As more and more of us access the Internet through mobile phones and tablets, online public services are moving to keep pace.

Chelmsford City Council has identified a demand for a mobile-friendly council website, and is conducting a consultation to ensure that a new website is right for residents.

Statistics collected by the Council show that Chelmsford residents are increasingly accessing information and services on the move, rather than visiting or telephoning the Civic Centre. 20 per cent more people visited the website in the past year than in 2012.

In the same period, the number of people accessing www.chelmsford.gov.uk through mobile devices has risen swiftly by 60 per cent.

A planned redevelopment aims to make it easier for residents to do this by optimising the website for mobiles.

On 13 and 14 October, three consultation sessions will be held to inform this redevelopment.

Residents can drop in to the Crompton Room at Chelmsford Civic Centre, Duke Street, between 12-4pm and 5-7pm on Tuesday 13 October, or 10-2pm on Wednesday 14 October.

The consultation will take the form of an exhibition. Artists’ impressions of different styles, layouts and looks for the site will be on display.

Comments collected at the consultation will be used to inform decisions about the redevelopment, and attendees will have the chance to enter a prize draw for High Street vouchers worth £50.

Chelmsford City Council’s Cabinet Member for Corporate Services, Councillor Nicolette Chambers, says: “We need a website which allows people to get things done with minimal fuss, while travelling on the train, sitting on the sofa at home or on a mobile in their lunch hour.

"Chelmsford City Council is committed to using modern technology to provide the best possible value for money for residents, and getting input from our website’s users early on in the project will help us to do this.

"This is the next stage in an exciting series of changes we are making to online services.”