Department distributing notices (7)
I believe the answer is:
section
'department' is the definition.
(section can mean a department or area)
'distributing notices' is the wordplay.
'distributing' is an anagram indicator.
'notices' with letters rearranged gives 'SECTION'.
(Other definitions for section that I've seen before include "Part, subdivision" , "Distinct part" , "surgical procedure" , "Cut" , "Element" .)