Issue - meetings

The report of the Director – Finance and Corporate Services is attached.

It was RESOLVED that the revised and extended Communications and Engagement Strategy 2025-2028 be approved.

The Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Leisure and Wellbeing, ICT and Member Development, Councillor J Wheeler, presented the report of the Director – Finance and Corporate Services, which detailed the Communications and Engagement Strategy.

Councillor Wheeler referred to the importance of communicating with residents, with the Strategy aiming to build on the Council’s excellent track record of engaging with residents, whilst adapting to changes in how people wished to do this. Rushcliffe continued to have face to face services and Rushcliffe Reports magazine, whilst increasing its digital presence. Younger residents had been consulted on how they wished to engage with the Council and the Residents’ Survey had been reviewed. Councillor Wheeler referred to the Action Plan, detailed at Appendix Two to the report, which highlighted clear plans to enhance engagement both internally and externally, and going forward receiving as much feedback as possible on service delivery. Councillor Wheeler concluded by thanking the Communications Team for its hard work

In seconding the recommendation, Councillor Brennan reiterated thanks to the Communications Team for producing this excellent, comprehensive Strategy, which set out clear plans for engaging with residents, all partners and groups that the Council worked with. Councillor Brennan referred to the challenges of communicating effectively what the Council did in this digital age, and it was pleasing to see that new ways of communicating where being explored for new audiences. Cabinet was reminded that this work was also in response to the Peer Review, which talked about engagement with stakeholders, and Councillor Brennan stated that considerable work had been undertaken to look at how that could be improved. The Strategy was both strategic and practical and she welcomed its development.

Councillor Upton applauded the use of plain English, referred to the importance of effective communication, and felt that this Strategy addressed some previous criticism raised regarding alleged poor communication with certain sections of the community.    

The Leader agreed that the Strategy was well presented, easy to read and engaging.

It was RESOLVED that the revised and extended Communications and Engagement Strategy 2025-2028 be approved.