When it comes to building a new council website, you've probably heard about Drupal - a free, open-source platform that powers thousands of websites worldwide, including some UK councils.
It's powerful. It's flexible. And it's free.
But here's what many councils discover: free doesn't always mean easier.
The DIY Platform Challenge
If your council decides to go the Drupal route (or a similar open-source platform), here's what you're typically signing up for:
Someone (whether a volunteer, a staff member, or a hired contractor) needs to set up the platform, customise it to your council's needs, and manage it ongoing. That's not a one-time job; it's an ongoing responsibility.
Security updates need to be applied regularly. Plugins need to be maintained. If something breaks, you're responsible for fixing it - or paying someone to fix it. And you need someone on your team (or on retainer) who understands the platform's complexities well enough to troubleshoot when things go wrong.
For many councils (especially smaller ones running on volunteer time and genuinely tight budgets) that's a significant amount of overhead for what should be a straightforward service.
The Real Cost of "Free"
This is where the conversation gets important. Yes, Drupal is free software. But implementing and maintaining it isn't free.
Consider these hidden costs:
- Staff time or contractor fees to set up and customise the platform
- Ongoing technical expertise to handle updates and troubleshooting
- Hosting and infrastructure (which still needs to be paid for)
- Training for staff who'll be managing the site day to day
- Downtime and disruption if something breaks and your technical resource isn't immediately available
By the time you factor all this in, the "free" platform has a real cost; measured in time, stress, and often money anyway.
The Managed Solution Alternative
That's where managed website solutions like Nene Digital come in.
Instead of managing a platform, you get a website that's been purpose-built for how councils actually work. No complex CMS to learn. No security updates to manage. No emergency calls when something breaks.
What you get instead:
- A website designed specifically for council operations (agendas, planning applications, councillor directories, report-an-issue tools - the things residents actually need)
- Transparent, affordable pricing with no hidden costs
- Someone else handling all the technical overhead - security, updates, maintenance, hosting
- A clean, accessible site built to WCAG 2.2 standards from the ground up
- Support when you need it
You're not paying for software. You're paying for someone to handle the complexity so you and your team can focus on what you're actually here to do, serve your residents.
Which Approach Is Right for Your Council?
Both work. It really just depends on a few things:
Does your council have the in-house technical expertise to manage an open-source platform ongoing? Do you have volunteers or staff with the time and skills to handle updates, troubleshooting, and maintenance? Or would you rather have a partner who handles all that for you?
If you've got the technical capacity and you're comfortable with the ongoing management responsibility, a DIY platform might make sense. Many councils do use Drupal successfully, especially larger ones with dedicated digital teams.
But if you'd rather spend your time on council business instead of website maintenance, a managed solution takes that burden completely off your plate.
Getting Started
If you're exploring options for a new council website, consider:
- How much technical support do you realistically have available?
- What's the total cost of ownership, including staff time and expertise?
- How much time do you want to spend managing the website itself versus using it to serve residents?
- What level of support do you need if something goes wrong?
We're here if you want to chat about what approach works best for your council, whether that's a DIY platform or a managed solution. Either way, your residents deserve a website that works for them.