Councillor wants more freedom of speech on Facebook

A new three-page policy warning town councillors about what they can and can’t post on social media is to have its wording changed to allow for greater freedom of speech on their personal accounts.

Welshpool Town Council is implementing a social media policy that will provide guidance to town councillors when they are communicating online.

Such policies are the norm for public office, but the wording regarding the inclusion of councillors’ private social media accounts was a cause for concern for Cllr Billy Spencer.

He said councillors, who are volunteers, should not be hamstrung on the opinions they can air on their own accounts, providing that it didn’t bring the council into disrepute.

“It’s a good policy and important,” said Cllr Spencer. “I totally get that councillors have got to be held to account if they put the council in jeopardy at all. But what a councillor puts on their personal page with their personal friends and family is entirely up to that councillor and (it’s) freedom of speech.”

The policy stated: ‘All councillors and staff are expected to comply with this policy at all times to protect the reputation, privacy, confidentiality, and interests of the council, its services, employees and the community.

‘Individual councillors and council staff are responsible for what they post, both in a council and personal capacity.’

But Cllr Spencer (pictured) wanted the reference to ‘personal capacity’ removed to allow councillors to express themselves on their own personal accounts. He pointed out that he had two Facebook pages, one for council business and one for private friends and family.

But Town Mayor, Cllr Phil Owen, warned: “If we are going to give councillors greater freedom to speak on their own platforms, there needs to be a specific understanding they are doing that as an individual and they are individually responsible and liable for what they say.”

While Cllr Morag Bailey agreed that the wording could be changed, she also warned: “You can’t get away from the fact that even if it is on your personal page, you are still a councillor and you can put things that will put the council into disrepute.

“It is not policing what you put on but, once you are a councillor, you have to act accordingly because it is a leadership role and you are supposed to act by leading from the front. That applies to your personal social media too. It’s just about being careful.”

Councillors agreed that the wording should change to: ‘Individual councillors and council staff are responsible for what they post, both in a council and personal capacity, to do with Town Council and not bring the town council into disrepute.’