A New Digital Experience for Basildon Citizens

Change can be a moment of opportunity. For organisations serving their communities, it can also be a chance to rethink how digital services connect people with the information and support they need. Following a period of transformation, Basildon Council are the latest local authority that have looked to improve its citizen experience with a refresh to its website.

Having been a GOSS customer since 2017, Basildon Council had previously used the GOSS Cruise theme to power its website. While this provided a stable and reliable foundation for many years, the council recognised that its updated branding and evolving priorities called for a more flexible and modern digital presence. In particular, the council wanted a homepage that could better showcase key services, campaigns and updates in a way that was visually engaging and easy to navigate. The result... a website refresh project launched that is helping provide a stronger digital experience for citizens.

A More Flexible and Accessible Digital Experience

At the heart of the refresh was a move from the GOSS Cruise theme to the GOSS Dynamic theme. This transition was driven by the need to support the council's refreshed visual identity while creating a homepage that could adapt more easily to changing priorities. The move to the Dynamic theme has given Basildon Council the flexibility to deliver its refreshed design while ensuring the website can evolve alongside its changing priorities and user needs.

The refreshed site now provides a modern, consistent experience for residents, making it easier to find information and access services online. Familiar functionality has been retained, including the council's custom Cludo search tool, ensuring continuity for users while improving the overall look and feel of the site.

For council staff, the new theme offers greater control over content layout and presentation. Teams can manage homepage content more flexibly, helping them respond quickly to new initiatives, seasonal priorities and community needs.

A Smooth and Collaborative Delivery

The project was initiated in September 2025 and only took a few weeks to deliver, launching the updated website in November 2025. From the outset, the focus was on achieving a smooth transition with minimal disruption to users.

One of the key technical considerations was the council's bespoke search functionality. Basildon Council uses Cludo as its primary site search tool, supported by a custom configuration within the platform. As part of the move to the Dynamic theme, this functionality needed to be carefully re-applied and tested to ensure residents could continue to search the site as they always had.

Thanks to careful planning and collaboration, this challenge was resolved efficiently by reusing existing components from the previous implementation. This approach reduced development effort and ensured the project remained on schedule. The team described the project as straightforward and positive, with excellent client feedback received at sign-off.

Making a Meaningful Difference Through Digital Design

The refreshed website now supports both residents and council staff by utilising a more flexible GOSS website theme that reflects Basildon Council's updated priorities and branding.

For residents, the new site offers:

• A modern and accessible website aligned with the council's refreshed identity
• Improved homepage layouts that make it easier to find key services and information
• Continued access to familiar and reliable search functionality
• A consistent and user-friendly way to engage with council services online

For council staff, the website delivers:

• Greater flexibility to manage and update homepage content
• A theme that supports evolving communication needs
• A stable platform ready for future digital initiatives and enhancements

Rather than focusing solely on technology, the project prioritised usability, continuity and long-term value. The move to the GOSS Dynamic theme ensures the council can continue to adapt its digital presence as needs change, without requiring major redevelopment work.

This refreshed digital platform creates new opportunities for further service improvements, helping the council strengthen communication with residents and build a website that can grow alongside the community it serves. By connecting design flexibility with practical outcomes, the project demonstrates how digital transformation can support both organisational change and real-world impact.