South Cambridgeshire District Council showcases new website to enhance user experience

South Cambridgeshire District Council’s new website – which residents can now try out - makes it much easier for them to get personalised, local information at a glance.

Residents can now try out the new website alongside the existing one – ahead of the new one fully taking over from Tuesday 25 March.

Residents trying the new website now will see how they can receive personalised local information in real-time including bin collection dates for their street, planning applications nearby, District Councillor details and local events of interest – all by entering their postcode on the new homepage. Further elements – such as local street cleansing schedules – will be added soon.

A new, more user-friendly look and feel is optimised for both desktop and mobile devices, ensuring residents find it easier to access critical information and services at all times.

Other features include:

• Streamlined navigation: A clear and intuitive layout that makes it easier for users to find essential services.
• Improved user experience: All website content has been re-written so that residents can efficiently self-serve, reducing the need for in-person visits or calls to the Council. The Council has also recently added SAM (Service AI Assistant Module), an AI chatbot who will answer residents’ questions 24/7.
• Accessibility features: The site has been designed to meet web accessibility standards, ensuring all community members can easily access content.
• Improved carbon efficiency: As part of the Council’s aims of being green to the core, the latest website will boast a higher carbon efficiency rating due to the revised content and reduction of files.

The new website is a significant step forward in modernising the district’s online presence and making it easier for people to interact with their local government.

Cllr Brian Milnes, Deputy Leader and Lead Cabinet Member for the Environment said: “We are very pleased to launch this new website, which marks an important milestone in our ongoing efforts to improve how we connect with and serve the residents of South Cambridgeshire.

Our Website team have worked hard to ensure residents are getting the information they need in a clear and accessible way. The way we can now present local information that is personalised based on your post code is a real game changer. It makes it so much easier to see what is happening on your doorstep - showing nearby planning applications, bin days, local events and more at a glance. Please do have a look and share your thoughts as we welcome regular feedback, so we can make as many improvements as possible.”

The launch of the website is part of a wider goal to enhance digital services and ensure that the council remains responsive and accessible in an increasingly digital world. The website was developed with input from local residents who tested the layout to ensure our new website is easy to navigate.

Residents are encouraged to visit the Council's website and use the toggle to explore the new features and learn more about the services available to them. The council also welcome ongoing feedback and suggestions, to make continuous improvements. Users can do this by visiting the engagement platform.  Each content page has a star rating system at the bottom so that residents can provide their thoughts on how helpful each page was.