Highland Council holds first Facebook Chat event

The Highland Council would like to thank the public for their participation in the first in a series of monthly Facebook Chats held on Tues 24 February between 6 and 7pm on the Highland Council facebook page.

The chat was seen by nearly 10,000 people and 100 questions were asked. There were 2000 post clicks and 317 likes, comments and shares as people engaged directly with the event.

Highland Council Waste Management Officer, Imogen Percy-Bell joined the chat to answer  people’s questions on recycling and waste. Popular question topics featured kerbside glass collections, brown bins, food waste and recycling plastics. Imogen did her best to answer all the questions within the hour and undertook to follow up some of the enquiries. Officers and Members have also been reviewing the comments and questions with interest.

Imogen spoke of her experience: “I really enjoyed last night, it was fast and furious and a great way to get information about recycling direct to the public.  To reach so many people so quickly was fantastic!  I would be very interested in doing it again. All services should get involved in future as it is a great way to get direct dialogue between the Council and the public.”

Cllr Graham MacKenzie, Chairperson of the Community Services Committee, said: “ I am delighted to see this level of engagement from the public and so much interest in  something as important to us all as recycling. I am very grateful to Imogen for her part in this.”

The facebook chats are part of the Council’s corporate communications strategy to further develop the Council’s use of social media, focusing in particular on the facebook page which has grown in followers from 1,400 to over 7,500 in just 6 months.

Followers have expressed an interest in future chats on housing, reducing energy, benefits and trading standards. A schedule of chats will be planned over the coming months.

Chair of Community Safety, Public Engagement and Equalities Committee, Angela Maclean added: “This is an excellent new way for the council to engage in dialogue with the public in a format that is convenient to them.  I would encourage other Highland Council departments to become involved in future Facebook Chat events so that we can really connect with the public and listen to what matters to them.”

Highland Council is planning further Facebook chats in March on the topics of Housing and Trading Standards. Dates will be advertised on the Highland Council Facebook page : www.facebook.com/highlandcouncil