Agenda and minutes

Councillor Cox was substitute member for Councillor Emery and Councillor L. Swindlehurst was substitute member for Councillor Johnson.

There were no urgent items of business.

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the previous meeting held on 19 March 2025, be approved as a correct record.

      i.        Disclosable Pecuniary Interests;

     ii.        Other Interests.

No interests were declared.

There were none.

The Council’s Communications Strategy 2025-2028 had been considered at the previous meeting of the Resources O&S Panel and had now been approved by Cabinet. The Strategy would guide the Council’s communications work and activities over the next three years and included a Communications Action Plan 2025-2026.

The Principal Policy Officer (Communications), set out the various actions contained within the Action Plan which were being pursued. These were:

-       Collaboration with Alliance Environmental Services on Simpler Recycling

-       A meeting was scheduled with Zen City

-       Purchase of a drone and photography equipment to improve visual communications

-       The successful launch of the new Intranet which was soon to be rolled out to members

-       A redesigned Team Talk employee newsletter which had been positively received

-       The Communications team were involved with all key regeneration projects such as Leek Market Hall and the Nicholson.

-       A campaign had commenced, principally for residents to explain Devolution and Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) and the content had been shared with town/parish councils. A dedicated section on the Council’s website had also been created to communicate information in relation to this topic.

-       Quarterly publication of the In Touch town and parish councils newsletter

-       Consultation on PSPO for wildfires

Members found the update to be very informative. In terms of the Councillor Community Initiative Fund, it was suggested that there should be increased communication of the use of this grant, perhaps utilising photographs and case studies.

Other good news stories should be well publicised such as the recent achievement of the Revenues and Benefits section being the best performing in Staffordshire.

A councillor praised the Council’s recent well-balanced communication in relation to LGR but commented that there was still unawareness amongst the public, particularly those which did not regularly access the website. District councillors could assist with the correct messaging and the Parish Assembly was kept informed on a regular basis in terms of progress with LGR.

Reference was made to distorted views on LGR and for increased resources into communication to tackle the circulation of incorrect information with overt communication.

It had been noticed that the Council’s social media posts had improved, members were encouraged to share posts, and it was queried whether it was possible to take advantage of paid/sponsored posts and the use of alternative social media platforms to access the younger audience.

Discussion took place in relation to the severe consequences of wildfires, accessibility issues for emergency vehicles and engagement with the community around wildfires in addition to the formal Public Space Protections Order consultation.

RESOLVED:

1)    That the update be received and comments/suggestions recorded;

2)    For the Principal Policy Officer to investigate paid social media posts;

3)    Democratic Services Team to circulate a list of each CCIF grant awarded in 2024/2025 and explore ways in which the grant could be more widely publicised

RESOLVED:

That the Work Programme for 2025-2026 be approved.

The Chair to move:-

“That, pursuant to Section 100A(2) and (4) of the Local Government Act, 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting in view of the nature of the business to be transacted or the nature of the proceedings whereby it is likely that confidential information as defined in Section 100A (3) of the Act would be disclosed to the public in breach of the obligation of confidence or exempt information as defined in Section 10 I (1) of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act would be disclosed to the public by virtue of the Paragraphs indicated.”

The Chair moved:

That pursuant to Section 100A (2) and (4) of the Local Government Act, 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting in view of the nature of the business to be transacted or nature of the proceedings whereby it is likely that exempt information as defined in Section 100A (3) of the Act would be disclosed to the public in breach of the obligation of confidence or exempt information as defined in Section 100I (1) of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act would be disclosed to the public by virtue of the paragraphs indicated.

The Executive Director (Resources), provided an update on progress in relation to Devolution and Local Government Reorganisation.