Issue - items at meetings - Code of recommended practice on local authority publicity

Report of the Director of Strategy & Governance (copy attached).

RESOLVED – That the draft response to the consultation paper detailed in appendix 2 as amended be agreed and submitted to the Department of Communities and Local Government.

100.4    By reason of the special circumstances, and in accordance with section 100B(4)(b) of the 1972 Act, the Chairman of the meeting was consulted and was of the opinion that this item should be considered at the meeting as a matter of urgency having regard to the extended deadline of the 29^th April 2009.

100.5    The Committee noted that the special circumstances for non-compliance with Council Procedure Rule 19, Access to Information Rule 5 and Section 100B, Schedule 12A of the 1972 Local Government Act as amended (items not to be considered unless the agenda is open to inspection at least five days in advance of the meeting) were that an extension to the deadline for submission of comments to the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) had not been confirmed. 

100.6    The Committee considered a report of the Director of Strategy & Governance, which detailed the proposed responses to the consultation paper issued by the DCLG in respect of the Code of Recommended Practice on Local Authority Publicity (for copy see minute book).

100.7    The Director of Strategy & Governance introduced the report and noted that following the last meeting it had been intended to consult with the Group Leaders in order to submit responses to the consultation paper.  However, officers had been able to agree an extension to the deadline and therefore whilst having consulted with Members, it was felt appropriate to bring the report back to the committee for final comment before sending in the submission.

100.8    Members of the Committee welcomed the report and stated that they felt it was an improvement on the previous one and had taken on board concerns raised.  It was also recognised that further consideration needed to be given to updating the media protocol that had been agreed by the Leaders Group and it was hoped that officers could bring this matter to a future Leaders Group meeting.  Members also felt that the response to Question 3 should be amended to reflect that fact that the internet was a changing medium and should therefore read:

“The Code should recognise the internet as an increasingly important medium of communication through which residents receive information and communicate with councils.  However, the internet and people’s use of it is continually evolving and whilst respecting the rules on political neutrality, we would not wish the Code to be prescriptive about the ways in which content is presented on councils’ websites.”

100.9    RESOLVED – That the draft response to the consultation paper detailed in appendix 2 as amended (above), be agreed and submitted to the Department of Communities and Local Government.