Medway Council is redeveloping its website.
Medway Council has secured funding to redevelop its website and content management system.
The existing website, created in 2003, is unsustainable on the existing technical infrastructure. The current functionality no longer fulfils the expectations or needs of you, our website users. You have already told us that some features of the site are not delivering in the way in which you need them to – an example being the search function.
The Internet landscape has shifted rapidly since the launch of the current site – Internet access and usage has increased enormously in Medway since 2003 and is the preferred channel through which many Medway residents make contact with the Council services or access information.
You have told us that there is an increased need for interaction with public services online, allowing you to fulfil your needs quickly and easily without having to follow up a visit to the website with a phone call or email.
We want to offer you the information you need in the most easiest, quickest way possible.
We welcome all feedback you have on the website redevelopment and we need you to play a part in its development so that we can offer the best possible online experience for you. By inviting consultation at all stages of the redevelopment, we hope to ensure that we can make your personal online experience of Medway Council better.
October 5, 2010 at 8:36 am
As a publisher I found the new content management system much easier than Obtree and look forward to using it on the live site. The only negative comment I have is that due to the drop-down banners, the space on the page is much narrower. I have noticed on one of our pages, the photos that were laid 2 across, are now in a single column.
October 10, 2010 at 7:54 am
Thanks for your feedback Steve. Which page are you referring to? We can try to adjust your images so that they fit across the page. When we launch you will be able to go in and change the layout of your own pages.
July 5, 2010 at 7:22 am
Is it just the so-called “wire-frame” that will be in Flash, or will the final website be made entirely in Flash?
If the latter, then I am far from keen. One of the things I was looking for in the new website was greater mobile functionality. I spend about 40% of my surfing time on my mobile, but at the moment, cannot access any of the council’s services without great difficulty. If the new website is in Flash, then it will be almost impossible.
July 13, 2010 at 7:39 am
Thanks for your comments Alan. The new website will not be made entirely in Flash. We know that mobile access is increasing and will be testing the new site on mobile devices as well as making sure the site is mobile-friendly in design.
Over the last month, 2.9% of all visitors accessed the site from a mobile device. Although we recognise the importance of the mobile channel, it is more of a priority to ensure the site is accessible to all, so we are improving accessibility and usability first and foremost. We have plans to produce a specially-optimised mobile site in the future although in these testing financial times I cannot confirm when that will be launched.
April 29, 2010 at 5:51 pm
I think the layout is clear and the language is good – I can understand how you are talking to me – I like the ‘I am’ section. There is a lot to look at but the heirarchy leads you through it quite well. Only thing I would say is to be careful of repetition between the I am section and the central features panel, though I like that you put new information and community updates in front of me on the homepage.
Massive improvement!
April 30, 2010 at 5:41 am
Thanks for your comment Jess – we’ll look closely at the repetition. We want people to be able to access information in multiple ways but not so much that it is confusing which path to take. In the central features panel we may focus on seasonal links only to make sure the content is always relevant.
April 20, 2010 at 2:45 pm
It would be easier if the drop down menu for the I am …. box took you straight to the options available (like it does for the Find my nearest…. and others) rather than clicking there and then having to click again to see what the options are.
Also why does A Young Person have capital letters at start of each word when parent and resident don’t? I don’t think it’s necessary.
April 21, 2010 at 2:29 pm
Thanks Chris, that’s a good point about the drop down, we’ll take it back to the designers.
Please ignore all upper/lower case – all text will follow the style guide and has just been put in as an illustration thus far. Thanks for flagging it though.
April 15, 2010 at 2:37 pm
It would be great if the website could be made easier to update. I am responsible for updating pages; amendments are needed infrequently so every time I have to “relearn” how to make the changes. I find the current system anti-intuitive
April 18, 2010 at 3:26 am
Hi Gill,
The new content management system is much more user-friendly than Obtree. It is based on Microsoft word so you will be familiar with the toolbars and functions already. We’ll be launching a support blog to answer any questions publishers have when the new system comes into effect, and the publishing model is also changing so that it is easier to upload content to the website.
Hope that reassures you and thanks for your comments.
April 14, 2010 at 4:38 pm
Really looking forward to the new website. Just to clarify that the FIS supports not only parents, but also practitioners in Medway. Hope this will be taken into consideration when developing the site. I presume keywords will be used to improve the ‘searchability’ of the site.
April 18, 2010 at 3:29 am
Thanks Esther, this will be taken into consideration. Keyword density within the content and metadata keywords will both facilitate search – is that what you are referring to?
April 12, 2010 at 8:04 am
would it be possible to make the housing benefit calculator easier to find — at the moment you have to go through several pages to get to it and it is not clear that they even is a calculator available — even if you look in the web site search.
April 12, 2010 at 8:19 am
Hi Sally, the calculator will be much easier to find through the improved search feature – and we can put it on the housing main landing page if this would be of benefit. Have a word with the publisher who publishes your content on the website about doing this – it’s something you can change now through Obtree.
April 8, 2010 at 3:31 pm
We need a prominent, central location on the medway.gov.uk webiste for research/information and statistics in order for people to be able to find reliable evidence relating to Medway and the areas within it. There must be more data sharing in order to assist people across and beyond the Council in using a consistent ‘set of figures’ so that decisions are based on correct ‘assumptions’. Guessing is dangerous!
April 9, 2010 at 12:06 pm
Thanks Tim, it’s a very valid point. Can you suggest a list of statistics that we should get hold of to put on the website?
April 15, 2010 at 11:18 am
Population statistics at Ward level would be useful.
May 27, 2010 at 1:34 pm
See link – this is a start with a lot of opportunity for others to contribute by linking similar collections of statistics.
This collection supplied could do with a more prominent position on website so more people are aware of it.
http://www.medway.gov.uk/index/environment/developmentplan/88080.htm
April 6, 2010 at 12:48 pm
Please give consideration to making it easier for parents and carers to find the information they need – atm, it’s split over the medway.gov site as they may be looking for:
things to do, eg parks, recreation, theatre etc
transport issues
safeguarding
family support
naming ceremonies
schools info
…and so on
It’s almost impossible to find out what’s available for families unless you know exactly what you’re looking for and what’s available, so they may miss out on very key services and opportunities.
April 6, 2010 at 3:11 pm
Thanks Marilyn. If you click on ‘I am…’ in the navigational tab on the wire frame, you’ll see one of the options is ‘a parent’ – we are trying to pull together all the information for each audience group as you say.
We will discuss adding ‘a carer’ too.
Thank you for your feedback.
April 8, 2010 at 3:02 pm
At current there should be a link to the Family Information Service directory on the front page of the council’s webiste – hopefully something like this will be available on the new site as it holds all the information that you have mentioned above, Marilyn.
April 8, 2010 at 3:12 pm
Thanks Lucy – I think the link to the FIS directory will feature prominently under the ‘I am a parent’ link and various other landing pages – yet to be confirmed though, I’ll keep you posted
March 31, 2010 at 7:14 am
I have just had an enquiry from some people who are attending a meeting on Friday as they wanted to know where to park. There is nowhere on the website that shows where the car parks are, whether they are short term / long term etc. Graveshams website shows everything you need to know about parking including costs and spaces available.
April 6, 2010 at 3:06 pm
Thanks Janet, we do have this information for each town on the website here http://www.medway.gov.uk/index/environment/parking/29156/105551.htm
but I appreciate this information could be presented in a more user-friendly, and easier to find way.
We’re looking at combining car park info with our mapping/find my nearest online service, we’ll keep you posted.