Agenda item

Corporate Communications and Covid-19

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:

 

(1)

In respect of the need to connect with specific individuals, communities and groups across Sefton:

 

(a)

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;

 

(b)

the provision of elected members with regular e-shot updates on Council news stories and information be supported and continued;

 

(c)

Sending press releases directly to elected members when they were sent to the media be supported and continued; 

 

(d)

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;

 

(e)

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

 

(f)

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;

 

(2)

In respect of connecting better with young people across Sefton:

 

(a)

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

 

(b)

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;

 

(3)

In respect of recognising the level of people with restricted digital access:

 

(a)

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;

 

(b)

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;

 

(c)

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

 

(d)

the sending of press releases directly to elected members when they were sent to the media be supported and continued;

 

(4)

In respect of continuing improved Partnership working:

 

(a)

ongoing work through Sefton Health Information and Communications group and closer working with Sefton Partnership, including weekly updates be supported and continued;

 

(b)

the use of the Sefton Health Info WhatsApp group to share updates and news with Sefton Health Information and Communications group members be supported and continued;

 

(c)

the process of mutually alerting partners of messages and campaigns and sharing and boosting those messages through the appropriate channels available to the Council be supported and continued; 

 

(d)

Mutually sharing information in printed material and briefings be supported and continued; and

 

(e)

the co-hosting Sefton Partnership health information on Sefton Council website be continued and supported;

 

(5)

In respect of relationships with colleagues:

 

(a)

it was noted that during the pandemic, the Communications team worked more closely with a broader range of departments and services and partner organisations and adapted the way it worked to ensure that each had its own Communications Officer acting like an agency Account Manager and providing the first point of call on proactive and reactive communications. This activity be supported and continued; and

 

(6)

In respect of relationships with media:

 

(a)

it was noted that using systems available to the Council to stay in contact with a broader range of local, regional and national media contacts who saw the Council as a proven reliable source of information about Sefton during COVID was successful. This activity be supported and continued;

 

(b)

the promotion of Margaret Jones, Director of Public Health as a go-to source for Public Health matter articles, interviews and videos, as during the COVID-19 pandemic, be supported and continued; and

 

(c)

the provision of an out-of-hours media contact service through a team on-call rota through budget continuation from April 2023 when current COVID funding ends be supported.

 

 

Supporting documents: