Barrow Borough Council pays £85,000 a year to outsource its communications to a public relations firm, it has been revealed.
The local authority’s current contract with 32West began in June 2021, following a tender process, and ends in July 2023.
The information was published in a report produced ahead of a meeting of the borough council’s overview and scrutiny committee on Thursday.
The document, authored by Susan Roberts, director of resources at the council, says the council’s ‘overall media presence’ has ‘grown significantly’ during its association with 32West, which was founded in 2018 and currently has offices in Ulverston, Liverpool and Gateshead.
Ms Roberts says the contract covers ‘all external and internal communications, press, marketing, promotion, branding, planning and support to members and officers’. Barrow Council does not have an internal communications officer.
“The council is also able to purchase additional days for new projects where there is an unplanned significant need for press or communications – an example of this is the insourcing of the waste service,” says Ms Roberts.
“Messaging is vital to reassure customers and be clear on any impacts or adjustments that will affect them. Additional days may only be requested by the [council’s] senior management team.”
The contract with 32West is managed by Sam Plum, the borough council’s chief executive, and Steph Cordon, the council’s deputy chief executive and director of people and place.
Ms Roberts says in her report that 32West press releases are reviewed by the council’s senior management team, the council leader, and the council’s spokespeople.
“Performance is judged to be the quality of the communications and advice given to the council,” she says. “There is a regular review/reflection of service delivery by the chief executive or the deputy chief executive and director of people and place.”
Ms Roberts says that, when a unitary Westmorland and Furness Council begins operating in Cumbria from April, the existing contract will be replaced with a new one for the remaining months.
She advises the overview and scrutiny committee to note her report and raise any questions.
