Agenda item

The Leader proposed the following motion on notice:

This Council notes the Local Government Association are calling for support from organisations to sign the Debate Not Hate public statement, aiming to address the rise in abusive and intimidating behaviour directed at local politicians.

This Council acknowledges the findings of this report, principally that 88% of the locally elected representatives who responded to the LGA’s survey have faced abuse and intimidation in the last 12 months. 73% said they have experienced it over social media where it seems to be becoming increasingly normalised and 64% said they have experienced it in person.

The Council understands this can have a significant impact on the health and wellbeing of our Members and their families and we should be taking steps to ensure elected representatives feel safe and secure in their own communities.

By signing up to the Debate Not Hate public statement, The Council will lend its support to the LGA’s recommendations, one of which is that the relevant Government department should convene a working group, in partnership with the LGA, to bring together agencies to develop and implement an action plan to address the issue of abuse.

I invite Councillors to share any experiences they have had and lend their support to Debate Not Hate

Councillor Goldspink seconded the motion and she said that it was a very important motion. She added that it was important as Members, to be able to express feelings but in a courteous and respectful manner. She wanted to support the proposal made by the LGA and felt that all seven recommendations be supported and made available with the Minutes of this meeting.

The Executive Member for Wellbeing said that he was aware of the pressures on Members and Officers and that Members  were now more accessible  through social media and as such had more direct contract with residents who perhaps might say things which they might not in a face to face situation. He felt that people should be encouraged to speak in an appropriate manner.

Councillor Crofton said that he had not experienced any anger or abuse but had had nothing but “kindness and love”.

Councillor Dumont said that he had not experienced any abuse as a Councillor but was concerned about the abuse on Parish Councillors, who were volunteers.

Councillors Symonds said that some years ago someone had written to her about bomb making instructions and said that “someone was coming to get me”.

Councillor Boylan reminded Members that over the last few years, two Parish Councils were almost wiped out because of abuse from one councillor to another. He said that Members were here to be held to account but that they needed to be respectful to one another. He explained that abusive behaviour might put off future volunteers from standing on Parish Councils.

Councillor Curtis supported the motion. He said he had received several comments over the years and comments about taking “backhanders” about councillors working with developers. He supported the LGAs action.

Councillor Jones supported the motion adding that he regularly suffered social media abuse on a daily basis.  He said that it affected his family, but he had learned to live with it.

Councillor Stowe said he had suffered some online abuse and by a Police Officer. He urged Members not to respond but accepted that it was hard not to respond to online comments.

Councillor Haysey said that her approach to any abusive emails was to ask the person to be polite in order for her to help them. She added that Members and Officers had a right to courtesy and privacy and staff needed to know that they would be supported when it happened.  She said that the message should be that the Council would not allow this behaviour from  residents. 

Councillor Deering strongly associated himself with Councillor Haysey’s comments. He said that he could not understand why some residents were so abusive to Officers who should know that they are supported.  

The motion to support the recommendation having been proposed by Councillor Haysey and seconded by Councillor Goldspink was put to the meeting and declared CARRIED.

          RESOLVED – that

This Council notes the Local Government Association are calling for support from organisations to sign the Debate Not Hate public statement, aiming to address the rise in abusive and intimidating behaviour directed at local politicians.

This Council acknowledges the findings of this report, principally that  88% of the locally elected representatives who responded to the LGA’s survey have faced abuse and intimidation in the last 12 months. 73% said they have experienced it over social media where it seems to be becoming increasingly normalised and 64% said they have experienced it in person.

The Council understands this can have a significant impact on the health and wellbeing of our Members and their families and we should be taking steps to ensure elected representatives feel safe and secure in their own communities.

By signing up to the Debate Not Hate public statement, The Council will lend its support to the LGA’s recommendations, one of which is that the relevant Government department should convene a working group, in partnership with the LGA, to bring together agencies to develop and implement an action plan to address the issue of abuse.

As requested by Councillor Goldspink at the meeting the LGA recommendations are as listed below.

Recommendation 1: Councils and other relevant partners should take greater responsibility for the safety and wellbeing of councillors and take a proactive approach to preventing and handling abuse and intimidation against councillors. This should include addressing the impacts of abuse on councillors’ mental health and wellbeing and working in partnership with other agencies and councils to ensure that threats and risks to councillors’ safety, and that of their families, are taken seriously.

Recommendation 2: The LGA should continue to gather and disseminate good practice from across the sector, consider what more can be done to prevent abuse and intimidation of councillors through the Civility in public life programme, and support councils and councillors when these incidents occur.

Recommendation 3: Police forces should work to improve the consistency of responses to abuse of and threats made against councillors and take a risk-based approach that accounts for the specific risks that councillors face, as they do with other high-risk individuals, such as MPs. This should include identifying best practice in relation to councillor support and safety and sharing it across the country.

Recommendation 4: The Government should prioritise legislation to put it beyond doubt that councillors can withhold their home address from the public register of pecuniary interests.

Recommendation 5: The LGA should work with political parties, election and democratic officers, and organisations responsible for guidance to raise awareness of the options currently available and promote the practice of keeping home addresses private during the election process and once elected.

Recommendation 6: Social media companies and internet service providers should acknowledge the democratic significance of local politicians and provide better and faster routes for councillors reporting abuse and misinformation online.

Recommendation 7: The relevant Government department should convene a working group, in partnership with the LGA, to bring together relevant agencies to develop and implement an action plan to address the issue of abuse of local politicians and their safety.