COUNCILLORS have agreed to recommend an updated social media policy for Argyll and Bute – but the decision was not a unanimous one.
A report asked the council’s policy and resources committee to recommend the revised policy, which includes “Requirement of services with a council social media site to participate in an annual evaluation exercise, in order to ensure that efforts/time dedicated to social media are effective, and to share good practice across services”.
The majority of the committee agreed to the recommendation that it should be endorsed to the full council at a later meeting, but two councillors backed an amendment not to recommend it.
The committee held its meeting on Thursday, May 21.
During discussion, Councillor Amanda Hampsey (Reform UK, Oban South and the Isles) sought clarity on whether councillors would be expected to monitor third party social media comments on an ongoing basis.
Executive director Douglas Hendry responded: “My understanding is that any reasonable and responsible member who operates social media accounts would want to know what was being posted on them and therefore would carry out some kind of monitoring.
“If there was a suggestion that this is placing an additional burden on members I do not believe that can be said with certainty. It might be nothing additional at all.”
Councillor Hampsey responded: “It is very reasonable for me to not monitor my social media, for example, if travelling within the islands such as Mull, where I tend to have a very poor signal.
“It is quite often the case that I am a good 20 metres on the ferry on the way out of Craignure heading towards Oban when notifications of emails and social media messages start to ping and come through.
“If I am there for a significant period of time, throughout a day or a couple of days, or if there are ferry issues, does that mean that I am no longer a reasonable councillor?
“Does it put me at risk of being reported to standards by a case-by-case basis as there are no set parameters which are classed as reasonable?”
Mr Hendry said: “This policy is not a manual and is not intended to cover all circumstances, it sets out principles. To go into the level of detail in Councillor Hampsey’s statement is, in my view, not something I as an officer would want to engage in in this forum.
“It is up to individual members to do what they consider appropriate managing their social media activity.”
Councillor Ross Moreland (Liberal Democrat, Dunoon) moved a motion to agree to recommend the social media policy to the full council.
He said: “This does not place any additional burden on councillors. What this does is back up what we said at the full council, and did so unanimously.
“I do not think certain people making more out of this than is actually in there should shape or sway us in any form.
“It makes absolute sense to pass it, and I do not think it makes any sense to pass a zero tolerance approach at full council, and then not pass this at the policy and resources committee.”
Councillor Hampsey, speaking to an amendment not to recommend the policy to the council, said: “I have serious concerns in regard to supporting this policy in its current form. Social media allows people to challenge decisions, ask questions and engage openly.
“My concern is that this risks placing councillors in an impossible position where they may be held responsible for opinions of members of the public posted on their pages.
“I do not believe that councillors should be placed in a position of being forced to decide between protecting themselves or allowing open democratic discussion to take place.”
After a roll call vote, Councillor Moreland’s motion, seconded by Councillor William Sinclair (Liberal Democrat, Cowal) prevailed by 12 votes to two.
Councillor Peter Wallace (Conservative, Isle of Bute) seconded Councillor Hampsey’s amendment.
