STAFFING costs at Stoke-on-Trent City Council's press office have rocketed in the past two years.

The department has gone from being staffed by three officers to having its own head of department and a team of six press and publicity officers. Four of the staff deal with routine internal and external communications and press inquiries, while two are currently engaged in special projects, including the ongoing city-wide consultation and awareness campaign ahead of the governance referendum later this year. A further appointment of a new press office manager is expected to be completed within weeks.