Perranzabuloe Parish Council (PPC)

Communications Strategy

Adopted July 2026

1. Introduction

Perranzabuloe Parish Council (PPC) is committed to fostering effective engagement with residents, partners, employees, and stakeholders. Recognising the complexity of communications, PPC acknowledges that it extends beyond public relations alone.

The strategy aims to equip councillors and staff with the essential communication skills needed in various interactions, from phone conversations to dealings with colleagues and the public. It emphasises the fundamental aspects of communication.

The overarching goal is to establish a two-way communication process. This involves providing clear information to the community, enabling them to understand PPC’s activities and make informed decisions. Simultaneously, the strategy seeks to gather information from residents and stakeholders to better comprehend their needs and perspectives.

Effective and regular communication with residents is a key element of community engagement and supports PPC’s ambition to achieve Quality Council Status in 2026–27.

PPC will focus on delivering a range of communication activities designed to improve engagement, increase awareness of Council initiatives, and strengthen the relationship between the Council and the community. These actions will include:

  • Managing social media effectively to promote PPC’s work and highlight key projects.
  • Continuing to undertake regular consultation with residents to ensure that community views inform Council decisions and priorities.
  • Maintaining and developing the PPC website to ensure information remains accessible, relevant, and up to date.
  • PPC will ensure that all communication activities consider the diverse needs of the community and are inclusive and accessible to all residents, regardless of culture, ethnicity, nationality, religion or belief, gender, disability, age, sexuality, geographical location, or any other protected characteristic.
  • Where reasonable and appropriate, PPC will provide communication materials in alternative formats to support accessibility and ensure that information is available to as wide an audience as possible.

2. Why is communication important?

In recent years, Local Government communications have increasingly emphasised the importance of reputation. A well-communicated identity fosters recognition and respect, acknowledging that reputation holds significant value. Unfortunately, many councils struggle to convey their identity and functions effectively, and the less people know about an organisation, the less likely they are to hold it in high regard.

To achieve the aims and objectives of PPC, effective communication is paramount with every individual, group, tenant, and organisation the council collaborates with or serves. An integral aspect of any organisation’s role is to ensure that information shared both by and with it is easily accessible, relevant, and timely. PPC must recognise the critical role of communication and commit to enhancing its services to meet the community’s expectations.

The advances made in information technology offer some exciting new ways of communicating.  At the same time, for many people, traditional methods, newspapers, telephone, leaflets, noticeboards – still play a fundamental role that must not be undervalued.

2a. What should we be communicating?

Research by MORI, an independent research organisation, and the Local Government Association, states that the most important drivers of council reputation among local residents are:

  • Perceived quality of services overall
  • Perceived value for money
  • Media coverage
  • Direct communications
  • Council performance
  • Clean, green and safe environment
  • Positive experience of contact with council employees

If PPC is to build a strong reputation, effectively inform residents, engage and improve customer satisfaction, then these drivers must form the basis of its communication strategy.

There is also a need for proactive and reactive information:

  • Proactively – telling people information to influence and change attitudes (e.g. greater transparency of meetings, policy, procedure together with keeping people informed with plans and aspirations of PPC).
  • Reactively – giving residents information they want to know (e.g. dates and times of meetings, issues affecting the Parish, how it is dealing with environmental issues, transparency on finances, valuable information from Cornwall Council).

2b. Who should we be communicating with?

  • PPC’s audiences are wide and varied by typically include:
    • Residents
    • PPC staff
    • Tenants
    • Hard to reach groups, including young people
    • The media
    • Cornwall Council
    • Voluntary groups and organisations
    • MPs
    • Other public sector organisations (police, environmental health, fire)
    • The business community
    • Visitors

3. Our Strategic Objectives

PPC’s main aim through communications is:

“Enhancing Lives, Embracing Community: Serving Perranzabuloe Parish with Dedication and Care”

PPC’s communication work will:

  • Raise residents satisfaction, trust and confidence levels
  • Raise awareness of services and facilities provided by PPC
  • Raise the profile of Perranporth as a hub for business and tourism
  • Support councillors in their role as community leaders
  • Make best use of technology to innovate and engage with hard to reach groups such as young people
  • Proactively challenge inaccuracies and misrepresentations that might undermine the image or integrity of PPC.

Our vision is that our residents will:

  • Know what services and facilities PPC provides and the quality of service they can expect from us
  • Feel confident and satisfied with our services and facilities
  • Understand how to get involved with, or influence, our work

In addition, visitors to the Parish will

  • See Perranporth as a top destination to live, work and play.

4. Existing Communication Methods

(a)  It should be noted, that it does not have a dedicated Communications Officer, although the Clerk is currently assuming part of this responsibility.

Methods currently in place include:

  • Accessible website
  • Council agenda and papers
  • Noticeboards
  • Quarterly “meet your councillor” events at the Library
  • Limited PR and marketing activity
  • Interactivity of Councillors with constituents
  • Facebook page (set up as a personal account, not business)
  • Instagram (for the skatepark)
  • Engagement with local schools
  • Creation of a “Youth Voice”
  • Liaison with Youth Club (Action for Children)

5. Communication and Community Engagement Achievements

PPC has significantly strengthened its communication and engagement approach, creating new opportunities for residents to stay informed, share their views, and actively participate in shaping the future of the Parish.

Key achievements include:

Building a Stronger Digital Presence

  • Launched a new PPC Facebook business page and developed a more engaging approach to online communication, increasing the frequency and variety of posts, sharing content through established community groups, and promoting Council projects and initiatives.
  • Set ambitious growth targets for the Facebook page, initially aiming for 500 followers by March 2024. This target was exceeded by more than 100 followers by January 2024. Further targets of 1,000 followers by September 2024 and 1,500 followers by December 2025 were also exceeded. The page currently has over 1,600 followers, significantly extending PPC’s reach within the community.
  • Created a Communications Strategy to provide a clear framework for improving how PPC communicates with residents and stakeholders.
  • Improved the PPC website by ensuring agendas and draft minutes are published promptly, with draft minutes available within two weeks of meetings and approved minutes published the day following approval.
  • Created a dedicated Library webpage to improve access to information and promote library services.

Strengthening Community Engagement

  • Developed targeted Community Engagement Strategies for key PPC projects and services, including:
    • The Skatepark redevelopment.
    • The Council’s Property Portfolio.
    • The Library service (currently being refreshed).
  • Introduced regular consultation opportunities to ensure residents have a voice in decisions affecting the Parish, including:
    • March 2024 – Consultation on the future use of Council buildings and PPC’s strategic objectives.
    • June 2024 – Consultation on the Tunes in the Dunes event.
    • Autumn 2025 – Consultation on recreational facilities across the Parish.
    • Autumn 2025 – Consultation on dogs on leads on Perranporth beach.
    • July 2026 – Consultation on street lighting.
    • Planned Autumn 2026 – Consultation on library opening hours.

Improving Transparency and Accountability

  • Introduced annual reports from the Clerk to provide residents with a clear overview of PPC’s activities, achievements, and priorities.
  • Established the Annual Parish Meeting as an annual opportunity for residents to engage directly with the Council and understand its work.

Engaging with Young People and the Wider Community

  • Developed stronger links with local schools through:
    • A young people’s survey to capture the views and priorities of younger residents.
    • Creation of a Youth Voice Group.
    • Attendance at School Parliament meetings, assemblies, and school events to promote awareness of PPC and encourage youth participation.
  • Built improved relationships with local journalists and wider media contacts, encouraging a more open and collaborative two-way relationship.
  • Organised community events to celebrate key milestones and bring residents together, including:
    • The Chyanhale Youth Hub Opening Event.
    • The Library Opening Event.
  • Established weekly Wednesday community sessions at the Library, providing residents with opportunities to access information, connect with others, and engage with community activities.

Through these initiatives, PPC has increased transparency, improved accessibility, strengthened community relationships, and created more effective ways for residents to participate in local decision-making.

6. Manage the media effectively to promote and defend PPC

The media plays a strong role in shaping perceptions of local government, so informed reporting is vital.

The Communities and Local Government Report found people were most positive about their parish/town/unitary council in areas where the relevant council had a good relationship with the local media.  Please refer to the Communications and Media Policy for policy and procedure on managing social media/interviews/press releases.  However, key points for effective management of media relations are to:

  • Respond to journalists in full within a reasonable time (maximum 12 hrs)
  • Be helpful, polite and positive
  • Never say “no comment”
  • Ensure that any statements to hostile enquiries are cleared by the Clerk, in consultation with the Chair, Vice-Chair or appropriate Committee Chair.
  • Monitor response times to media enquiries and evaluate media coverage.
  • Ensure the appropriate spokesperson is fully briefed and available for interview if required.
  • Issue timely and relevant press release using a brand template.
  • Pre-empt potential stories arising from PPC agenda/minutes by issuing protective PR
  • Organise media training for key speakers (Chair, Clerk etc).

7. Ensure PPC brand is consistently linked to services/facilities

PPC will look to brand its communications consistently, ensuring a single brand identity.  A new logo was introduced in 2019.  The Clerk will ensure:

  • All staff and councillors have access to electronic logos and templates (letters, policy documents etc)
  • Using uniform font type Arial size 11 or 12 (as appropriate).
  • Developing a photographic library which supports PPC’s brand and is available to all staff.
  • Engagement with schools to involve them in artistic projects in Perranporth.
  • Ensuring all signage and advertising has the PPC logo and contact information if appropriate. Use of QR codes to link to other information/Facebook/Council website.

8. Carry out regular consultation

PPC is committed to consulting residents, service users, local businesses, service providers and our own staff and councillors, to identify ways in which it can improve the services/facilities it provides.

Consultation is a key part in this Communications Strategy as it is a two-way exchange of views between local people and PPC.  It is keen to get people’s opinions about both the future of Perranzabuloe and the services it delivers.  This will help PPC to make decisions and allow us to tell people about why it is providing services/facilities in the way it does.

Most of PPC’s consultation will be by way of surveys (Microsoft Forms) and use of polls on social media. It will also contract with local market research professionals where appropriate.  It will ensure that local schools, local organisations and charities will also have access to these surveys, with printed copies available in the Library (as a high area of footfall).

9. Maintain and Develop website

PPC already has a website which is regularly updated and contains key information about PPC. It has recently been updated to be compliant with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines version 2.2 AA standard. However, it will be looking at ways in which other social media platforms can be used as a tool to drive clicks to the website and vice versa.

10. Social Media

Social media is now a credible communication channel that is increasingly utilised by organisations, as well as individuals, as a means of developing online communities for gathering and disseminating information that is of mutual interest.  PPC currently uses Facebook but will be looking to consult the public on whether to include platforms such as TikTok and X would also be of benefit.  It is engaging with other groups and pages, to increase visibility, however, it does not comment on other groups or pages.  This is in line with the Social Media policy.

11. Internal Communication

Social media is now a credible communication channel that is increasingly utilised by organisations, as well as individuals, as a means of developing online communities for gathering and disseminating information that is of mutual interest.  PPC currently uses Facebook but will be looking to consult the public on whether to include platforms such as TikTok and X would also be of benefit.  It is engaging with other groups and pages, to increase visibility, however, it does not comment on other groups or pages.  This is in line with the Social Media policy.

  • Advocacy
  • Commitment
  • Satisfaction
  • Transaction
  • Trust
  • Awareness

Staff play a crucial role in building PPC’s reputation.  Whether they are frontline staff or officers representing PPC externally, the way they behave and how they talk about the council can have a huge impact.  Good internal communications are therefore very important in helping PPC achieve its objectives. It seeks to communicate through:

  • Regular staff meetings (usually carried out on Tuesdays after Council meetings and quarterly off site), Library staff regularly meet when Library closed), annual whole staff meetings.
  • Appraisals – encourage feedback
  • Clerk’s report as part of Full Council and Committee Meetings
  • Clerk’s annual report
  • Training
  • Sharing of minutes with all staff

Additionally, there is an online calendar that is collaboratively utilised by staff and councillors. This initiative was integrated into the transition to Office 365 in May 2024. Further exploration will be undertaken to identify additional avenues for improving communication using the Office 365 platform.

12. Monitoring and Evaluation

It is important that PPC measures the success of this strategy so that it may inform any future plan.  It will therefore measure:

  • Raised awareness of PPC and the services/facilities it provides
  • Attitudes towards PPC
  • Participation and engagement with PPC projects, initiatives and consultation processes

How will it do this?

  • Statistics from Facebook and other social media platforms
  • Insights from website statistics
  • Sharing of feedback from residents (e.g. thank you emails, positive comments from social media)
  • Consultation with residents – perception surveys
  • Staff survey

13. Links with Other Policies

Social Media Policy.

14. Freedom of Information

In accordance with the Freedom of Information Act 2000, this document will be posted on PPC’s website www.perranzabuloe-pc.gov.uk and copies of this document will be available for inspection on deposit in the Parish Office.

Alternative formats: Large print, Braille, audio or another language available on request—please contact the office.