The council is to create a senior communications post and three media relations positions. It will also launch a magazine for residents and a quarterly newsletter.
Kingston currently has only two PROs, but has not yet finalised the details of the new posts. The moves come in response to a report written for the council by Marina Pirotta Communications, brought in after the Audit Commission had criticised Kingston’s communications in last year’s Comprehensive Performance Assessment report (PRWeek, 4 June).
Kingston press and PR officer Jack Taylor said: ‘Prioritising work when under-resourced has meant we have primarily responded to queries and have been unable to punch our weight as a council.’