Members are not gagged say council

A parish council says it does not try and gag councillors after launching a new press and media policy.

Pinchbeck Parish Council members have been told they can’t speak to the press.

It comes after The Voice attempted to speak to councillors following the 130 per cent rise in council tax.

A copy of the press and media policy was then sent to the offices.

The policy states all media communications should come through the clerk and failing that by the deputy clerk, chair or vice chair.

The policy states: “Councillors should be aware that according to case law the role of councillor overrides the rights to act as an individual.”

The case law mentioned is not referenced in the policy.

The policy continues: “Councillors must therefore be careful about expressing individual views to the press or media whether they relate to matters of council businesses.

“While it may be legitimate for a councillor to make clear that he voted against a policy if this took place in an open session, councillors should not seek to undermine a decision through the press.”

The parish council’s vice chair, Richard Dobbs, said that as far as he was aware, the policy and its contents had been handed down from local authority bodies.

These include the National Authority of Local Councils and the Lincolnshire Association of Local Councils.

He said: “The parish council have to have these policies in place and it came up recently that we needed to create some including press and media policy and grievances.

“All the policies have to be reviewed and ratified by the full council.

“In all democratic societies that’s the case.

“Councillors with an issue should raise a complaint to the clerk so it can be put forward to full council meeting.

“We’re relatively happy we’ve got a good basic framework for the policy and if we’re not sure we will take further advice.”

All parish council meetings are open to the public and can be attended by all including the press.

The councils are also encouraged to have the agendas and minutes of their meetings on their website.

Just three agendas from mid 2017 are featured on Pinchbeck Parish Councli’s website.

The Voice asked Coun Dobbs if he could understand why councillors felt gagged if they opposed a council decision but felt they were unable to speak out about it.

Mr Dobbs said: “I can understand it but I can’t see there’s a problem.

“If someone has a problem they can table a motion with the council and I’m sure it will not go unheard.”