In this issue
Welcome
Little Libraries
Be a Councillor evaluation
Modern Slavery evaluation
Celebrating #OurDay
Star for a Night
My Reigate & Banstead accounts are now live!
Promoting our value for money
What's coming up in March...
In the news
Call for Mayor’s Volunteer Awards nominees

Please share our call for nominations for the Volunteer Awards.

Read more »

Place shapers
News releases on key planning policy and regeneration projects were shared
Read more »
Useful Links
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Issue archive »

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Get in touch
If you have any feedback or questions about anything in this update, or would like help or advice about anything communications related, please contact the team via communications@reigate-banstead.gov.uk or 01737 276512.
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Feature story
Welcome

Here's a round up of the main projects and campaigns that Reigate & Banstead's Communications team have been working on from December 2018-February 2019.



Little Libraries
 
Little Library at Earlswood Lakes.

In February we installed five dolls’ house-sized libraries - Little Free Libraries - across the borough. BBC Surrey Radio (28 mins 47 secs in) interviewed Helen West about the scheme, while Reigate.uk, Susy Radio, Family Grapevine and Pistachios in the Park all wrote about the project online.

 


In February we installed five dolls’ house-sized libraries - Little Free Libraries - across the borough. BBC Surrey Radio (28 mins 47 secs in) interviewed Helen West about the scheme, while Reigate.uk, Susy Radio, Family Grapevine and Pistachios in the Park all wrote about the project online. There was a good reaction from residents to social media posts announcing the news, with a total of 619 likes and 87 comments on FB; 110 likes on Twitter and 216 likes on Instagram, and 250 views of our Instagram stories. Our organic posts were shared a total of 150 times on Facebook and retweeted 40 times. Comments on social media about the scheme were overwhelmingly positive and we were able to respond to any mild concerns. The week’s sunshine made for great pictures and plenty of people in the parks over half-term encouraging further social chatter. Staff got involved by donating titles for both children and adults, and Stripey Stork added their support by donating books and posting across their popular social media pages about the scheme.

Since their unveiling, we've received lost of lovely comments from residents about the project, here's just a flavour: 

"I have some spare books will pop them in"

"I think it’s a fab idea! Well done"

"Love this idea how cool! Wish we had then in Tandridge"

"Oh love this idea, happy to donate some too!"

"Fab idea!! I have a whole box of spare books if there is space"

"We borrowed two lovely kids’ books after our walk around Earlswood Lakes yesterday. Kids were really excited to dash home and read them."

 

If you'd like to donate books, simply place them within a Little Library when you next see one.


Be a Councillor evaluation
 

An evaluation of the successful #BeACouncillor campaign, run over the summer, is attached. It shows that the campaign was effective in reaching our target audiences and resulted in a number of people coming forward to political parties to be candidates.


We've now completed the evaluation of last summer’s  #BeACouncillor campaign. It shows that the campaign was effective in reaching our target audiences and resulted in a number of people coming forward to political parties to be candidates.

 

Some key highlights are:

  • over half a million social media timelines reached
  • 923 views of our ‘Be a councillor’ microsite
  • 400 people engaged with at various events
  • 20 people registered for more information on becoming a councillor
  • 65% of people who registered an interest met one or more of the target market characteristics.

 

Thank you again to those who helped to promote the campaign. If you'd like a copy of the full evaluation, please email communications@reigate-banstead.gov.uk .


Modern Slavery evaluation
 

Have you had a chance to read our Modern Slavery campaign evaluation yet? Over 900 pledges were made! 


Cllr Durrant has shared the evaluation of the modern slavery campaign with all Councillors. The campaign significantly raised awareness among our residents of this vital issue, with over 900 pledging to look out for the signs, and thousands engaging with our social media posts and website pages. Evidence is even pointing towards some slight increases in reporting during the period of the campaign. What’s more, the LGA are publishing a case study of the campaign as an exemplar for other Councils, and the evaluation as an example of good practice.

You can find more information in the full evaluation. If you need another copy of the evaluation, please email katherine.lloyd@reigate-banstead.gov.uk 

Please continue to raise awareness of the issue of modern slavery with your constituents.


Celebrating #OurDay
 

On 20 November 2018 we took part in OurDay, an annual 24 hour social media marathon led by the Local Government Association (LGA) to highlight the people and services within the public sector.


On 20 November 2018 we took part in OurDay, an annual 24 hour social media marathon led by the Local Government Association to highlight the people and services in the public sector.

Throughout the day we shared information on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram about the breadth and variety of our services, including focusing on topics residents tell us matter most to them (via the residents’ survey).

We posted over 50 times throughout the day (compared to three times on a typical day), using photos, videos and infographics plus a little humour here and there  to make the posts engaging.

OurDay was the top trending topic in the UK on Twitter that day (4th worldwide) and our posts reached 646k Twitter feeds and 6.6k Facebook timelines.

Engagement levels were good, with our posts achieving 387 likes, 131 retweets/shares and 108 link clicks, alongside us receiving messages of support from the local community and local and national influencers (such as Crimestoppers, Citizens Advice  and the New Local Government Network).

You can view a Twitter Moment with highlights from the day here clicking this link. A full evaluation will be shared via the e-members newsletter soon. 


Star for a Night
 

The communications focus so far has been on the casting event at the end of January, initially mentioned in the September Borough News and with a push on social media to reach local families and young people themselves. 


The communications focus so far has been on the casting event at the end of January, initially mentioned in the September Borough News and with a push on social media to reach local families and young people themselves. Leaflets, web content plus outreach to schools and theatre groups complemented this resulting in over 100 young people coming to the casting. They are all expected to take part in the rehearsals and show. Please encourage local families, music and theatre fans to support our young performers by buying a ticket and coming to watch the show on 10 or 11 April.


In the news
Call for Mayor’s Volunteer Awards nominees

Please share our call for nominations for the Volunteer Awards.


Please share our call for nominations for the Volunteer Awards. We have publicised this already to local media, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn  to encourage entries, . Please share with your networks and contacts or make a nomination yourself. 


Place shapers
News releases on key planning policy and regeneration projects were shared

Coverage in Planning Resource, a key trade publication for planners promoted the council’s role in planning policy and regeneration projects and the benefits that will result from them. The release and coverage discussed progress on the demolition of outdated flats and shops at Cromwell Road to provide discounted homes, the revamp of Horley High Street and the council’s response to the Planning Inspector’s initial findings on our Development Management Plan.


Hot topics
My Reigate & Banstead accounts are now live!

Residents and local businesses can now sign up for a My Reigate&Banstead account on our website. The accounts have been created to give residents quicker and easier access to a range of Council services, all in one place.


Please encourage residents and local businesses to sign up for a My Reigate&Banstead account on our website. The accounts have been created to give residents quicker and easier access to a range of Council services, all in one place. Through the account they can book activities and appointments, make requests, report issues and make payments. They can also track the progress of reports and applications they have made, and forms are pre-filled with their details, making them quicker to fill out. There are already a wide range of services available through the accounts, and many more will be added over the coming months – Garden Waste is the next on the list.

Please let your constituents know about this great new service, and sign up for an account yourself!


Promoting our value for money

Our Borough News main feature and annual council tax leaflet aim to increase awareness among residents of the breadth of services the Council provides


Our Borough News main feature and annual council tax leaflet aim to increase awareness among residents of the breadth of services the Council provides for its 12% share of the annual council tax bill and how we are doing ever more with less money. Both go to every home in the borough. This will be supported with social media activity in March to coincide with annual billing, which we’d like councillors to share to increase reach. You can see the leaflet on the website here: 


Coming up
What's coming up in March...
 

Coming up...

Our annual campaign to promote voter registrations began on 11 March, complementing the national campaign by the Electoral Commission.

 

Look out for the spring issue of Borough News in the week beginning 11 March. The cover and centre pages feature a local family at one of our recently revamped playgrounds. Inside are features on community safety, election day and giving value for money for council tax.

 

The brand new Reigate & Banstead Business Awards have opened for nominations in March. We’ll be supporting our colleagues in Economic Prosperity to promote the awards and ticket sales.

 


Coming up…

Look out for the spring issue of Borough News in the week beginning 11 March. The cover and centre pages feature a local family at one of our recently revamped playgrounds. Inside are features on community safety, election day and giving value for money for council tax. The brand new Reigate & Banstead Business Awards have opened for nominations in March. We’ll be supporting our colleagues in Economic Prosperity to promote the awards and ticket sales.

 

Our annual campaign to promote voter registrations begins on 11 March, complementing the national campaign by the Electoral Commission. The messages will target residents who are not yet registered, have recently moved or just turned 18, as well as important deadlines for postal and proxy vote applications. We will also be asking residents to look out for their letter from us telling them who is registered to vote in their household and where to go to vote, as it may have changed as a result of the recent ward boundary review. The campaign will include media relations, social media activity a feature in Borough News, website content and in insert with the council tax bill, among others. Your support in sharing these important messages would be appreciated.

 

The brand new Reigate & Banstead Business Awards have opened for nominations in March. We’ll be supporting our colleagues in Economic Prosperity to promote the awards and ticket sales.