RSDS / Council discussion brief
A clearer website.
A planned changeover.
A brief for clerks and councillors considering a replacement website. This describes the proposed service approach; your written quotation confirms the deliverables, prices and terms.
Use your browser’s Print command to save or print this brief. Updated September 2026.
What the project covers
The website
A council-branded WordPress website with meetings, documents, councillors, news, contact routes and appropriate local content. The clerk’s interface uses structured fields and a focused dashboard.
The move
An agreed content inventory, migration scope, old-to-new address mapping, staging review, training and a controlled launch after council approval.
What to ask for in the quotation
- One-off setup and migration costs, annual charges, VAT treatment and a three-year total.
- Included pages and documents, archive limits and any accessibility remediation allowance.
- Hosting, backup frequency and retention, restoration arrangements and maintenance responsibilities.
- Support hours, response targets, escalation arrangements and publishing allowance if applicable.
- Domain and email responsibilities, third-party charges and any existing supplier exit costs.
- Training, acceptance criteria, planned launch date and handover materials.
- Ownership, licence conditions, renewal terms and the exit and export process.
Responsibilities made explicit
| RSDS project work | Council input |
|---|---|
| Build and test the agreed website and publishing workflow | Nominate a decision-maker and provide authorised access |
| Move the content included in the agreed inventory | Confirm what should be retained, updated or archived |
| Record accessibility findings and deliver agreed remediation | Approve public wording and provide accessible source documents where possible |
| Provide training, launch checks and handover records | Review the staging site, practise publishing and approve launch |
Evidence before launch
Agree the accessibility testing scope and statement, check important resident journeys, verify document links and redirects, test contact delivery, and record a backup restoration test. Outstanding issues should be visible in the acceptance record.
The council retains ownership of its content and domain. Access, exports and arrangements for a future supplier change belong in the agreement.
About RSDS
RSDS is Ryan Stephens Digital Solutions, an independent UK design and development studio. Oakmere Parish Council is a fictional, self-initiated WordPress demonstration. It is available to explore during a guided discussion.
Contact Ryan: ryan@rsds.uk