Allerdale Borough Council

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Allerdale Borough Council Helen Murphy,
Communications and Marketing Officer Janet
Court, Corporate Improvement Team Manager
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The research
Councils that spend time keeping their staff
well informed are rewarded with more motivated
staff and it appears, better CPA scores -
Connecting with communities the business case
for communications Communicate well with staff
so they become advocates for the council -
Reputations campaign
But Internal communications is a high priority
for very few local government communicators Empl
oyee communication was still seen as a way to
keep staff informed, rather than a way of
mobilising employees to deliver the
organisations objectives Mobilising a
workforce cannot happen if the people tasked with
delivering certain goals do not understand or
relate to them - LG07 study 2007
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Who are we?

• North West England
• Western part of Cumbria
• 1258 square kilometres
• Population of 95,300
• Seven main towns Workington, Aspatria,
  Cockermouth, Keswick, Maryport, Silloth and
  Wigton
• 400 employees in eight offices, which
  presents a communications challenge!

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ObjectiveThe Corporate Improvement Plan (CIP)

• Vision Making Allerdale a great place to
  live, work and visit
• CIP to explain how we turn vision into reality
• Single most important piece of work in 2005-6
• Dependent on participation and co-operation of
  staff
• Conclusion
• Involve staff from start of process
• Ensure staff knew where they fit into the Plan

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Who are we?
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The Strategy
Workshops Team meetings Chief Executives
briefings Intranet Launch Appraisals Keep
subject alive and in employees minds
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Evaluation

• Staff survey
• 100 awareness of the CIP
• 94 aware of its role in improving the future
  for Allerdale
• 83 understood what they had to do to help
  achieve the CIPs objectives
• Staff wanted an information pack!

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Factors for success?
Involving staff from the start DID make a
difference New Chief Executive enthusiasm,
fresh start, different Communications led by
Chief Executive and senior management team Quick
feedback Culture staff encouraged to be
involved / challenge Improvements? More time
needed for planning
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Any questions?
helen.murphy_at_allerdale.gov.uk