Issue - meetings

With the assistance of a report by the Communications and Marketing Manager to consider a response to the Communities and Local Government consultation on the code of recommended practice on local authority publicity.

Endorsed the contents a suggested response on behalf of the Council to a consultation paper issued by the Department of Communities and Local Government on proposed changes to the Code of Recommended Practice on Local Authority Publicity (the Code).

With the aid of a report by the Communications and Marketing Manager (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) the Cabinet considered a suggested response on behalf of the Council to a consultation paper issued by the Department of Communities and Local Government on proposed changes to the Code of Recommended Practice on Local Authority Publicity (the Code).  Members noted that the Code was first issued in 1988 to cover the content, style, distribution and cost of local authority publicity from public meetings to council publications, advertising and the website.

In considering the content of the Code and the consultation document, Executive Councillors recorded their concern that the code offers no specific guidance in relation to individual ward members who may not hold a particular responsibility with the Council, but whose work with their constituents is of significant importance, nor addressed the growth in electronic communication. Whereupon, it was

RESOLVED

  that the contents of the report be noted and the Council's response to the Department of Communities and Local Government endorsed.

To consider a report by the Communications and Marketing Manager outlining a proposed response to the Communities and Local Government consultation.

(Councillor A Hansard, Executive Councillor for Resources and Policy was in attendance for this Item).

The Chairman welcomed the Executive Councillor for Resources and Policy, together with the Acting Head of People, Performance and Partnerships, and the Communications and Marketing Manager to discuss the proposed response to a consultation exercise on the Code of Recommended Practice on Local Authority Publicity.

The Panel was advised that the White Paper - Communities in Control had committed the Government to consulting on potential changes to the publicity code. In considering a report by the Communities and Marketing Manager (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) the Panel suggested that the growth in electronic communication had not been adequately reflected in the code and that there was a greater need for Member awareness and compliance with the Code both arising from the development of electronic personal communication and since failure to have regard to the Code was a potential breach of the Members' Code of Conduct.

The Panel's attention was drawn by a Member to the County Council's practice when issuing press releases of including the contact details of a spokesperson of the opposition political party, which the Executive Councillor for Resources and Policy undertook to consider in the case of press releases issued by the District Council.

RESOLVED

  (i)  that the Panel supports the proposed responses to the questions raised in the consultation paper as set out in the report now submitted;and

  (ii)  that the Cabinet be invited to consider the comments of the Panel referred to above as part of its deliberations on the report.