A Shared LGR Microsite for Nine Councils — and What Other Local Authorities Can Learn
When all nine councils across Nottingham and Nottinghamshire were tasked with communicating the complexities of local government reorganisation (LGR), it was clear that traditional, council‑by‑council messaging wouldn’t be enough. Residents needed clarity. Communications teams needed speed. And every authority needed a neutral, trusted space to share information.
Newark and Sherwood District Council took on the responsibility of coordinating a digital solution that could work for the entire county. Partnering with Rohallion and using the LocalGov Drupal microsites platform, we delivered a shared website that not only met statutory deadlines but enabled one of the strongest LGR engagement responses nationally.
This is our perspective on the project — and what other councils can take from the experience.
Why We Needed a Different Approach
From the outset, it was clear that no single council website could serve as the home for LGR information. The reorganisation affected every resident, every service and every local area. For us, the key challenges were:
1. Maintaining neutrality across nine councils
Any platform had to be politically neutral and equally endorsed. Using one council’s main website would never have met that need.
2. Meeting extremely tight statutory timelines
Consultation periods and legislative milestones left no room for slow procurement or complex development cycles.
3. Communicating complex information simply
Residents needed to understand how LGR might affect their daily lives — without being overwhelmed by detail.
4. Aligning nine sets of stakeholders
Coordinating comms, legal, leadership and service experts across nine authorities required a publishing workflow that wouldn’t bottleneck.
These challenges shaped every decision from platform choice to content design.
Why Newark & Sherwood Chose a LocalGov Drupal Microsite
Although our council had never previously used LocalGov Drupal, the platform offered exactly what this multi‑authority project needed:
A shared, neutral digital space
A dedicated microsite meant every council could confidently direct residents to the same authoritative information source.
Speed of deployment
Because LocalGov Drupal is built for government publishing teams, we could move from initial planning to launch in under three weeks — even including training and first-time use.
Content-first publishing
The platform enabled our communications team to create, edit and publish without technical reliance, keeping pace with rapidly evolving content requirements.
Easy collaboration and approvals
Unpublished share links meant all nine councils could review content before it went live, avoiding lengthy email chains or duplicated sign-off processes.
Accessibility built in
Working closely with Rohallion ensured that, even under tight deadlines, the site met accessibility expectations and delivered a good user experience from day one.
For councils with shared communication needs — whether regional programmes, partnerships or devolution deals — these strengths are worth serious consideration.
Delivering at Pace: Newark & Sherwood’s Experience
From our perspective, the delivery timeline is one of the stand‑out achievements of this project:
- Design and build were completed in just a few days.
- Full project delivery — including onboarding, content development and nine‑council collaboration — took less than three weeks.
- Most of the time was spent preparing content, not wrestling with technology.
This demonstrates an important lesson for other authorities:
With the right platform, the limiting factor isn’t development — it’s the planning.
Rohallion’s ability to provide quick, pragmatic advice, build light customisations and support our decision making ensured we could keep momentum throughout.
What the Results Tell Us
When the lgrnotts.org microsite launched, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire achieved:
- Almost 11,500 consultation responses
- One of the highest LGR engagement totals in the country
- Double the engagement seen in some neighbouring areas with similar exercises
- Strong resident feedback indicating they felt well informed
These outcomes reinforced our belief that a shared, well‑structured digital hub helps residents participate more confidently in complex consultations.
The microsite now continues to act as the authoritative home for information approved by all nine councils.
What Other Councils Can Learn
Based on Newark & Sherwood’s experience, we think there are three clear takeaways for any authority facing a regional programme, shared challenge or multi‑council communications need:
1. A neutral microsite is just that, its neutral
It avoids debates about ownership, branding, and hierarchy, allowing all partners to communicate on equal footing.
2. LocalGov Drupal empowers teams to deliver quickly
Even for councils new to the platform, the intuitive design means officers, not developers, can lead the build.
3. Strong digital collaboration strengthens public trust
Residents receive consistent, accessible messaging — and partners gain a streamlined way to approve and publish information.
FAQs for Councils Considering a Similar Approach
How long does a LocalGov Drupal microsite take to set up?
The technical setup can be completed in days. Our full project, including coordination with nine councils, launched in under three weeks.
Does our team need technical expertise?
No. LocalGov Drupal is designed for comms and content teams. With light training, editors can manage everything themselves.
Is it suitable for fast‑moving programmes?
Yes. Immediate publish capability is one of the biggest advantages — essential for consultation‑driven or time‑sensitive work.
Is accessibility covered?
Yes. The platform starts from an accessibility‑first position, and suppliers like Rohallion can help ensure content meets user needs as well as standards.