Tackling the recession

1
Tackling the recession

• A Community Recovery Programme
• Robin Campbell, Head of Communications, LBS
• December 2008

2
Presentation

• Why bother?
• Our role
• What we are doing?
• Build your own
• Things to consider
• Questions

3
What can we do?

• Local authorities are at the centre of helping
  people, businesses and other groups through tough
  economic times ahead. When things go wrong,
  councils step in, both to help kick-start the
  economy and when it hits rock bottom and to
  provide a safety net for people in need.
• LGA, Global slowdown local solutions

4
What is our role?

• The response requires clear leadership from
  public bodies, and heads of communications have a
  key role in ensuring their councils response is
  visible and effective.
• PR Week

5
3 roles

• Understand the local context
• Make it happen reputation
• Make sure it is visible

6
Suttons 10 point plan

• Action doing rather than talking
• Simple and no nonsense
• Cost effective
• Other campaigns

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The London Borough of Sutton
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Sutton

• 185,000 population
• Low crime / high fear of crime
• Ageing in comparison to others
• Increasingly diverse good cohesion
• Highest in London of skilled non manual workers
• 36 commute to work outside the borough
• 6,000 businesses
• 80 employ 4 or less
• Town centre and transport issues
• Health and housing inequalities

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The 10 point plan

• 10 day payments for small business
• Encourage small business rate relief take up
• Promote advice and support for small businesses
• Support and advice to residents on debt and money
  matters, and promote the establishment of a
  credit union
• Provide free Xmas parking

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The 10 point plan

• Increase efficiency savings to keep council tax
  increases to a minimum
• Encourage council tax and housing benefit take up
• Help residents save on transport costs through
  Smarter Travel Sutton
• Encourage residents to use lower cost council
  services
• Develop an apprenticeship programme at the
  council and build a local talent pool.

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Channels

• Launch event economic conference hosted by
  local Chamber of Commerce
• Stakeholder mailing call to action
• Media Relations
• Staff communications
• Sutton Scene
• Third party advocacy

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Other campaigns

• VfM campaigns (internal/external)
• Promoting Place promoting our areas to
  generate new economic prospects

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Lets Do It!

• Build our own action programme!
• What would you like to see?
• 1)
• 2)
• 3)
• 4)
• 5)
• See also IDeA and LGA websites

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What next?

• Leader / CEX New Year message
• Residents
• Businesses
• Staff
• Partners
• Stakeholders
• Go for January 2009

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Suttons message

• Our response was a ten-point recovery plan with
  measures to help local companies improve their
  cash flow and financial help for our most needy
  residents.  
• It is clear the economic climate will be our
  greatest challenge in 2009. Our focus for the
  year will be to continue supporting the wider
  community during the recession while targeting
  resources at those most in need, as well as
  providing value for money.
• Cllr Sean Brennan, Leader

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Things to consider

• Rising demand for services
• Loss of income taxes and fees
• Unable to achieve LAA targets
• Prospect of red flags
• Pressure on partnership working
• Less money from govt/more efficiency

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Tackling the recession

• Any questions?

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Any impact?

• 121,000 small business rate relief collected
• Increase in car park use during free hours
• Joint promotion of debt advice