AGENDA ITEM

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COUNCIL DATE: SUBJECT: 16TH JULY 2013 STANDARDS REGIME/MEMBERS CODE OF CONDUCT HEAD OF POLICY AND PERFORMANCE STANDARDS COMMITTEE EUNICE LEWIS 01582 547149

REPORT BY:

CONTACT OFFICER: IMPLICATIONS: LEGAL EQUALITIES FINANCIAL STAFFING

COMMUNITY SAFETY ENVIRONMENT CONSULTATIONS OTHER

WARDS AFFECTED: NONE

PURPOSE 1. The purpose of this report is to refer to the Council the recommendation (s) of the Standards Committee.

RECOMMENDATION(S) 2. That the Council be recommended to ensure that elected Members, whilst attending Council meetings, be cautious and sensitive regarding the content of their tweets or access to social media networks; as the content could bring the Council and its elected Members into disrepute.

REPORT 3. At its meeting on 12th June 2013, the Standards Committee considered an oral report of the Monitoring Officer on the new Standards Regime and Members Code of Conduct. There was a general consensus by Members of the Committee that the content of tweets by elected Members could bring the Council and its elected Members into disrepute especially with regards to exempt information and also 247

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other sensitive matters discussed at a Council meeting; Members further questioned whether the use of social media during Council meeting was covered in the New Code of Conduct for Members and whether Members should be requested to sign the New Code. 5. Members also suggested that the Mayor at the commencement of a Council meeting be requested to make an announcement to ensure that all mobile phones were switched off and to ensure that elected Members and members of the public refrain from social media access whilst a Council meeting was in progress. Following consideration of the matter and members concerns about the conduct of some elected Members regarding the use of mobile phones and access to social media networks including tweeting whilst a Council meeting was in progress, the Standards Committee resolved as follows: That the Council be recommended to ensure that elected Members, whilst attending Council meetings, be cautious and sensitive regarding the content of their tweets or access to social media networks; as the content could bring the Council and its elected Members into disrepute. LEGAL IMPLICATIONS 7. The art of twitting or accessing social media sites would unlikely in itself amount to a breach of the code of conduct for Members. The content of the twit or the material published on social media sites may however amount to a breach of the code. This was agreed with David Watson, Principal Solicitor in Legal Services on 4th July 2013.

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FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS 8. There are no financial implications to this report and this was agreed with the Head of Corporate Finance on 8th July 2013.

PROPOSAL/OPTION 9. That the Council receive the Recommendations of the Standards Committee from their meeting on 12th June 2013.

LIST OF BACKGROUND PAPERS LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACT 1972, SECTION 100D Standards Committee Minute No. SC/08/13

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