Issue - meetings

The Head of Communications, Engagement and Cultural Services submitted a report which provided an update on the communications plan and engagement resulting from the work of the Task and Finish Group and provided a review of the Communications Strategy.

The Head of Communications, Engagement and Cultural Services explained that a checklist for Councillors to use in accessing the new Community Grant Fund had been detailed in the last edition of Members’ Information Bulletin and the form for accessing support from the Community Engagement and Communication Team was attached at Essential Reference Paper ‘C’. 

Councillor S Bull stated that residents who wanted to see a change in his community, usually asked for the issue to be raised on a Town Council agenda.  He queried whether the Community Grant Fund was the right approach.  Councillor J Ranger supported the statement by Councillor S Bull, adding that grants aimed at community organisations should be given wider publicity in the media and that the Council should be highlighting its successes where monies had been spent, including in the use of Parish magazines.  The Head of Communications, Engagement and Cultural Services confirmed that more publicity would be undertaken both in the Communications Team Plan and the Rural Business Development Plan.

In response to a query from Councillor J Ranger about the use of automatic texts responding to residents, the Head of Communications, Engagement and Cultural Services explained that there were difficulties in collating personal information and in respect of data protection issues.  However there was now the option for any member of the public to register for updates through the new ‘govDelivery’ link on the front/home page of the council’s website.

Councillor T Page stated that the coverage the Council received in the local press regarding grants was good, but if the Council was to review communication of press releases, he suggested that Officers should include the Chief Executive Officer at Bishop’s Stortford Town Council.

Members welcomed the progress made against the communications plan and engagement activity, as now detailed.

RESOLVED – that the progress made against the communications plan and engagement activity, as now detailed, be noted.