51 Corporate Communications and Covid-19 
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Report of the Chief Legal and Democratic
Officer
Minutes:
Further to Minute No. 34 (3) of the meeting
held on 10 January 2023, the Committee considered the report of the
Chief Legal and Democratic Officer that advised of the
deliberations of the informal meeting of the Committee held on 3
February 2023, in respect of Corporate Communications and Covid-19;
and which sought formal approval of the recommendations made at the
informal meeting.
Members of the Committee asked
questions/commented on the following matters:
·
It was considered that the Council had reacted positively in
disseminating information and advice to local communities during
the pandemic and that Corporate Communications was essentially a
profession.
RESOLVED: That the Cabinet
Member – Regulatory, Compliance and Corporate Services be
requested to approve the following recommendations:
That:
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(1)
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In respect of the need to
connect with specific individuals, communities and groups across
Sefton:
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(a)
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the production of print-off
information such as the Cost-of-Living flyer for elected members to
distribute in their communities be supported and
continued;
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(b)
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the provision of elected
members with regular e-shot updates on Council news stories and
information be supported and continued;
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(c)
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Sending press releases directly
to elected members when they were sent to the media be supported
and continued;
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(d)
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the use of local area Facebook
groups through group administrators who since COVID were happy for
the Council to continue to post on the groups rather than do it for
the Council be supported and continued;
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(e)
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Investigating corporate use of
messaging through Next Door network which people used to share
local messages with neighbours and communities be continued and
supported; and
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(f)
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Accessing and using any
statistical ward-based intelligence that could inform the Council
of localised preferences so that the Council can tailor messages
and the way they are delivered be supported and
continued;
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(2)
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In respect of connecting better
with young people across Sefton:
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(a)
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it was noted that feedback and
research showed that young people were increasingly less likely to
engage with traditional social media channels used by Sefton
Council – Twitter/Facebook/Instagram. Therefore, the use of
TikTok for that target age group be investigated; and
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(b)
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It was noted that young people
were also more likely to access information through video which
would require the Council making more engaging, better-quality
videos for them to be shared through the Council’s corporate
communications channels. This concept be supported;
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(3)
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In respect of recognising the
level of people with restricted digital access:
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(a)
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the provision of regular e-shot
updates (similar to those sent to elected members) to the
Council’s network of Community Gatekeepers who were in direct
touch with their local communities or specific groups to spread
important health and other messages such as financial reminders
guidance be supported and continued;
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(b)
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the production of print-off
information such as the Cost-of-Living flyer for elected members to
distribute in their communities be supported and
continued;
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(c)
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the provision of elected
members with regular e-shot updates on Council news stories and
information to disseminate to constituents be supported and
continued; and
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(d)
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the ...
view the full minutes text for item 51
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