Policies

Cherry Willingham Parish Council (CWPC) 

Social Media Policy

1, What is Social Media?

‘Social media’ is the term commonly given to websites and online tools which allow

users to interact with each other in some way by sharing information, opinions,

knowledge and interests. This interaction may be through computers, mobile phones

or tablets.

Examples of social media websites include:

Social networking – (e.g. www.facebook.com)

Video sharing – (e.g. www.youtube.com)

Blogs (e.g. london2012.com/blog)

Micro-blogging (e.g. www.twitter.com)

Message boards (e.g. www.bbc.co.uk/dna/mbsn/home)

Wikis (e.g. www.wikipedia.org)

Social bookmarking (e.g. www.delicious).

2, Cherry Willingham Parish Council Use of Social Media

Principles

● To publish information about the work of Cherry Willingham Parish Council to

a wider audience.

● To avoid entering into online debates or arguments about the Council’s work.

Social Media must NOT be used in the recruitment process for employees or

new councillors - other than for the sole purpose of placing vacancy

advertisements - as this could lead to potential discrimination and privacy

actions, as well as breach of data protection issues.

3, Approved Council Social Media

● Parish Council website

● Facebook page

4, Users of Cherry Willingham Parish Council Social Media

In accordance with the Council’s adopted Communications Policy (from clause C of

that policy as follows):

‘5, Communications with the Press and Public

(i) The Clerk will clear all press reports, or comments to the media, with the

Chair of the council or the Chair of the relevant committee, as may be agreed

previously by the council.

(ii) Press reports from the council, its committees or working parties should be

issued via the Clerk or another officer or via the reporter’s own attendance at

a meeting.

(iii) Unless a Councillor has been authorised by the council to speak to the media

on a particular issue, Councillors who are asked for comment by the press

should make it clear that it is a personal view and ask that it be clearly

reported as their personal view.

(iv) Unless a Councillor is absolutely certain that he/she is reporting the view of

the council, they must make it clear to members of the public that they are

expressing a personal view.

.

The Clerk is the Council’s nominated Press Officer with the authority to issue official

press releases. No other member of staff or Councillor (other than those nominated

to deputise for the Parish Clerk) has the authority to issue public statements on

behalf of the Council.

6, Guidance for Cherry Willingham Parish Council Officers on the use of Council

Social Media

● Officers should be familiar with the terms of use on third party websites – e.g.

Facebook - and adhere to these at all times

● No information should be published that is not already known to be in the

public domain – i.e. available on the Council’s website, contained in minutes

of meetings, stated in Council publicised policies and procedures, etc.

● Information that is published should be factual, fair, thorough and transparent.

● Everyone must be mindful that information published in this way may stay in

the public domain indefinitely, without the opportunity for retrieval/deletion.

● Copyright laws must be respected.

● Conversations or reports that are meant to be private or internal must not be

published without permission.

● Other organisations should not be referenced without their approval – when

referencing, link back to the original source wherever possible.

● Do not publish anything that would be regarded in the workplace as

unacceptable.

● Staff must remember that they will be seen as ambassadors for the Council,

and should always act in a responsible and socially aware manner.

7, Third party Social Media and Individual Councillor Usage

Councillors need to think about whether they are acting in a private capacity, or

whether any impression might be conveyed that they are acting for and on behalf

of Cherry Willingham Parish Council. The Council has adopted a Code of

Conduct which is binding on all members. If you use Social Media in your official

capacity as a councillor, you 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:

● Set appropriate privacy settings for any blog or networking site

● Watch out for defamatory or obscene posts from others on any blog or page

and remove them as soon as possible to avoid any perception that you

condone such views

● Be aware that the higher your profile as a councillor, the more likely it is that

you may be seen as acting in an official capacity when you blog or network

● Ensure any Council facilities are used appropriately – if using a Council-

provided blog site or social networking area, any posts that you make are

extremely likely to be viewed as being made in your official capacity

● Avoid publishing any information that you could only have accessed in your

position as a councillor

● Be careful if making ‘political’ points, and avoid being specific or personal

about individuals.

Don’t:

● Blog in haste

● Post comments that you would not be prepared to make in writing or in face-

to-face contact

● Use Council facilities for personal or political purposes