Issue - items at meetings - Response to Code of Recommended Practice on Local Authority Publicity

Report of the Strategic Director, Resources (copy attached).

RESOLVED –

(1)         That the Governance Committee notes the report, the consultation document (see Appendix 1) and the Council’s response (see Appendix 2).

44.1         The Committee considered a report of the Strategic Director, Resources concerning the council’s response to the government consultation on the Code of Recommended Practice for Local Authority Publicity.

44.2         The Senior Corporate Lawyer explained that the council’s main area of concern with the proposed new Code was the stipulation that council’s could not publish their own newspaper more frequently than once a quarter; City News was currently published once a month and the council was concerned about the effects of reducing the frequency, including the cost of paying for alternative advertising.

44.3         Councillor Kitcat stated that the council would have to consider whether City News met the requirement within the new Code for even-handedness, and that all of the many publications produced by the council met the requirements of the Code.

44.4         In response to a query from Councillor Kitcat in relation to the process of agreeing consultation responses when timescales did not fit with the dates of meetings, the Chairman advised that he always worked with opposition Members to achieve a consensus wherever possible and that previous responses and reports had been altered on the basis of comments received. He added that such items could also be taken through the Leaders’ Group.

44.5         The Monitoring Officer explained that the council’s constitution gave urgency powers to officers to act following consultation with the relevant Cabinet Member or Committee Chairman and there was no requirement to consult with opposition Members in such circumstances. Alternatively a special meeting of the Committee could have been convened.

44.6         Councillor Elgood thanked the Chairman for his consultative approach. He welcomed the requirement for even-handedness and stated that most readers relied on the printed version of City News rather than actively searching for it online and that it could easily be discarded as junk because it was delivered with a number of leaflets. He also asked why there was no Members’ steering group for City News.

44.7         The Chairman reported that issue of accessibility and delivery would be considered as part of a forthcoming review of City News.

44.8         Councillor Mears confirmed that Administration did not sit on a steering group for City News and that it was reviewed by the Chief Executive prior to publication. She advised that the council had a responsibility to advertise statutory notices, but that the Argus’ circulation had reduced and an alternative method was needed.

44.9         Councillor Randall stated that City News could play an important role if it was more even-handed and queried whether there was any evidence that people read the statutory notices. He also queried whether individual departments paid to advertise in City News.

44.10    The Monitoring Officer confirmed that departments were charged, but that cost less than using commercial newspapers. He confirmed that City News complied with all relevant statutory legislation, but that it was inevitable that some members would feature more frequently as a result of their respective portfolios.

44.11    The Chairman agreed to ask the Communications Team to provide any data that they may have on whether people read the statutory notices printed in City News.

44.12    RESOLVED – That the Governance Committee notes the report, the consultation document (see Appendix 1) and the Council’s response (see Appendix 2).