Agenda item

The Committee received and considered the report of the Communications & Community Engagement Officer (C&CEO).

The Committee received and considered the report of the Communications & Community Engagement Officer (C&CEO).

The C&CEO also provided a verbal summary of the report which provided an update to Members on the progress of the review of the Communications Strategy, which was welcomed however, it was agreed that the pages detailing information on digital analytics be removed.

The Committee considered the information regarding the production of a sponsored Newsletter and acknowledged that rather than creating one themselves it would be better use of Officers time to provide information to existing publications to support those, rather than appearing to compete with them.

On the subject of the production of an events calendar, Members were in agreement that in order to ensure accurate information was provided to residents that information was released on a regular basis via the existing newsletters rather than as an annual calendar that had the potential to be incorrect should dates change.

Members were disappointed to hear that there had only been 39 responses to the budget consultation survey so far, they agreed that the survey should be published earlier and with more direct questions as they may be more appealing to people to complete.

The Committee also received a current press coverage record and approved a new website accessibility statement for the Council.

Recommended:

1.         That, the report be noted and,

2.         That, details of events be included in each of the newsletters and,

3.         That, the updated Communication Strategy be agreed with the amendment as detailed and,

4.         That, Officers explore the options and costs for issuing information to other publications and,

5.         That, the updated Council website accessibility statement be approved.