The cost of producing a council magazine is to be halved in response to new rules.
The frequency of the magazine – City News – is to change too to quarterly from ten times a year.
And the format will be slightly smaller than the existing A4 publication although the number of pages in each issue will rise from 16 to 24.
While Brighton and Hove City Council said that it would spend less producing City News, it did not say whether the magazine’s staffing costs would be any different.
The council said: “The new-look City News is more like a magazine than a newspaper and contains features, reference information, contact details and an events diary.
“It also helps us to consult residents on issues facing the city before we make decisions.”
The council’s cabinet member for central services, Councillor Trevor Alford, said: “The redesign has been carried out by existing staff at no extra cost.
“The new format makes the publication better value for money and helps the council to prepare for new government regulations, expected to come into force next year, which would restrict local authorities to bringing out quarterly publications.
“As a result of these changes, over the coming year we will halve the money spent on producing City News.”
Deadlines are six to eight weeks in advance of publication.
The next issue – the December 2010 – January 2011 edition – is due to be distributed in the coming week.
It will be delivered to more than 100,000 homes as well as libraries, Brighton and Hove town halls, housing offices and the Brighton Centre.
I could save even more money by scrapping it altogether. It contains nothing useful and is only the council boasting about its “achievements”.