A Green Read

Rochford District Council is putting forward, for members approval, a Social Media Policy for Councillors at the next Full Council meeting on 12 December. At first sight this might seem uncontentious, Councillors should abide by a Policy as should any member of an organisation, however when reading it carefully it appears to put a great many restrictions on what Councillors can say.

The following paragraph at first seems acceptable until you pick it apart, I have underlined the problem areas.

Don’t • use social media in any way to attack, insult, abuse, defame or otherwise make negative , offensive or discriminatory comments about council staff, service users, their family or friends, colleagues, other professionals, other organisations, or the council

It includes a statement which means a Councillor cannot make a negative comment about the Council or other organisations. If I as a Councillor cannot make negative comments about the Council…