Issue - meetings

This consultation is one of a series consulting on a number of policy commitments set out in the White Paper, Communities in control: Real People, real power.  The department for Communities and Local Government is currently asking for views to shape the future of this code of practice, which sets out guidelines for local government publicity.

Consultation closes on 12 March 2009 – see www.communities.gov.uk/publications/localgovernment/publicitycodeconsultation for more information.

The recent changes to the Council's political ways of working mean that SCDC's media guidelines and publicity protocol need to be updated to take account of the existence of an Opposition group and opposition spokesmen.  This update will be carried out by the end of September 2006.

Last Thursday (29 June), the Leader and portfolio-holder for Resources, Staffing, Information & Customer Services (RSI&CS) held a meeting with Councillors Batchelor and Bryant (on behalf of the Liberal Democrats and Independents / Labour respectively), with the Chief Executive and Head of Policy and Communication, to discuss arrangements in the meantime.  The main conclusions were that:

·                      The communications team will copy the Council's news release, and those responses to media enquiries that include quotes from portfolio-holders, to the relevant Cabinet member and opposition spokesman/men, as well as the Leader, RSI&CS portfolio holder and relevant local members (where applicable).

·                      When speaking to the media, members are asked to make clear in which capacity they are making a comment (e.g., as relevant Cabinet member, as relevant opposition spokesman or as the relevant local Member).

·                      The communications team will continue to provide information and responses to media enquiries, setting out the Council's agreed policy and decisions and the reasons for them. In line with codes of practice, this information will be presented in a non-political and impartial way. Media relations advice and support is available from the communications team for councillors acting in their official Council capacity (e.g., as portfolio-holders or committee chairman).

·                      Whilst political groups and/or individual members may make their own political statements to the media, it is not be appropriate for the communications team to be involved in that process.

To discuss the appropriate approach. 

It was NOTED that the Chief Executive had been asked to provide a weekly update to all staff, and

It was NOTED that the Chief Executive had been asked to provide a weekly update to all staff, and