Communications
EXCLUSIVE: Councils warn Whitehall of Brexit risks
Councils this week started to formally inform Whitehall about their Brexit risk assessments amid fears of crime spikes, public demonstrations and food bottlenecks.
Allied Healthcare winds up council contracts
A major care services provider is winding up all its contracts with local authorities after the regulator warned it was about to go bust.
Social media: steering a path
Research by The MJ and the Society of Local Authority Chief Executives shows approximately seven out of 10 council bosses use Twitter for work – but Dan Peters wonders if they are making the most of the ‘huge benefits’ social media can offer
Harriss gets top job at Harrow
Harrow LBC has appointed Sean Harriss to be its new chief executive, taking over from interim boss Tom Whiting next year.
See the world through the public’s eyes
How can councils embrace emerging technologies to foster a new relationship with the people and communities they serve? Paul Deegan, local public services lead partner at PwC, explores the issue.
Local democracy reporters aid transparency
The Local Democracy Reporting Service – the new BBC scheme that attempts to fill the gap in the reporting of local democracy issues – is already having an impact, reports Dan Peters
The power of perceptions
Managing perceptions and changing behaviour are set to become critical for councils – and Mark Fletcher-Brown says what works in commerce could also be usefully applied in public services
Riordan calls for social media abuse clampdown
One of local government’s most active Twitter users has urged social media sites to act to eradicate abuse aimed at public figures.
Telling the truthful story of local government finance
Our ability to communicate in different ways with residents is something we are aware of but in today’s financial climate we don’t seek to enrich our conversations with customers, writes Tony Kirkham.
We’re Going to Need a Bigger Boast
We must be grateful in these quiet days of August that many hard-working folk in local government continue to slave away at their desks.
Rubbish jokes
Diary has often been known to crack a fair few bad jokes in its time.
Brum 'not tackling issues quickly enough'
‘Crucial issues’ with the running of Birmingham City Council raised by Lord Kerslake in a report four years ago have ‘not been tackled quickly enough,’ the authority has been told.
Communications – an engaging issue
Effective communication and engagement is a big challenge in an era of instant, accessible news. Jo Miller explains how proactivity and actually listening to people is a massive step in achieving this feat.
Click me baby one more time
Everybody’s inboxes are currently packed with emails urging them to opt in, sign up or re-register, spurred by the new General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
Social media can be a distraction as well as a useful tool
Allen Graham argues it is important to maintain a focused communication presence within an organisation while being sure not to get stuck on fads or fashions.
Wanna hook up?
Council press teams are used to being reactive on Twitter, but how would your local authority respond to a mysterious suitor asking if it wanted to ‘hook up’?
Council vows to improve 'volatile' relations
Maldon DC has vowed to improve ‘volatile’ relations between members and senior officers after a second peer challenge review identified concerns.
Solving the communications conundrum
Trust a journalist? Alex Bailey says independent and trustworthy scrutineers can revitalise an authority’s presence and deliver your message with clarity
Making a statement: why you shouldn't dodge interviews
The practice of giving the media a statement rather than putting up candidates for interviews risks undermining trust in public organisations and senior figures. Mark Fletcher-Brown explains.
'Toxic fake news' and 'Airbnb culture' impacting community cohesion
Community cohesion efforts in the heart of London are being undermined by a surge of fake news, population churn and the increasing use of lettings apps, according to a new report.