Title

BUSINESS

Wirral considers 'town hall Pravda'

Wirral MBC is considering defying government guidelines by launching a new monthly publication.

Wirral MBC is considering defying government guidelines by launching a new monthly publication.

The council is exploring using part of its current advertising budget to fund the publication despite the Government urging councils to only produce magazines or newspapers four times a year.

Eric Pickles took a tough stance on council publications during his time as communities secretary, hitting out at what he called ‘town hall Pravdas'.

Wirral said its new communications approach - which includes a new website and social media content - was needed after a survey showed six out of ten residents do not feel well informed about local services.

Kevin MacCallum, the council's senior manager for communications and marketing, said: ‘Our residents' survey last year told us very clearly that people in Wirral wanted more information. 

‘These findings were a rude awakening for us: they told us the tools we currently use to communicate with residents aren't powerful enough and aren't getting the job done.

‘Keeping residents well-informed is incredibly important and that's why we are making communicating with residents a top priority.'

If approved, the publication will be delivered once a month to homes and businesses from the autumn.

Current communities secretary Greg Clark has recently faced resistance after writing to Luton Council and Newham, Waltham Forest, Lambeth and Hackney LBCs ordering them to comply with the publicity code.

Cllr Lib Peck, leader of Lambeth, which publishes its magazine every month, replied: ‘The commitment towards devolution to local government must be more than rhetoric and if it is to be meaningful must acknowledge the right of local government to make decisions about what is suitable for the people we serve.'

Mayor of Hackney, Jules Pipe, said: ‘Time and again, in writing and in person, we have told this secretary of state and his predecessor that we will voluntarily reduce the frequency of publication of Hackney Today when they lift the outdated requirement to publish statutory notices in a printed fortnightly publication.'

BUSINESS

Fixing the easiest win in care spending

By Tracie Langley | 18 November 2025

A pioneering care staffing platform could save councils millions, topple agency dependence and put control back where it belongs – with providers and carers,...

BUSINESS

Rise up to reimagine health

By Matthew Taylor | 18 November 2025

With so much funding locked into NHS provision, only bold reform in how care is delivered will unlock real change – and that means health and local governmen...

BUSINESS

Government urged to stop reorganisation or face 'massive car crash'

By Heather Jameson | 17 November 2025

Government should be told to stop Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) or face a ‘massive car crash’ a county leader facing unitarisation has warned.

BUSINESS

Urging for a fairer urban future

By Ann McGauran | 17 November 2025

Parliamentary chair of the Special Interest Group of Municipal Authorities (SIGOMA) Sally Jameson warns that changes in the fair funding reforms are set to s...

Popular articles by Laura Sharman