Advertising on Worcestershire libraries and bus stops to make money for council
He said adverts won’t include tobacco or vapes
Advertising space in libraries and on bus shelters will be used to raise money for Worcestershire County Council.
Worcestershire County Council’s cabinet approved an advertising and sponsorship policy at a meeting on Thursday (September 24).
Deputy leader Adam Kent said: “This opens up our assets to bring in income, keeping clear lines as to what we will not carry in terms of advertising.”
He said the day-to-day decisions will sit with officers and that the plan “does not guarantee income”.
Cllr Kent, the cabinet member for finance, corporate services and business, said the council may work with outside partners to monetise its assets, saying: “We don’t have many sales people in the council.”
He said adverts won’t include tobacco or vapes, other than in public health campaigns, or gambling apart from the National Lottery.
There will be no payday loans, “less health food and drink” as defined by the government or sexually explicit material either.
Everything else will be judged on its merits, said Cllr Kent.
Josh Robinson, cabinet member for environment and communities, told fellow cabinet members: “It’s up to us to make this work within our portfolios.
“Let’s use this as an opportunity to get extra income into the council.”
Reform’s Justin Bowen said it was a “practical, solid policy” and suggested using Tenbury Wells library, which he said is being developed into a community hub, as a test case to try it out in practice.