Alex Aiken | Council Sharp Shooter

Alex Aiken is director of comms and strategy at Westminster City Council

Alex Aiken: Memo to the new leader - the communication challenges we face

Some heads of communication will need to start looking for new jobs after the local elections. After every election the new political leaderships demand change, in policy, from services and in communications. Many communicators fail to adapt to chang...

Alex Aiken: Local health service comms has been 'dreadful'

The debates are done, the concessions made and the Health Bill has become law. Alongside the Localism Act this legislation is a significant milestone in the work of the governing coalition and will shape the future of public service communications f...

Alex Aiken: Localism campaigns can offer councils social capital

'Love is all around' was nominated as one of the worst songs of the 1990s, yet the Localism Act appears to rekindle this sentiment in council communications.

Polly Rance: Communicating cuts to services is a huge comms challenge

Alex Aiken from Westminster City Council wrote recently in PRWeek that pressures on council tax would prove a reputation test for many local authorities as they consider whether they have enough goodwill in the bank to raise the rates.

Alex Aiken: Why your local council might be kicking you in the teeth this year

The Government has set councils a little reputation test for 2012. They have been offered a one-off payment to freeze council tax. Surely a no-brainer to accept?

John Shewell: Yes We Can!

Barack Obama clearly understood the power of communications and pioneered the use of social media in political campaigning to harness the goodwill of people and create a movement based on a simple story - change.

Alex Aiken: It is time to make digital communications central to campaign objectives

The news that the Department for Communities is to 'go digital' should focus all public service communicators on the strategic use of e-communications.

Alex Aiken: resisting the winter blues

Since the snow in January, the reputation of local public services has been improving.

Alex Aiken: Where have all the heads of communication gone?

The news that Leicestershire County Council will abolish its head of communications post marks the latest evidence of a worrying trend to downgrade the top PR role in local government.

Alex Aiken: Shared service activity should exemplify the age of austerity

This week Kensington, Hammersmith and Westminster councils launched their joint 'Summer in the City' initiative.

Alex Aiken: Death of COI reflects post-bureaucratic age

So, it's farewell then to the COI.

Alex Aiken: If you don't change, PR will end up working in HR

The human resources trade was described by a leading recruitment consultant as 'the evil empire' last week at the annual local government communications conference.

Alex Aiken: Public service comms is in the doldrums

One year on from the election of a new government, public service communications is in the doldrums.

Alex Aiken: The messages on reform must improve

This is the most exciting time to work in public service for a generation. The pace of reform and the scale of budget reductions require brilliant leadership, first class management and exceptional communications from district councils to Downing Str...

Alex Aiken: Oliver Letwin's comments on nudge unit are 'dispiriting'

Few PR managers would survive telling a council scrutiny committee that they doubted whether their work 'will have any effect whatsoever'. You'd expect that swift budget cuts and fundamental change would follow.

Alex Aiken: public fed-up of rows between central and local government

The new national LGInsight poll on council reputation offers some stark warnings and new opportunities for local and central government communicators.

Alex Aiken: My five challenges for public sector comms in 2011

2011 has started badly for public service. It appears that many local authorities are rubbish at collecting rubbish and the police and health service have faced significant criticism for their communication of a range of issues.

Alex Aiken: Localism bill will strengthen the importance of PR

The expected Localism Bill will mark a step change in the way that councils communicate. The proposed legislation should strengthen the importance of public relations as a tool to engage local people but only if local authorities understand their new...

Alex Aiken: follow Alastair Campbell and shape your council's strategy

Alastair Campbell endorsed the government's approach to spending cuts this week. He was careful not to endorse the policies, but argued that the Coalition's ability to frame the debate gave them a critical strategic advantage in the battle for public...

Alex Aiken: ten ways to economise during the age of austerity

It's inevitable reductions in budget will flow from the Comprehensive Spending Review. Every PR manager must now consider how they will economise during the coming age of austerity. My checklist for doing so is as follows.