Council denies claims it has 27 press officers

Media blog Press Gazette published details of the communications worker numbers of more than 400 councils following a Freedom of Information request which revealed they had 3,400 communications staff between them.

Times reporter Andrew Norfolk was quoted as saying Rotherham’s figure was “staggering”, adding: “That's a mini PR empire but in my experience they’ve not always been particularly eager to answer questions from the press.”

Louise Casey’s report in February on the state of the council, which branded it “not fit for puprpose”, said that “both today and in the past, Rotherham has at times taken more care of its reputation than it has of its most needy”.  

But the authority hit back this week, outlining the different roles of staff in the department, including graphic designers, events managers and marketing assistants.

A spokeswoman said: “The communications and marketing team is made up of four smaller teams — this includes staff who manage the council’s website, officers who organise and manage local events such as the Rotherham Show, graphic designers, marketing staff, and communications and media officers.  

“Between them they cover a broad range of activity, and support services across the council, as well as local partnerships.”

The council has four full-time and one part-time communications officers, including one responsible for internal PR, plus an overall head of communications and marketing.

The marketing and creative team includes a manager, a team leader, an officer and an assistant, plus a part-time marketing and business assistant working for the Civic Theatre, a creative team leader and four creative officers.

Online services employ a manager and team leader, plus a designer, and three full-time and one part-time content creators.

The events team contains an events manager, two officers, an assistant and a marketing assistant.