Minutes:
(Mr. E. Deeny, Head of Corporate Communications, attended in connection with this item.)
The Committee considered the undernoted report:
“1 Relevant Background Information
1.1 The investment programme was launched in February 2012 in Belfast Waterfront and also at a number of smaller events throughout the community. It was warmly received by most of the media and also by the Northern Ireland Executive, business leaders, trade unions and local communities.
The main challenge thrown down following the launch was that people wanted to see projects on the ground and being delivered. It is vital that we not only plan and start to deliver the package but that we are seen to be achieving our aims. That is where communications is vital across the board – we need to keep politicians, staff, communities up to date with progress – and by the same token no amount of communications or ‘spin’ will provide cover for failure to deliver on the programme.
To retain the good will built up at the launch and our credibility, we need to develop a clear plan of action as soon as possible and publicise it with as much detail as we can – when projects will start, finish, where the money is coming from, where they will be and what difference they will make in the local communities, to the business sectors and the city as a whole.
Our politicians have been at the forefront of developing and launching the package and it is their credibility that is most on the line in relation to delivery – so we need to ensure that ownership of the package is closely identified with them.
The communications plan, a copy of which has been circulated, outlines the suggested communications approach, which will be delivered by Corporate Communications.
2 Key Issues
2.1 The main messages we need to deliver are summarised in the plan, a copy of which has been circulated, but centre around this being a joint initiative supported by all the political parties. Underneath that, the main information we will need to disseminate will be the level of investment and the projects it is supporting, the number of jobs and placement opportunities being created, value for money, city-wide benefits and underlining the fact that the council is a delivery organisation.
The main activities highlighted in the plan are:
· Timetable of projects - when projects will be on the ground, key milestones in terms of progress, expected completion date, cost, financial source – regularly updated.
· Branding - All l activity branded ‘as part of the Investment Programme’ or ‘an Investment Programme project’. Brand to appear on hoardings and signs, publications, on-line etc. It is suggested that major projects should carry the strapline juxtapositioned with the council logo of ‘at the heart of the city’ for major projects and ‘at the heart of the community’ for local projects. Proposed designs and strapline are attached.
· Media activity press releases, platform pieces, one-to-one briefings with journalist, six monthly updates on progress.
· Other Communications activity – use of council meetings to promote investment programme, website, social media, City Matters, display boards, hoardings on sites of major projects to provide local community information (as seen at Skainos project)
· Role of Members - Party leaders leading on the big projects, supported by chair of Strategic Policy and Resources Committee, with roles for committee chairs and local councillors.
· Area Working Groups - Work to be supported by identifying workin local areas and using website and social media to keep communities updates, weekly newspapers and repeating local launch events at appropriate time.
· Super Connected Cities Project – The submission to the Urban Broadband Fund requires comms and marketing activity, consideration given to development of a website, branding and a limited number of publications. Extra staff and budget resources will be required.
· Internal Communications - Regular information in team briefings, information session, Interlink, internal screens and Intercom.
3 Recommendations
3.1 The Committee is asked to approve:
· The communications approach as outlined at Appendix One, a copy of which has been circulated for the information of the Members; and
· The branding and strapline per designs, as appended to the report (including a mock-up of how they will look in situ)”
During discussion, a Member suggested that the signs be amended to reflect that the projects were part of the Council’s Investment Programme. In addition, Members suggested that the signs for the projects in the Gaeltach Quarter should be bi-lingual and printed in both the Irish and English languages.
Accordingly, it was
Moved by Councillor Ó Muilleoir,
Seconded by Councillor Maskey,
That the Committee agrees that, in line with the decision of the Development Committee regarding the City dressing plan, hoardings and signs to be displayed in the Gaeltacht Quarter would be in both Irish and English.
On a vote by show of hands eleven Members voted for the proposals and five against and it was accordingly declared carried.
Subject to the foregoing additions, the Committee adopted the recommendations.
Supporting documents: