Decision details

Cabinet considered the head of policy and programmes’ report, which proposed the approval of a communications and engagement strategy.  This would be a joint strategy with South Oxfordshire District Council. 

Cabinet noted that the Scrutiny Committee had considered the draft strategy and had welcomed it.  The committee had made some suggestions for improvements, which had been included in the draft before Cabinet for approval. 

The Cabinet member for community engagement reported that this was a new strategy, providing a framework, standards and toolkit for the council’s communications and engagement activities.  It included the key principles from the council’s public engagement charter, which would be replaced by the strategy.  The strategy also highlighted several areas that would be strengthened, including:

·       improving customer satisfaction by raising awareness of the council’s services and the work the council was doing to make the Vale a thriving place; 

·       encouraging more engagement to ensure ample opportunities for the public to give their views; and

·       improving the council’s reputation by demonstrating that it informed and listened to its communities. 

Cabinet welcomed the strategy.  It set out the communications and engagement responsibilities, which would bring greater consistency.  All staff and councillors had a role to play in the strategy’s success.  Cabinet agreed that the strategy should be approved. 

RESOLVED: to

(a)       approve the Joint Communications and Engagement Strategy, attached as Appendix 1 to the 8 April 2022 Cabinet report of the deputy chief executive – transformation and operations; and

(b)       authorise the head of corporate services, in consultation with the Cabinet member for community engagement (Vale) and the Cabinet member for corporate services (South Oxfordshire District Council), to approve annual action plans that will underpin the strategy.