Agenda item

Report of the Director of Law and Governance

The Committee considered a report of the Director of Law and Governance which indicated that they had requested that Civility and Intimidation in Public Life remains part of the Committee’s Work Programme.

The Local Government Association  (LGA)  has been coordinating a  programme of work entitled ‘Civility in Public Life’ primarily aimed at:

·  articulating good standards for anyone engaging in public and political discourse

·  understanding the scale and impact of intimidation and abusive behaviour on membership organisations, and develop recommendations for achieving positive debate and public decision-making on a local level

·  supporting LGA members and all democratically elected local representatives in addressing intimidation and abuse, so they deliver the best on behalf of their communities

Improving digital citizenship is a key element of the LGA’s civility in public life work and is becoming increasingly important as our daily interactions continue to take place online and new technologies of information are constantly used to facilitate communication with citizens, officers and councillors. Online abuse and intimidation of local councillors and supporting officers working with them is a major challenge to local democracy and to the diversity of our local representatives.

The LGA has published a Councillors guide to handling intimidation that provides practical steps that elected members and the Council can take to protect persons in public position.

Before the Covid pandemic a piece of work was being undertaken, sponsored by the Cabinet Member for Policing and Equalities, on the Consultation outcome that  looked at challenges for City Council elected members and how to support participation in public service. More recently this work has been picked up in the review of the offer to elected members around member support as a result of a different emerging landscape for elected members to operate in post Covid.

A consultation “Leader of our Communities – can we improve our service” was sent to all Members. Overall, there were 31 responses received to the survey out of a possible total of 54. Responses from the consultation included experiences of intimidation and what support would help in managing or preventing such situations. These consultation responses have been evaluated and are informing a targeted approach to supporting Members in this area. One part of the proposed response being to raise awareness of the LGA guidance on intimidation and harassment alongside additional local protocol and guidance. Further actions being considered include a review of the social media policy to include responses to online harassment.

Civility in public life is also supported thought adherence to the requirements of the Code of Conduct for Elected and Co-opted Members in treating others with respect. This is enhanced in the new model code of conduct that the LGA is proposing to be adopted at its board meeting in December and which the Committee will be considering.

RESOLVED that the Ethics Committee:-

1.  Notes the work that has been undertaken by the LGA in promoting civility in public life

2.  Support the work that is taking place locally to adopt civility in public life

3.  Requests that this item remains on the work programme of the Ethics Committee for continued review.