Communication Update
To receive a communications update.
Contact: Helen Jakes, Senior Communications Officer.
Helen Rose, Dewsbury Town Board Member.
Decision:
RESOLVED:
1) That the Communication Update be noted.
2) That £12,500 be allocated to the Working Group in relation to communications around the town centre and to report back to the Board.
Minutes:
Helen Jakes, Senior Communications Officer, provided an update regarding visible communications in the Town Centre. The hoardings around the Arcade gave detailed information about the Arcade project and further information on the plans for Dewsbury Town Centre. Signage referencing the Board was visible from the Ring Road on the side of Field House. The issue of Dewsbury being multi-lingual had been addressed through translators available at in-person engagement events, and options for written communications in multiple languages were being considered. Anum Rehman agreed to meet with Helen Jakes to discuss translation of communication into languages commonly spoken in the community.
Helen Rose, Vice Principal of Kirklees College, advised the Board that a Town Board Working Group had met to provide a focus on communications. Ms Rose advised that a final report would be received from Counter Context and the website was making progress. The key message from the working group was that Board Members engaging with and sharing content on social media about the projects would be beneficial.
Ms Jakes informed the Board that there was the opportunity to increase physical communication activity in the town centre and provided a number of options with associated costs. The Board agreed to allocate a budget of up to £12,500, and asked that a proposal from the Town Board Working Group be provided by the 6th February.
Ms Jakes noted that communications from December 2024 to March 2025 would include the following:
· The relocation of the bandstand to Crow Nest park.
· The visit from Kirklees College’s new skills village, ‘Kirklees Build’, to the arcade.
· The installation of planter signage.
· A construction update on the Dewsbury Arcade, highlighting the local business working on the glass roof.
· Details of the Dewsbury Market decant, how this will work within the town centre and for traders.
· Supporting the Arcade Group in seeking new traders.
RESOLVED:
1) That the Communication Update be noted.
2) That £12,500 be allocated to the Town Board Working Group in relation to communications around the town centre and to report back to the Board.