Issue - meetings

The Standards and Audit Committee had considered proposals for the adoption, and inclusion in the Constitution, of a Corporate Press and Media Protocol which set out the roles and responsibilities for managing media relations and the reputation of the Council.  The Protocol would apply to members of the Executive and Council Officers who may be contacted by representatives of the media.

Councillor Kirby welcomed the Protocol but spoke against Section 8 of the paper which stated that the Government appointed Commissioners would have the opportunity to review and comment on any press releases and public statements.  Councillor Kirby argued that the proposal could in essence gag the Council and advised that he would not support the proposal.  The Deputy Mayor, Councillor Morales, shared concerns over the reference to the Commissioners and formally moved that Section 8 of the report (Commissioner Team Approvals Process) should be removed from the Protocol.  The motion was seconded by Councillor Hussain.

The Director of Legal and Democratic Services advised the Council that the Commissioners had the authority to overrule decisions of the Council and had the right to approve press releases and statements issued by the Council.  Removing reference to the Commissioners from within the Protocol would not change this right.  It was noted that to-date there had been mo disagreements between Members, Officers and Commissioners with respect to press releases or statements issued by the Council.  In view of the advice, several Councillors indicated that they would support the adoption of the Protocol as drafted and Councillor Morales withdrew her motion.

In accordance with Standing Order 10.8, the recommendations set out in the report before Council were put to a vote and the names of Members voting for and against were recorded as follows:

In favour:                                Councillors A-M Barker, A Boote, J Brown, G Cosnahan, K Davis, S Dorsett, W Forster, P Graves, S Greentree, S Hussain, I Johnson, D Jordan, R Leach, L Lyons, C Martin, J Morley, E Nicholson, S Oades, L Rice and D Roberts.

Total in favour:                       20

Against:                                  Councillor A Kirby.

Total against:                         1

Present not voting:                 The Mayor and Councillor L Morales.

Total present not voting:        2

The recommendations were therefore carried by 20 votes in favour and 1 vote against.

RESOLVED

That  (i)    the Corporate Press and Media Protocol (Appendix 1 to the report) be adopted;

          (ii)   the authority delegated to the Monitoring Officer to make minor amendments to the Constitution be noted, including amendments to references within the document and section numbering; and

          (iii)  the Monitoring Officer be instructed to make the agreed changes to the Constitution.

Reporting Person – Andy Denner

The Committee received the second proposal from the Corporate Governance Working Group which proposed the adoption of a Corporate Press and Media Protocol.  Andy Denner, Marketing Communications Manager, introduced the report and advised that the Protocol set out the roles and responsibilities for managing media relations and the reputation of the Council.  It would apply to members of the Executive and Council Officers who may be contacted by representatives of the media.

Following a question, it was noted that each Press Release included a quotation from a Member otherwise the document would be referred to as a Press Notice.

The Committee broadly welcomed the Protocol.

RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL That

(i)        the Corporate Press and Media Protocol (Appendix 1 to the report) be adopted;

(ii)       the authority delegated to the Monitoring Officer to make minor amendments to the Constitution be noted, including amendments to references within the document and section numbering; and

(iii)      the Monitoring Officer be instructed to make the agreed changes to the Constitution.