Issue - meetings

Report of the Executive Director of Corporate Resources and Customer Services

Further to Minute no. 9 of the meeting held on 22 June 2022, when a request was made for elected Members to be given 48 hours advance notice of press releases except where immediate response was required;  the Committee considered a report of the Executive Director of Corporate Resources and Customer Services which provided a summary of the Council’s process for issuing press releases to media outlets and the involvement of elected members.

The Corporate Communications Manager presented the report and answered questions thereon.

The report was discussed at length.

The Corporate Communications Manager cited the diverse nature of press releases, that on most occasions a release was in direct response to a query from the press which required an almost immediate reply and that departmental capacity and resource issues would therefore make it difficult for the provision of advance notice of all press releases to Councillors.

The Executive Director of Corporate Resources and Customer Services indicated that there were clearly many issues to be considered regarding the provision of advance notice to Councillors of press releases and suggested that further consideration needed to be given to this matter.

RESOLVED:

That the further consideration be given to the process for the provision of advance notice of press releases to Elected Members.