Agenda item - NOTICE OF URGENT MOTION

To consider an urgent motion, due notice of which has been given in accordance with Standing Order 4.8.12, and agreed with the Managing Director as urgent under clause 14.6.5(a)(iv) of the Council’s Constitution.

RESOLVED: That Council:

(1) At the discretion of all current members, remove councillor addresses from the Councillor directory (but maintain the entry in the Declaration of Pecuniary Interests until such time as legislative change is effected);

(2) Adopt the default position that councillors opt in, rather than opt out, of having their addresses published on the Councillor Directory;

(3) Write to the local Members of Parliament to ask them to support the LGA’s Debate Not Hate campaign;

(4) Write to the Government to ask them to work with the LGA to develop and implement a plan to address abuse and intimidation of all politicians;

(5) Work with MPs and the LGA to bring about legislative change giving councillors and their families the same protection as MPs;

(6) Ensure the council has a clear reporting mechanism which councillors can use to monitor and record incidents of harassment and abuse of councillors, officers, staff and contractors;

(7) Regularly review the support available to councillors in relation to abuse and intimidation and councillor safety;

(8) Work with the local police to ensure there is a clear and joined-up mechanism for reporting threats and other concerns about the safety of councillors and their families and discuss the need to take a preventative approach that accounts for the specific risks that councillors face, as they do with other high-risk individuals, like MPs;

(9) Take a zero-tolerance approach to abuse of councillors, officers, staff and contractors working was us. Where such occurs, this Council will robustly condemn acts of intimidation and violence against our staff, contractors and councillors.

Audio recording – 1:11:45

Councillor Clare Billing moved the motion and commented that there was concern for the safety of Members following the fire at the District Council Offices, as well as the results of a 2022 Local Government Association survey in which 7 out of 10 Councillors reported abuse. It should be up to the individual to choose if they wanted their addresses to be displayed on the public website, rather than the standard as is currently the case.

Councillor Amy Allen seconded the motion.

The following Members took part in debate:

· Councillor David Levett

· Councillor Gerald Morris

· Councillor Faye Frost

· Councillor Steve Jarvis

· Councillor Adam Compton

· Councillor Amy Allen

· Councillor Richard Thake

· Councillor Ralph Muncer

· Councillor Michael Muir

· Councillor Elizabeth Dennis

· Councillor Chris Lucas

Points raised during the debate include:

· Councillors should be able to opt in to have their address displayed on the website.

· Members could make themselves available to members of the Public in other ways such as Community Surgeries.

· It was not acceptable that Members, Council Staff and Contractors were the subject of abuse.

· Some Members wanted to be as easily contactable as possible and therefore were happy to have their details shared on the internet, but could understand the views of others who may feel more at risk.

In response to the question from Councillor Adam Compton, the Service Director – Legal and Community advised that it was not within North Hertfordshire Council’s remit to remove addresses from Parish Council websites.

Councillor Clare Billing proposed and Councillor Amy Allen seconded, and following a vote, it was: