Issue - meetings

Recommendation:

That the Executive take a proportionate and scaled approach to managing the risk of verbal, physical and on-line abuse of County Councillors through the following:

a)    Continued awareness raising through training and briefings

b)    A review of the arrangements County Councillors have in place for managing their personal safety when attending meetings and meeting with members of the public

c)    Enabling County Councillors to contact designated officers to provide information about potentially violent persons prior to undertaking a home visit

d)    Promotion of the reporting of incidences to better understand the scale of the issue and what further actions could be taken to reduce the associated risks

e)    Liaison with the Police where specific concerns have been raised

f)     Access to dedicated funding to enable additional security measures to be put in place.

Considered: A report of the Assistant Chief Executive (Legal and Democratic Services) providing an overview of the measures currently in place for County Councillors to keep them safe when attending meetings in the community, in order to consider what further actions could be taken.

Barry Khan, Assistant Chief Executive (Legal and Democratic Services) introduced the report and confirmed that the proposal in response to guidance issued nationally, was to introduce a ring-fenced fund of £15K for additional safety measures for Councillors, where there were perceived concerns.  It was noted  that the fund would be introduced on a trial basis.

Members welcomed the introduction of the fund, on the basis that no elected Member should feel threatened or to intimidated to seek public office.  They were also pleased to note the confidentiality clause and agreed there should be no financial limit placed on ensuring democracy, or that money alone should not be seen as the only way to achieve an improved level of safety for Members.  In that respect, attention was drawn to the personal safety guidance previously made available and to the proposed actions in the report.

Members questioned the potential issues around the sharing / disclosing of personal data and Barry Khan confirmed there would be a proportional and measures approach.

Finally, it was suggested that to assist Members in assessing the level of potential risk associated with their work, a pro-active approach be taken through the provision of a list of low-cost options for improved safety.

Resolved - That a proportionate and scaled approach to managing the risk of verbal, physical and on-line abuse of County Councillors be taken through the following:

a)    Continued awareness raising through training and briefings

b)    A review of the arrangements County Councillors have in place for managing their personal safety when attending meetings and meeting with members of the public

c)    Enabling County Councillors to contact designated officers to provide information about potentially violent persons prior to undertaking a home visit

d)    Promotion of the reporting of incidences to better understand the scale of the issue and what further actions could be taken to reduce the associated risks

e)    Liaison with the Police where specific concerns have been raised

f)     Access to dedicated funding to enable additional security measures be put in place.