Issue - meetings

To receive a report from the Communication and Engagement Manager.

The Following recommendation from the Community Policy Development Group was made to Cabinet:

That the content of the revised Communication and Engagement Strategy and Media and Social Media Policy be approved.

The Cabinet received a report which provided members with the revised Communication and Engagement Strategy and accompanying Media and Social Media Policy. The 2023 Communications and Engagement Strategy was referred back to Community PDG following a meeting of the Cabinet in April 2023. Following the Cabinet’s request this amended strategy now includes more detail about the Council’s engagement plans.

Consideration was given to:

·         Asked whether there would be a practical element to emergency planning, The Corporate Manager for Digital Transformation and Customer Engagement explained that exercises were operated internally and would look to perform other practical exercises in the future.

·         Asked if Councillors were covered under the Whistle Blowing Policy, it was explained by the Corporate Manager for Digital Transformation and Customer Engagement that Subject Access Requests were dealt with under the Council’s Data Protection Information Security Policies and that the legislation that covered Subject Access Requests differed to the Community Engagement Strategy.

·         A better understanding was sought in regards to Subject Access Requests, to which the Corporate Manager for Digital Transformation and Customer Engagement that all members agreed to the Council’s Data Protection and Confidentiality Policies and were expected to adhere to them.

·         It was explained that all Parish Clerks, would be notified of ‘Let’s talk Mid Devon’ and that engagement with the Council was being promoted. In addition, platforms were available to all Parishes to use and Councillors were encouraged to share information that had been released through press releases  as well as keeping residents and parishes informed of consultations.

RESOLVED that:

The content of the revised Communication and Engagement Strategy and the Media and Social Media Policy be approved.

(Proposed by Cllr D Wulff and seconded by Cllr J Buczkowski)

Reason for the decision:

To ensure that our customers, staff, members and stakeholders are informed about Council services, news and changes through appropriate and varied channels.

Note: * Report previously circulated.

To receive a report from the Communication and Engagement Manager providing members with the revised Communication and Engagement Strategy and accompanying Media and Social Media Policy.  The 2023 Communications and Engagement Strategy was referred back to Community PDG following a meeting of the Cabinet in April 2023. Following the Cabinet’s request this amended strategy now includes more detail about the Council’s engagement plans.

The Group had before it a report* presented by the Corporate Manager for Digital Transformation and Customer Engagement with the revised Communication and Engagement Strategy and accompanying Media and Social Media Policy and highlighted the following:

·         The report was a review of the Policy which took place every 2 years and this Group was being asked to recommend to Cabinet the revised content of the Strategy and the Policy.

It was therefore RECOMMENDED to the Cabinet that the content of the revised Communication and Engagement Strategy and Media and Social Media Policy be approved.

(Moved by the Chair).

Reason for decision:  As set out in the report.

Note: *Report previously circulated.