The Scrutiny Review Panel - The Effectiveness and Value for Money of the Council's External Communications of Stockport Council met on Wednesday 1 October 2025, to discuss the effectiveness and value for money of the council's external communications. The panel was scheduled to discuss the scrutiny review procedure rules, the scoping report, and a presentation on Stockport Council's communication overview. The meeting was held remotely and was webcast.

Stockport Council - Communication Overview

The panel was scheduled to consider a presentation from the Executive Director for Corporate and Support Services regarding Stockport Council's communication overview. The report pack stated that the panel was expected to note and comment upon the presentation.

Scoping Report

The panel was scheduled to discuss a report from the Executive Director for Corporate and Support Services that sets out the scope of the Effectiveness and Value for Money of the Council's External Communications Scrutiny Review.

The report stated that the aim of the scrutiny review is to:

explore the impact and effectiveness of the council's external communications in supporting council priorities and reaching and engaging with residents.

The report also stated that the objectives of the review are to consider how Stockport Council ensures that it measures the impact and effectiveness of external communications, how effective the council's external communication channels are in reaching and engaging with residents and key audiences, and to explore how council communications can support councillors to share council information.

The report sets out a timeline for the review, with the scoping meeting having taken place on 4 September 2025. Evidence gathering was scheduled for three sessions: 1 October 2025, 19 November 2025 and 8 January 2026. The final report to committee was scheduled for 3 March 2026, and the date of the final report to cabinet was scheduled for 17 March 2026.

The purpose of the first session on 1 October 2025 was to provide context and describe the council's external communication channels and approach. Potential lines of enquiry included the strategic context and role of communications, the council's communications journey, different communication channels and their effectiveness, priorities for the future, and challenges, opportunities and next steps. Kathryn Rees and Andrea Lingley were listed as witnesses.

The purpose of the second session on 19 November 2025 was to consider the impact and effectiveness of external communications channels. Potential lines of enquiry included a deep dive into the council's channels, engagement, content and audience and how the council measures impact. Kathryn Rees, Andrea Lingley, and Max Wieland were listed as witnesses.

The purpose of the third session on 8 January 2026 was to explore how councillors can better support council communications in sharing information. Potential lines of enquiry included identifying current ways the council shares information with councillors, considering how the council can improve this, and how the council can support councillors through training. Kathryn Rees, Andrea Lingley, and Max Wieland were listed as witnesses.

The Scoping Report recommended that the Scrutiny Review Panel approve the Scoping Report.

Scrutiny Review Procedure Rules

The panel was scheduled to consider a report from the Assistant Director for Governance setting out the Scrutiny Review Procedure Rules.

The report stated that either the Chair or Vice-Chair of the Scrutiny Committee will be appointed Lead Councillor for the Review and will Chair meetings of the Panel. It also stated that substitutes should not be permitted, to ensure consistency.

The report detailed the business to be conducted at each meeting, the quorum required, the appointment of co-optees/advisers, the time and place of meetings, the form of minutes, voting procedures, attendance at meetings by members of the public, exclusion of the public, public speaking at meetings, notice and agendas for meetings, and consideration of the final report.

The Scrutiny Review Procedure Rules recommended that the Scrutiny Review Panel agree to the Scrutiny Review Procedure Rules.