At the Scrutiny Committee meeting on 9 September 2025, the Committee requested an update on the Council owned noticeboards. Tom Hook, Deputy Chief Executive will be in attendance to present the report and answer questions.

The Committee is asked to consider the report and agree any recommendations.

At the Scrutiny Committee meeting on 9 September 2025, the Committee requested an update on the Council owned noticeboards. The Cabinet Member for Citizen Focussed Services and Council Companies, the Deputy Chief Executive for City and Citizens, and the Director of Communities and Citizens' Services were present to respond to questions.  

Councillor Chapman introduced the update report by noting its connection to the Citizen Engagement Strategy. The Committee heard that the report takes a practical approach to assessing the variable maintenance situations and uses of noticeboards across the city and suggests how they can be used most effectively in the future. The Committee were asked to consider the proposals within the report.  

The Deputy Chief Executive for City and Citizens reiterated that the report reflects a mixed picture across city and contained options for the Committee to consider.  

Councillor Miles noted her thanks for the report and expressed a preference for valuable work with noticeboards to be maintained within the city. On this basis, it was asked what the procurement procedure and funding sources would be, and whether this could be standardised. Councillor Miles suggested that the Committee could consider the allocation of free space on noticeboards to allow residents to post their own leaflets, without the control the relevant organising body. Finally, it was asked how new locations for more noticeboards could be identified. 

 
Councillor Taylor queried whether the Council had considered engaging with shops and small businesses to put noticeboards within their premises.  

Councillor Chapman recommended that the most efficient provider for noticeboards is ODS, and the Committee heard of his experience with the installation and costs of this. It was noted that this could provide consistency across the city, as suggested by Councillor Miles. Councillor Chapman suggested that ODS be used in place of multiple varied suppliers. In respect of key control, Councillor Chapman noted strengths and weaknesses to centralised control of noticeboards and recommended that the Committee consider this.  

The Deputy Chief Executive for City and Citizens Services clarified that the noticeboard costings included within the report were on the basis of ODS undertaking the work.   

Councillor Qayyum expressed her view that the Council should be involved in the provision and management of noticeboards around the city.  

Councillor Ottino queried what permissions are needed to put up a new noticeboard and requested that relevant guidelines for councillors be made available.  

Councillor Chapman and the Deputy Chief Executive for City and Citizens explained that formal planning permission is not usually required, but in some instances, the permission of the landowner may be necessary; this should be assessed on a case-by-case basis.  

 
Councillor Miles noted concern and her experience with planning permission disputes relating to noticeboards and requested that councillors be provided with some definitive guidance.  

 
The Deputy Chief Executive for City and Citizens suggested that the Committee may wish to make this as a recommendation, with consideration for the budget review group report later in the meeting.  

The Chair invited the Committee to consider possible recommendations. 

The Committee resolved to add to the recommendations of the Budget Review Group: 

• To proceed with Option 3 (Continue with noticeboards, with City Council actively managing and operating the boards) as the preferred approach for the management and maintenance of community noticeboards costed at £75,000 one-off capital investment for the resurvey, installation, replacement or repair of noticeboards, and an annual budget of £35k for ongoing management and maintenance. In implementing this, existing arrangements led by parish councils or neighbourhood association should not be discouraged nor discontinued. Should Option 3 not be achievable due to budgetary constraints, it is recommended that no further action is taken (Option 1).  

Further to this, the Committee resolved to recommend to Cabinet: 

• Subject to the agreement that the Council will commit to actively managing and operating the noticeboards as proposed in the budget review process, that clear guidelines are developed for the use of noticeboards, including how new items and updates are managed, and the responsibilities of key holders.  

The Chair thanked the officers.