Report of:
Neighbourhood Manager
To :
Little Hulton and Walkden Community Committee
Date:
27th November 2006
Title:
Little Hulton and Walkden Communications Action Plan
Recommendations:
Members of the Community Committee are recommended to :
(i)
(ii)
Note the contents of this report
Support the Neighbourhood Manager and Communications Group in progressing the
action plan to improve communication with groups and residents in Little Hulton and
Walkden
____________________________________________________________________________
1.0
Background
1.1
Members will recall that at the last community committee, a report was presented in relation
to how the Community Committee communicates with residents. Details were outlined on:
- Findings from consultation in relation to methods of communicating with residents
- The work of the communications group, which is providing the role of an ‘editorial group’
for the newsletter and will help steer future communication activity.
- A small budget in 2006/7 to support this activity
1.2
Based on the findings from the questionnaire and discussions with the Communications
Group, a draft action plan (attached) has been prepared to improve how the Community
Committee communicates. The main themes of the action plan relate to –




1.3
Development of the Communications group and the Communications Plan itself
The Community Committee newsletter
Increased communication in relation to Community Committee meetings
Ensuring publicity for the work of the Community Committee
It is intended that the Action Plan will be reviewed by the Communications Group in the
course of its quarterly meetings and new ideas will be tried and incorporated. Members will
note that a broader and more detailed distribution list has now been prepared for the
newsletter and that it will be externally produced, with a print run of 4,000 from the New
Year and the aim for every household to receive a copy once a year.
Contact information – J. Rooney, Neighbourhood Manager – 0161 975 7408
John.rooney@salford.gov.uk
1
DRAFT LITTLE HULTON & WALKDEN COMMUNITY COMMITTEE COMMUNICATIONS PLAN
( Blue = Complete, Green = Action ongoing, Blank = action not started at the time of writing)
Actions
Audience
Rationale
Develop Communications Group and Communications Plan
Establish communications group
2 Members and Improved
2 resident
understanding,
representatives, steer and
supported by
‘ownership’ of
officers
process
Send out questionnaire re.
Community
communication to partners, mailing committee
list and email list
members and
partners
Establish system for gathering
Partners and
relevant press stories and news for key groups in
e mail distribution
area
Agree this communications plan
Wider public
Develop agreed indicators/
measures of success
Wider public
and groups
Seek dedicated budget to support
communication actions
Wider public
Greater
understanding
of how best to
communicate,
use of venues
etc.
Improved
information on
immediate
issues in are
provided
through groups
and networks
Increased
awareness of
role of
Community
Committee
Ensure impact
of
communications
Plan
Support to
develop
newsletter and
other methods
Resources ( Time
& financial)
Lead
Comments
Initial scoping meeting
– July 06
Agree principles of
communications plan –
Sep 06
Quarterly editorial and
monitoring meeting
Complete -August 2006
Report on findings fed
back – Sep 06
J Rooney
Group has met twice and
will monitor progress on
Communication Plan
C Tucker
Report fed back to
Community Committee
and details discussed at
Communications Group
in September 2006
Nil
From Aug 2006 -
P Kirkman
Extended e mail
distribution list in place.
To be reviewed on
ongoing basis
Oct/Nov 06
Community
Committee
January 07
Communications
Group
Political Executive – 26th
Oct
Executive – 16 November
Community Committee –
27th November
To be discussed at
Communications Group
in January 07
£ 4,442 agreed for
2006/7. Further
resources required for
07/08
Communications
Group
2
Budget agreed for 06/07.
Communications Group
to monitor
of publicity
Newsletter
Agree forward plan for newsletter
compilation, printing and
distribution for January 07 issue
onwards
Community
groups
Mailing list
Schools
agencies
Wider public
Ensure smooth
flow of articles
and production
of newsletter
From communications
Budget
Late Nov 06
J Rooney/C
Tucker/P Jones
Distribution element to be
completed in Oct 06
Company to produce
newsletter from Jan 07
Ensure cost
efficiencies
August 06
P Jones
Ensure newsletters are on website
and e mail link to groups
Wider public
From July 06
P Kirkman
Consider quizzes, prize draws and
giveaways to gain response to
readership
Review format and consider Youth
pages ( linked to Youth panel)
Wider public,
groups
Ensure wider
distribution and
readership
Get feedback
on readeship
Agreed by
Communications Group
in July 06 that printing
externally in Swinton
format more efficient
Built into newsletter
forward plan and ongoing
From October 06
P Jones/ J
Rooney
Identify costed options for printing
of newsletter
Wider
readership
‘Read it and win’ format
tried in October issue
Seek
January 07 readership
from young
people
Aim to deliver one issue a year to
All households Establish
April 07
each household in Community
broader
Committee area
understanding
of activity
Increase communications in relation to Community committee meetings
Communications
Group
Ensure that publicity and
information leaflets are in display
at meetings
Attendees/
groups at
meetings
In place since June 06
J Rooney/ C
Tucker
Leaflets and booklets
brought to each meeting
Provide press release info. before
and after meetings
Wider public
From late Nov 06
J Rooney/ Press
Office
Positive press articles
already in place following
meetings
Display posters in area
Potential
attendees
From late November 06
C Tucker
Posters for display to community
Potential
From late November 06
C Tucker/ N Park
Improve
signposting to
other services
and activities
Increase
awareness of
meetings
Increase
awareness of
meetings
Increased
3
Communications Costs for distribution
Group
companies have been
received
Committee mailing list
Letters distributed through primary
schools via pupils to
parents/carers near meeting
venues prior to Community
Committee meetings
attendees
Potential
attendees
attendance
Raise
awareness that
meeting is
taking place
Revise mailing list and e mail list
for meeting
Potential
attendees
Banners and signage outside/
around venue
Existing
attendees
Raise
awareness that
meeting is
taking place
Raise
awareness that
meeting is
taking place
June 06 -
J Rooney/C
Tucker/P Kirkman
- Tried at 2 meetings.
Impact to be monitored.
August 06 -
C Tucker/ P
Kirkman
Mailing lists reviewed and
updated. To be updated
as required.
Sep 06 -
C Tucker
Large banner bought and
displayed. Other signage
in place
In place since July
To be monitored
Ensuring publicity for work of community committee
All grant conditions to make sure
groups use have ‘supported by
Little Hulton and Walkden
Community Committee’ in their
publicity and request photos
Publicise funded projects more
through newsletter
Grant recipients
and members
Ensure greater
publicity
July 06-
C Tucker
Wider public
Jan 07 -
C Tucker
Publicise funded projects through
photos/ display at 1 Stop Shop
1 Stop Shop
visitors
Jan 07 -
C Tucker/ P
Jones
Consider use of other promotional
materials for use at fun days and
events
Wider public
Jan 07 -
Communications
Group
Develop website information with
key info. accessible
Wider public
Jan 07 -
J Rooney/ P
Kirkman
Support printing and distribution of
local leaflets and publicity as
required
Wider public
Increase
understanding
of grants and
work achieved
Increase
understanding
of grants and
work achieved
Increase
understanding
of Community
Committee
Increase
understanding
of work
Increase
understanding
of work
Oct 06 -
C Tucker/J
Rooney
4
4,000 Community
activities leaflets printed
Safety info. being sent