Proposed Code Of Recommended Practice On Local Authority Publicity

The Publicity Code provides guidance on the content, style, distribution and cost of local authority publicity. Local authorities are required by legislation to consider the Code in coming to any decision on publicity, which is defined as any communication, in whatever form, addressed to the public or a section of the public.

Government response to HC 666, session 2010-11 (ISBN 9780215556417)

The draft Code of Recommended Practice on Local Authority Publicity is intended to give effect to the Coalition agreement commitment "to impose tougher rules to stop unfair competition by local authority newspapers", particularly by restricting the permitted number of issues to four a year. Local authorities, though, are required to account to local residents for how they take decisions and how they spend council tax revenues. They have a duty to communicate effectively enough with local residents that they have adequate awareness of how to access and use local services. The Committee found little hard evidence to support the view of the commercial newspaper industry that council publications are, to any significant extent, competing unfairly with independent newspapers at present. It believes that the provisions in the proposed Code relating to cost effectiveness, content and appearance are sufficient to deal with the excesses of certain council papers, which are in any case confined to only a very few examples. The report also considers the provision of the proposed Code which sets out to prevent local authorities from hiring 'lobbyists'. The issue of the use of public money on political lobbying is an important one which the Government should address, and the Committee recommends that the Government work with representative organisations for all tiers of local government, with the UK Public Affairs Council and the Chartered Institute of Public Relations Local Public Services Group to develop a Code of Practice for local authorities on the use of lobbyists.

Draft Code of recommended practice of local authority Publicity : Wednesday 23 March 2011

In the UK's current climate of budget cuts and policy changes, local government officials need to be aware of best practice in both broadcasting their services and responding to crises in their communities. Meanwhile, changes in the media - from the rise of social media, to web access for older consumers - present new challenges for local councils about how to best convey their key messages and protect their 'brand'. Full of expert advice, tools and case studies from a variety of sources, PR and Communication in Local Government and Public Services is a practical reference guide to delivering professional public relations for both communications and the delivery of local services. It offers a detailed analysis of the issues that are unique to this challenging and fast-moving environment, whilst reinforcing the importance of effective and meaningful communication to both local democracy and the planning and delivery of quality services. PR and Communication in Local Government and Public Services is also supported by a range of online resources, including case studies, appendices, and a bonus chapter on local authority publicity. About the PR in Practice series: Published in collaboration with the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR), the PR in Practice series comprises accessible, practical introductions to day-to-day issues of public relations practice and management. The series' action-oriented approach keeps knowledge and skills up to date.

Government and Information: The Law Relating to Access, Disclosure and their Regulation is the leading text offering comprehensive and practical advice on the access, disclosure and retention of government records under UK, EU and ECHR requirements. It is essential reading for all those dealing with public authority information. The fifth edition is extensively revised following numerous developments in both UK and EU law as well as the ever expanding case law on information rights under statutory, Convention and common law provisions. Legislation: Justice and Security Act 2013; Crime and Courts Act 2013 (s 34 in relation to press standards following Leveson); Re-use of Public Sector Information Regulations 2015 Investigatory Powers Bill 2016; Environmental Information Regulations 2004; General Data Protection Regulation 2016; Key cases since the last edition include: Evans v Attorney General [2015] UKSC 21 - the SC ruled that the Attorney General had acted unlawfully in issuing a veto preventing disclosure Kennedy v Charities Commission [2014] UKSC 20 - Supreme Court extended the ambit of the common law in relation to access to information and transparency Case 362/14 Schrems [2015]) - involving data transfer to the USA PJS v Newsgroup Newspapers ltd [2016] UKSC 26 – developing the law of personal privacy