Royal Borough Website Welcomes Advertisers

The Royal Borough will accept paid-for advertisements on its website from June in a move to provide additional income for the Council without placing the burden on council taxpayers.

As this is a new activity for the Council a website advertising policy has been drawn up and was approved at Cabinet.

The policy’s guidelines will ensure adverts adhere to strict standards including relevant legislation, regulation and codes of practice. Adverts will be unobtrusive and certain adverts will not be accepted, for example pornographic services, ‘get rich quick’ schemes, tobacco or alcohol.

Local businesses can benefit as the Council will, where possible, seek to give preference in positioning or a discount to businesses whose headquarters or base of operation is in the Royal Borough.

Long established on private sector websites, online advertising is becoming a welcome source of revenue for councils around the country.

The move poses no financial risk to the Council as advertising will be sold by an independent advertising agency on a commission basis. However, a cabinet member will be tasked with vetting and approving each advert to ensure it adheres to the strict standards and the Council will retain sole discretion on which adverts it accepts.

Anthony Kemp, Strategic Director of Resources, said: “Offering website advertising means the Council can generate income and continue to deliver excellent services without increasing the financial burden on Royal Borough residents.”

The Royal Borough website is visited by about 30,000 users per week. Will you be tempted to advertise there?