Service Updates and Pricing Changes for Website Hosting and Email
Updated April 2026
Over recent years, expectations around website security, email reliability, and digital resilience have changed significantly. Modern browsers, email providers, and audit requirements now expect a much higher baseline standard than was common even a few years ago.
To ensure councils remain secure, compliant, and supported long term, we are making several service updates.
Website hosting, security, and domain registration
Secure websites using HTTPS are now widely expected. Websites without SSL certificates can trigger browser warnings, raise audit questions, and create unnecessary security and reputational risks.
For councils, maintaining secure digital services supports wider governance responsibilities, including cyber security and data protection expectations referenced within the Annual Governance and Accountability Return, including Assertion 10.
SSL is strongly recommended and expected as part of modern website standards. It helps prevent browser warnings, improves trust, and ensures data is handled securely. However, we recognise that councils have different requirements and budgets, so SSL will continue to be offered as an optional service.
To support smaller councils, we are reducing the annual SSL certificate cost to £25 per year, available on request for councils with a precept under £25,000.
For new sign ups, we will also continue to waive the SSL installation fee, making it easier to get set up without additional upfront costs.
To reflect the increased maintenance and platform requirements involved in modern hosting, our website hosting fees will increase by 15%.
At the same time, we are simplifying how related services are billed. The cost of gov.uk domain registration will reduce from £65 every two years to £25 annually, making charges clearer and more consistent with our other annual services.
- Taken together, these changes ensure:
- Pricing is simpler and easier to understand
- Charges better reflect how services are delivered today
Email services and reliability
We are also moving all councils away from our current email platform. While it has supported councils for many years, it has become increasingly unreliable and is no longer a partner we can confidently rely on for a critical service.
Continuing to operate council email on this platform now presents an unacceptable operational risk. We are therefore migrating all councils to a newer email system designed to provide improved reliability, better delivery, and greater long term stability.
Email pricing will remain unchanged during the migration period, ensuring councils benefit from improved infrastructure and reliability without any increase in cost while the transition is taking place.
Moving forward
These updates are about protecting councils from avoidable risk and ensuring digital services meet current standards. By proactively improving infrastructure, simplifying billing, and strengthening core services, we can provide a more resilient and dependable service for the future.
If you have any questions about these changes or the email migration process, please contact us and we will be happy to assist.
