Public relations staff numbers and spend

1. How many people does the council currently employ in communications, press office and/or public relations positions?

24.64 Full time employee positions

2. What was the total annual spend by the council on public relations, press office and communications for the calendar year of 2018?

The actual expenditure for the 17/18 financial year (1st April 2017 to 31st March 2018) incurred by the central Communications Team was £907,481

3. Does the council use any external organisations to handle communications or public relations? If so, which companies are used and how much did the council spend on these services in 2018? 

Within Devon County Council we do not use external organisations to handle communications or public relations. However, external organisations are occasionally engaged to support specific funded projects and campaigns – including, for example, recruitment to hard-to-fill vacancies. Although this means elements of project or service spend may sometimes relate to the handling of communications or public relations, we do not hold this information.