Performance Scrutiny Committee - Place and Corporate

The Performance Scrutiny Committee - Place and Corporate considered an update on the Council's corporate communications team, which is part of the People, Policy and Transformation service. The Committee noted improvements in the Council's social media work and asked Cabinet (the senior councillors who lead the Council) to review communications resources. It also asked for a plan for day-to-day engagement, more information, and training for councillors.

1. Corporate communications performance update

   Decided

   The Committee recommended that Cabinet review the resources given to communications, comparing them with national benchmarks (standards to measure against) or other councils, and consider whether the current budget is enough. The Committee recommended that the Cabinet Member consider a communications strategy for day-to-day engagement, as the team nears the end of fixed-term funding for website development. The Committee asked for the link to the Council's Visual Communication portfolio, the results of a survey of Heads of Communication, and training for Members on supporting Council communications through social media and networks, including the role of councillors as trusted voices.

   Why

   The Committee asked for this update at its meeting on 25 November 2024. The report says the team has moved from an informal approach to a full service covering proactive and reactive communications, marketing, design, and web and digital work. The Committee noted and praised improvements in social media, such as more proactive engagement and quicker replies to public concerns, and said that videos and approachable messages helped the Council connect with residents.

   Based on the minutes, Item 3 - CR - Corporate Communications Performance Report, Corporate Communications Performance Report - Scrutiny Sept 2025

Written by AI from the council's minutes and reports. Sentences with a number or name that can't be found in those papers are removed automatically, but mistakes are still possible. Councils publish no word-for-word record of meetings, so this says what was decided and why. Read the official papers to be sure.

1. 1

   Apologies

   Minute

   Councillors G Horton, M Linton and M Pimm, Rhys Cornwall

2. 2

   Declaration of Interest

   Minute

   None.

3. 3

   Corporate Communications Performance Report

   Minute

   The Head of People, Policy and Transformation introduced the report. The Strategic Communication Manager and the Policy and Partnership Manager presented the report via a PowerPoint presentation. • The Committee noted and praised the significant improvements in the Council’s social media communications, highlighting more proactive engagement, timely responses to public concerns, and the use of videos and approachable messaging, which they felt helped the Council to engage with residents in a more positive and relatable way. • The Committee recommended that Cabinet review the resources allocated to communications, comparing them with national benchmarks or other local authorities, and consider if the current budget allocation is sufficient. • The Committee recommended that the Cabinet Member consider developing a communications strategy for business-as-usual engagement, especially as the team approaches the end of fixed-term resources for website development. • The Committee requested the link for the Council’s Visual Communication portfolio. • The Committee requested the results of the Heads of Communication survey for further understanding and benchmarking. • The Committee requested Member training and development on supporting Council communications via social media and networks, including guidance on the role of Councillors as trusted voices.

   Papers: Item 3 - CR - Corporate Communications Performance Report, Corporate Communications Performance Report - Scrutiny Sept 2025
4. 4

   Scrutiny Adviser Reports

   Minute

   a) Actions Arising The Scrutiny Adviser informed the Committee that the actions from the previous meetings held on 7th July 2025 and 21st July 2025 have been updated, and that outstanding actions would be chased for a response shortly. b) Draft Annual Forward Work Programme 25/26 The Scrutiny Adviser informed the Committee that the next meeting to be held would be 3rd November 2025, with the Customer Contact Improvement Project Update to be discussed. c) Outcomes Monitoring The Scrutiny Adviser informed the Committee that the outcomes from the previous meetings held on 7th July 2025 and 21st July 2025 have been updated, and that outstanding outcomes would be chased for a response shortly.

   Papers: Item 5 - Scrutiny Advisor Report, Action Sheet 2025-26 v2, Item 5.2 - Place FWP 25-26, Outcomes Monitoring 2025-26 v2
5. 5

   Minutes of the Previous Meetings

   Minute

   The Minutes of the previous meetings held on 7th July 2025 and 21st July 2025 were held as a true and accurate record.

   Papers: Minutes , 07/07/2025 Performance Scrutiny Committee - Place and Corporate, Minutes , 21/07/2025 Performance Scrutiny Committee - Place and Corporate

Councillors must say when they have a personal link to something being discussed, such as a job, a property or a family member. A prejudicial interest is one strong enough that the councillor usually leaves the room and takes no part.

The minutes record no declarations of interest.

• Mark Howells, ChairIndependentPresent
• Alex Pimm, Committee MemberLabourPresent
• Allan Screen, Committee MemberLabourPresent
• Bev Perkins, Committee MemberLabourPresent
• Emma Stowell-Corten, Committee MemberLabourIn attendance
• Gavin Horton, Committee MemberLabourSent apologies
• Janet Cleverly, Committee MemberNewport Independent PartyPresent
• Malcolm Linton, Committee MemberLabourSent apologies
• Matthew Pimm, Committee MemberLabourSent apologies
• Paul Bright, Committee MemberLabourPresent
• Ray Mogford, Committee MemberConservativePresent

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