Magazine a cost-effective way of communicating

Published: 14 January, 2011

• WE value the views of our local residents and work hard to listen to them and take on board their views (Advice from a banker, Letters January 7). 

We’re not so arrogant to assume that we have all the answers and that is why it’s important to ask local people for their thoughts as to how we could run services better and more effectively. 

So it’s a great shame that Councillor Paul Dimoldenberg has sought to exploit the view of one local resident quoted in the Christmas edition of the Westminster Reporter by making it the subject of a letter to criticise the council with. 

Indeed, we believe that he should apologise to the gentleman concerned for doing so.

With regards to the wider points about the Westminster Reporter, I would like to reassure your readers that the magazine is under constant review. However, the overwhelming majority of our residents consistently tell us that the Reporter is a good and valued product. 

Indeed, for many residents, particularly poorer families and the elderly, it is their primary source of information on council services. Moreover, if we did not have hard evidence that it was a cost-effective way of communicating key services to our residents, we would not produce it. As for Westminster’s communications department, like all departments at the council there are cuts being made and it has, and will continue to generate savings for local taxpayers. 

However, despite Cllr Dimoldenberg’s repeated criticisms, he is on record as publicly praising it as “probably the best communications operation in local government”.

CLLR COLIN BARROW,
Leader, Westminster 
City Council