, and a platform that continues to serve as the central source of information about LGR in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire.

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take to set up a LocalGov Drupal microsite?

The technical setup can be completed in days rather than weeks. For the Nottingham and Nottinghamshire LGR site, the design and build phases took just a few days, with the full project from initial discussion to launch completed in less than three weeks. Most of that time was spent on content preparation rather than technical development.

Do we need technical expertise to manage a LocalGov Drupal microsite?

No specialist technical knowledge is required. The platform is designed to be straightforward for communications teams to use, allowing you to build pages, embed content and publish updates without waiting for developer support. Training and ongoing support are provided to ensure your team feels confident managing the site.

Is LocalGov Drupal suitable for time-sensitive communications?

Very much so. The immediate publish functionality means you can make updates and corrections live straight away when deadlines are tight. This proved essential for the LGR engagement where information needed to be updated quickly as the reorganisation process progressed.

How does a microsite handle accessibility requirements?

LocalGov Drupal has accessibility built in as a core priority, ensuring sites meet required standards. Beyond the technical compliance, Rohallion provides guidance on user experience and accessible content design to ensure your microsite works well for all residents.