Agenda item

Report of the Head of Committee and Governance Services.

5.1       Toby Howes (Senior Committee and Governance Officer) introduced the report that included Social Media Guidelines for Members that had been adopted by Wycombe District Council. The Committee was then invited to comment on these guidelines and to consider whether the Council should adopt a similar set of guidelines.

5.2       Councillor Boothroyd began by asking what action may be taken if a Member was to breach the guidelines. He stated that there needed to be a distinction between a Member commenting as a councillor as opposed to speaking in a personal capacity, which was often difficult to separate. The issue was further complicated by the fact that officers sometimes used social media too and this could even involve interaction with Members. Councillor Boothroyd stated that councillors were also at risk of being goaded by other users on social media because of their elected representative status. He suggested that a guidance note for Members could be produced to explain how their conduct on social media may be interpreted by the Code of Conduct

5.3       Councillor McAllister commented that she did not use social media, but if she were to, she would do so in a straightforward manner. Councillor Rigby suggested that a simple ‘Do’s and Don’ts’ of using social media be produced for Member. He also emphasised the need for caution for Members when they used social media. Councillor Hyams welcomed Wycombe District Council’s social media guidelines for Members and felt that it addressed all the issues together in one document. She also felt there needed to be an important distinction between using social media as a councillor and as an individual. The issue of online taunting of councillors from anonymous users also needed to be looked at and the Code of Conduct should state clearly that Members may not create their own anonymous accounts.

5.4       Councillor Caplan stated that consideration should first be given as to whether the Council’s current Code of Conduct was sufficient to cover use of social media. Whilst Wycombe District Council’s guidelines made some useful clarifications, there were duplications contained within it and efforts should be made to ensure this did not occur in the Council’s own Code of Conduct. In his view, Councillor Caplan felt that the Code of Conduct did not distinguish between a Member acting as a councillor and in a personal capacity. He did not think that much needed to be added to the Code of Conduct in respect of use of social media, although he concurred that a simple set of rules would be useful.

5.5       Members noted the written comments submitted by Councillor Chalkley in which he stated that although the Wycombe District Council’s guidelines lacked clarity in some areas, it acted as an ideal starting point for the Council to produce its own guidelines.

5.6       Sir Stephen Lamport commented that a statement on social media could potentially remain in permanent public view and Members needed to be mindful of this and it was a vulnerable area for them. He felt there would be some merit in putting together some guidelines for Members on use of social media.

5.7       Hazel Best advised that there was also LGA guidance on use of social media for officers. She added that paragraphs 2.9 and 2.10 of the Council’s Code of Conduct emphasised the value of respect that Members needed to demonstrate and this could also apply to use of social media.

5.8       The Chairman noted that a number of other local authorities were looking into use of social media by Members. She acknowledged the difficulty in separating a Member’s comments on social media between that as a councillor and in a personal capacity. She emphasised the importance of ensuring that Members were aware of the seriousness of the situation if their conduct brought the Council into disrepute and this needed to be reinforced. The Committee agreed to her suggestion that further consideration be given to producing some guidelines on use of social media.

5.9       RESOLVED:

1.        That Wycombe District Council’s Social Media Guidelines for Members be noted.

2.        That further consideration be given to the Council producing its own social media guidelines for Members.