Issue - meetings

The report of the Monitoring Officer is attached.

It was RESOLVED that Cabinet recommends that Council endorses and supports the Local Government Association (LGA) campaign by signing the online LGA Debate not Hate public statement.

The Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Transformation, Leisure and Wellbeing, Councillor J Wheeler, presented the report of the Monitoring Officer, which set out the Local Government Association’s Debate Not Hate Campaign.

Councillor Wheeler stated that the purpose of the campaign was not only to highlight the issue of abuse being directed towards councillors but to propose measures to help combat the abuse and to put in place more support.  Councillor Wheeler considered that this would be a benefit for councillors and provide support for future candidates, who might be put off standing for election at all levels after seeing abuse taking place without any consequences and referred to the hard work of officers in supporting councillors, which was appreciated.

In seconding the recommendation, Councillor Inglis stated that it was pleasing that this widespread problem had been researched and challenged by the Local Government Association with this campaign statement aimed at protecting all councillors from unacceptable behaviour.  Such behaviour was widespread from extreme instances such as the murder of MPs, to snide comments and personal attacks, particularly on social media platforms.  The suggestion of a specialist single point of contact should be investigated, and Councillor Inglis was confident that locally there was already excellent Police support in place, if required.  Cabinet was reminded that fortunately concerns were at the lower end of the scale in Rushcliffe; although that should not make anyone complacent.  Councillor Inglis concluded by imploring social media site providers to follow this example.

Councillor Upton stated that it was great to share different opinions and have a democracy to express them without becoming abusive, and it was hoped that this campaign would help, as overall things appeared to be getting worse, which was a shame.

It was RESOLVED that Cabinet recommends that Council endorses and supports the Local Government Association (LGA) campaign by signing the online LGA Debate not Hate public statement.