Issue - meetings

To consider a South & East Lincolnshire Councils Partnership Communications Strategy (report of the Assistant Director – Corporate enclosed).

Consideration was given to the report of the Assistant Director – Corporate, which asked the Cabinet to consider a South and East Lincolnshire Councils Partnership Communications Strategy. 

The Portfolio Holder, Corporate and Communications presented the report.  The following points were highlighted:

The Leader commented that this was an important document and acknowledged the work that had been undertaken to produce it.

DECISION:

1)    That the Partnership Communications Strategy at Appendix A to the report be approved; and

2)    That the feedback from scrutiny committees at 2.6 within the report be noted.

(Other options considered:

·       Do nothing – this was possible but would not support the aspirations of the Partnership to align functions or support the Partnership in delivering a consistent and co-ordinated approach to communications.

Reasons for decision:

·       To provide an aligned and consistent approach to Partnership communications with internal and external audiences).

To consider a South and East Lincolnshire Councils Partnership Communications Strategy (report of the Assistant Director – Corporate enclosed).

Consideration was given to the report of the Assistant Director – Corporate which asked the Policy Development Panel to consider a South and East Lincolnshire Councils Partnership Communications Strategy.

The Assistant Director – Corporate introduced the report by providing the Panel with the following contextual information regarding the draft Partnership Communications Strategy:

• The partnership recognised the importance of having a single communications function in place;
• Corporate functions, including the Communications Team, were brought together under a single shared directorate across the S&ELCP in late 2022;
• A service review was undertaken which resulted in the appointment of a Group Manager for Communications and Engagement;
• The ambition, following the service review, was to bring forward a single Partnership Communications Strategy; this was identified in the current Annual Delivery Plan agreed by Council in March 2023;
• After undergoing a developmental phase, the Partnership Communications Strategy had been scrutinised at Boston Borough Council and East Lindsey District Council and both had stated their support: SHDC members had the opportunity to provide feedback at the current meeting;
• After the completion of scrutiny, the strategy would proceed to Cabinet in September 2023; and
• Whilst the strategy covered a four-year period, it would remain under review to enable adaptations in response to developments in the communications landscape.

The Portfolio Holder for Corporate, Governance and Communications stressed the importance of the iteration of a Partnership Communication Strategy and referred Members to pages 66, 67 and 68 of the agenda which outlined the aims and goals of the strategy.

Members considered the report and made the following comments:

• Members asked for an explanation of ‘ChatGPT’ as stated on page 67 of the agenda.
  • The Assistant Director – Corporate responded that:
    • ChatGPT was a chat generator, linked to Artificial Intelligence (A.I), which enabled digital users to receive answers to questions online; and
    • The partnership was alert to the new technology and was starting to consider how A.I. might work in a Local Government setting in general.

• Members asked how the strategy worked for people who were not digitally engaged.
  • The Assistant Director – Corporate responded that the scope of the strategy covered the mix of communication channels that the Communications Team utilised to deliver and receive information at a central level. This ranged from traditional media, such as newspapers, through to social media. The remit did not encapsulate communications direct to ‘front end’ service users.

• Members agreed that the strategy be reviewed by the Policy Development Panel one year from adoption.

AGREED:

a)    That after consideration of the Partnership Communications Strategy at Appendix A, the comments of the Panel be noted; and

b)    That the Partnership Communications Strategy be reviewed by the Policy Development Panel one year from adoption.