Council Platform
Council Platform is a web service for creating and running local government CMS websites.
What Council Platform is
Council Platform is a web service for creating and running local government CMS websites. Its drag-and-drop editor lets teams assemble complex, visually rich pages without developer time, using a customisable front end based on the GOV.UK Design System. The feature set includes service directories, news, event calendars, global search, CRM functionality, forms, and editorial workflows. It supports manual and machine translation for bilingual publishing, as well as multi-site support and document management. The maker says websites are accessible from the outset and that subscribers receive accessibility audit scans. Integrations include Bartec, ModernGov, Elgin Roadworks, Council Advertising Network, Microsoft Azure Chatbots, Google Analytics, SiteImprove, and ReciteMe. Security provisions listed include two-factor authentication, password complexity requirements, and automatic logout. Subscriptions include production and test hosting, support, documentation, uptime monitoring, security updates, and a 99.9% uptime SLA.
Good
- Drag-and-drop page editing without developer time
- Manual and machine translation for bilingual sites
- Production and test hosting are included
- 99.9% uptime SLA is included
- Multiple listed integrations, including Google Analytics
Watch out
- No free plan
- Plans are tiered by monthly page views
Who it suits
Council Platform suits councils and other public-sector teams that need to publish and maintain local government websites. It is relevant for teams needing bilingual publishing, multi-site support, and integrated editorial tools.
Verdict
Council Platform combines local-government publishing tools with hosting, support, and security provisions in its subscription. Buyers should match the page-view tier to their expected traffic and note that the listed prices are ex VAT.
Plans and prices
From Council Platform's own pricing page, checked 21 Oct 2026.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 5000 monthly page views | £200 a month | up to 5000 monthly page views · monthly licence fee (ex VAT) |
| 5001 to 15000 monthly page views | £400 a month | 5001 to 15000 monthly page views · monthly licence fee (ex VAT) |
| 15001 to 50000 monthly page views | £800 a month | 15001 to 50000 monthly page views · monthly licence fee (ex VAT) |
| 50001 to 100000 monthly page views | £1,200 a month | 50001 to 100000 monthly page views · monthly licence fee (ex VAT) |
| 100001 to 150000 monthly page views | £1,650 a month | 100001 to 150000 monthly page views · microsites · cookie-less analytics · accessibility auditing · Doc2Page PDF conversion · monthly licence fee (ex VAT) |
| 150001 to 300000 monthly page views | £1,950 a month | 150001 to 300000 monthly page views · microsites · cookie-less analytics · accessibility auditing · Doc2Page PDF conversion · monthly licence fee (ex VAT) |
| 300001 to 500000 monthly page views | £2,250 a month | 300001 to 500000 monthly page views · microsites · cookie-less analytics · accessibility auditing · Doc2Page PDF conversion · monthly licence fee (ex VAT) |
| 500001 to 800000 monthly page views | £2,700 a month | 500001 to 800000 monthly page views · microsites · cookie-less analytics · accessibility auditing · Doc2Page PDF conversion · monthly licence fee (ex VAT) |
| 800001 and over monthly page views | £3,600 a month | 800001 and over monthly page views · microsites · cookie-less analytics · accessibility auditing · Doc2Page PDF conversion · monthly licence fee (ex VAT) |
The facts
Each one read from Council Platform's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- Accessibility
- The maker describes sites as accessible from the outset and provides free accessibility scans to subscribers.checked 21 Oct 2026
- AI assistant
- The proposed chat-to-website assistant restricts answers to published site pages and documents, can cite source pages, and supports PDF references.checked 21 Oct 2026
- AI data handling
- The AI feature defaults to an EU-resident ChatGPT service, keeps site data in the UK, and says chat queries are not stored after an answer is returned.checked 21 Oct 2026
- API extensibility
- The AI assistant requires customers to provide their own LLM account API credentials.checked 21 Oct 2026
- Bilingual content
- The feature list says the platform supports manual and machine translation for bilingual sites.checked 3 Oct 2026
- Bilingual publishing
- The platform supports manual and machine translation for bilingual websites.checked 21 Oct 2026
- Council lookup availability
- The councillor-finder functionality is part of the core platform and is available to subscribers without an additional charge.checked 21 Oct 2026
- Council lookup integration
- A councillor finder uses uploaded CSV data and Ordnance Survey APIs to map postcodes and properties to wards and councillors.checked 21 Oct 2026
- CRM
- CRM functionality is built into the platform.checked 21 Oct 2026
- Deployment
- The service is available immediately and is fully functional from the first day of access.checked 21 Oct 2026
- Design
- The platform uses a customisable front end based on the GOV.UK Design System.checked 3 Oct 2026
- Design system
- The front end is based on the GOV.UK Design System and can be customised.checked 21 Oct 2026
- Directories
- Users can create searchable and filterable find-your-nearest directories.checked 21 Oct 2026
- Documentation
- Documentation is described as searchable online material updated as features are created or expanded and as users provide feedback.checked 21 Oct 2026
- Editing
- A drag-and-drop editor is intended to let users build complex pages without developer time.checked 21 Oct 2026
- Events
- Event listings include a monthly calendar view.checked 21 Oct 2026
- Features
- Features include service directories, news, event calendars, global search, CRM functionality, forms, and editorial workflows.checked 3 Oct 2026
- Forms
- Editors can create custom multi-step WYSIWYG forms and surveys using the GDS visual style.checked 21 Oct 2026
- Higher-tier extras
- Subscriptions above 100,000 monthly page views include microsites, cookie-less analytics, accessibility auditing, and Doc2Page PDF conversion.checked 3 Oct 2026
- Integrations
- The procurement document lists Bartec, ModernGov, Elgin Roadworks, Council Advertising Network, Microsoft Azure Chatbots, Google Analytics, SiteImprove and ReciteMe integrations.checked 21 Oct 2026
- Intended users
- The maker presents the platform as providing tools to run public sector websites and lists councils among its customers.checked 3 Oct 2026
- Limit: bespoke work
- The 2022 procurement pricing document says bespoke customisation is resource-priced at £700 per development day per person ex VAT.checked 21 Oct 2026
- Limit: traffic-based pricing
- The monthly licence fee rises across nine page-view bands, reaching £3,600 ex VAT for 800,001 or more monthly views.checked 21 Oct 2026
Where it runs
- Browser support
- The service is tested with current Apple Safari, Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Internet Explorer 11 and Mozilla Firefox, and layouts adapt to mobile screens.checked 21 Oct 2026
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