Issue - meetings

Cabinet Member: Corporate Services

Forward Plan Ref: 2022/186

Contact: Susannah Wintersgill, Director of Communications, Strategy and Insight, tel: 07554 103526

Report by Corporate Director for Customers, Organisational Development & Resources (CA13).

Cabinet members to approve the report from the July 2022 LGA communications peer review.

Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to note the report from the July 2022 LGA communications peer review, which is attached as Annex 1, and the council’s actions taken in response to the recommendations in the report.

Recommendations approved.

Cabinet considered the report of the Local Government Association peer review of the Council’s communications, marketing and engagement function which was undertaken from 6 to 8 July 2022.

Councillor Glynis Phillips, Cabinet Member for Corporate Services, summarised the report.  She thanked the members of the LGA review group for their work.  They spoke to councillors, staff, partners and stakeholders as part of the review.  There was very positive feedback.  The service was described as a “real asset” and a “professional and passionate team”.

The report stressed that communications need to be embedded in the policy forming process from the outset.  This observation was reinforced by the scrutiny committee in its discussion of the report.  An action plan had been developed to implement the recommendations and the scrutiny committee had asked for an update on progress in April.

The recommendations were proposed by Councillor Phillips, seconded by Councillor Lygo and agreed.

RESOLVED to note the report from the July 2022 LGA communications peer review, which is attached as Annex 1, and the council’s actions taken in response to the recommendations in the report.