Social Media
LEADENHAM PARISH COUNCIL
Social Media Policy
Definitions
FTLPC – Leadenham Parish Council
Clerk and/or Proper Officer – The Clerk to Leadenham Parish Council
Council – Leadenham Parish Council (LPC)
Members – All Councillors of Leadenham Parish Council
Parishioner(s) – Residents of Leadenham
Parish – the village of Leadenham
Staff/Officer(s) – All employees of Leadenham Parish Council
Administrator(s) – Members/Staff responsible for the administration and monitoring of any LPC Social Media.
1. LPC has agreed to set up a Leadenham PC profile.
Administration is carried out by the Clerk.
An additional named Cllr has access to the profile.
2. LPC has agreed that the Leadenham PC profile will be used to contribute to Facebook page ‘Leadenham Village Group’.
3. LPC has agreed that posting content will be limited to Agendas and Minutes only.
4. Certain guidelines need to be considered by administrators of LPC when using Social Media:
a) Posts must be of direct interest to LPC Parishioners.
b) Posts are intended to develop communications with Parishioners.
c) Posts are currently limited to Agendas and Minutes only.
d) Any requirement for additional posts must be approved by LPC.
5. General guidance for LPC Members posting in their personal capacity:
a) Members should refrain from posting information regarding LPC business, which is not already in the public domain.
b) Any posts by Members must reflect the status of LPC and any statements must be approved by the Parish Council in advance, to ensure that the corporate status of LPC is upheld.
c) Members should not make personal comments about other Members, staff or members of the public.
d) At all times consideration should be given as to how the post may affect the reputation of LPC.
e) Electioneering is not allowed by LPC on any group.
f) Defamatory or obscene posts will be reported to the Monitoring Officer and/or the police.
g) Members should avoid entering into online debates or arguments about LPC’s work.
A. Users of Council Social Media
In accordance with LPC adopted Communications Policy, clause no. D(i) & D(ii) the Parish Clerk is the Council’s nominated Press Officer with the authority to issue official press releases. A Cllr may also be nominated by agreement.
B. Guidance for Council Officers/Members on the use of Council Social Media
1. Officers/Members should be familiar with the terms of use on third party websites – eg. Facebook - and adhere to these at all times.
2. No information should be published that is not already known to be in the public domain – ie. available on LPC website, contained in minutes of meetings, stated in LPC publicised policies and procedures, etc.
3. Information that is published should be factual, fair, thorough and transparent.
4. Officers/Members must be mindful that information published in this way may stay in the public domain indefinitely, without the opportunity for retrieval/deletion.
5. Copyright laws must be respected.
6. Conversations or reports that are meant to be private or internal must not be published without permission.
7. Other organisations should not be referenced without their approval – when referencing, link back to the original source wherever possible.
8. Do not publish anything that would be regarded in the workplace as unacceptable.
9. Members and Staff must remember that they will be seen as ambassadors for LPC and should always act in a responsible and socially aware manner.
C. Third party Social Media and Individual Councillor Usage
Councillors must comply with the requirements of the LPC communications Policy in regard to whether they are acting in a private capacity, or whether any impression might be conveyed that they are acting for and on behalf of LPC. LPC has adopted a Code of Conduct which is binding on all members. If a Member uses Social Media in their official capacity as a Parish Councillor, he/she should always be mindful of the Code, and of the seven Nolan principles applicable to holding public office – selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty and leadership.
Do:
1. Set appropriate privacy settings for any blog or networking site
2. Be alert to the possibility for defamatory or obscene posts from others on any blog or page and remove them as soon as possible to avoid any perception that LPC / the Member condones such views.
3. Be aware that the individual’s profile as a LPC Member means that it is likely that he/she may be seen as acting in an official capacity when blogging or networking.
4. Ensure any LPC facilities are used appropriately – if using a LPC-provided blog site or social networking area, any post that a Member makes is extremely likely to be viewed as being made in his/her official capacity.
5. Avoid publishing any information that could only have accessed in his/her position as a LPC Member.
6. Members must avoid being specific or personal about individuals.
7. Members must not make party-political statements or stances when posting in their capacity as a Parish Councillor.
Don’t:
1. Blog in haste
2. Post comments that would not be made in writing or in face-to-face contact.
3. Use Council facilities for personal or political purposes.
Adopted on Date……… June 2023
Please refer to the Policy Review Schedule for Adoption, Re-adoption and Review dates.