Issue - meetings

Following consideration of a report of Communications & Engagement Manager, the Community Policy Development Group has made the following recommendations: that the revised Communication and Engagement Strategy and Media and Social Media Policy be approved subject to the inclusion of ‘In addition to the existing channels of engagement in the table above the Council also has statutory functions to fulfil in terms of communication and consultation, this includes planning matters via the Statement of Community Involvement’ on page 10 of the strategy.

The Cabinet had before it a * report of Communications & Engagement Manager, the Community Policy Development Group had at its meeting on 23 March 2021 made the following recommendations: that the revised Communication and Engagement Strategy and Media and Social Media Policy be approved subject to the inclusion of ‘In addition to the existing channels of engagement in the table above the Council also has statutory functions to fulfil in terms of communication and consultation, this includes planning matters via the Statement of Community Involvement’ on page 10 of the strategy.

The Cabinet Member for Community Well-Being outlined the contents of the report outlining the structure of the communications team and the work of the Customer Engagement Working Group that had fed into the revised strategy.  He explained the key highlights in the tables which showed the evaluation against the 2018 objectives, subscribers to the email subscription service had increased by 141% and he informed the meeting that followers of the Facebook social media page had grown 82% since 2018; a quarterly e-newsletter had been launched and the team had supported many services with surveys to interact with the public including budget setting, customer interaction and new build home owners.

Consideration was given to:

·         The vital need to keep up to date with digital methods of communication

·         The need for more emphasis within the strategy  that members were a key channel of communication with local constituents and that should be a key priority

·         The major role that members had with communicating with the parishes and how local councillors could feed into their local parish magazines and websites with useful information for local residents.

RESOLVED that the recommendation of the Policy Development Group be approved.

(Proposed by Cllr D J Knowles and seconded by Cllr C R Slade)

Reason for the decision – To ensure that customers, staff, Members and stakeholders are informed and engaged with Council services and news through appropriate and varied channels

Note: *Report previously circulated and attached to the minutes

To receive the 2 yearly review of the Community Engagement Strategy and Action Plan

The Group had before it a *report of the Communication and Engagement Manager providing the revised Communication and Engagement Strategy and an update on the achievements made since the last strategy was approved in 2018.

The officer outlined the contents of the report and stated that the PDG Working Group had reviewed the 2018 strategy and contributed to the revised strategy.

Consideration was given to:

·         Members concerns with the public being able to use the Planning Portal effectively and that it was not easy to use and how the Communications Team could assist other service areas with accessibility

It was therefore RECOMMENDED to the Cabinet that:

The revised Communication and Engagement Strategy and Media and Social Media Policy be approved subject to the inclusion of ‘In addition to the existing channels of engagement in the table above the Council also has statutory functions to fulfil in terms of communication and consultation, this includes planning matters via the Statement of Community Involvement’ on page 10 of the strategy.

(Proposed by the Chairman)

Reason for the decision – To ensure that customers, staff, Members and stakeholders are informed and engaged with Council services and news through appropriate and varied channels

Note: *Report previously circulated and attached to the minutes