Throughout the sector, there are growing concerns about the impact bullying, harassment, and intimidation are having on local (parish and town) councils, councillors, clerks and council staff, and the resulting effectiveness of local councils.
The National Association of Local Councils (NALC), One Voice Wales, the Society of Local Council Clerks (SLCC) and county associations have responded to this by setting up a Civility and Respect Working Group to oversee the Civility and Respect Project.
NALC MISSION STATEMENT
Civility and respect should be at the heart of public life, and good governance is fundamental to ensuring an effective and well-functioning democracy at all levels.
The intimidation, abuse, bullying and harassment of councillors, clerks and council staff, in person or online, is unacceptable, whether by councillors, clerks, council staff, or public members.
This can prevent councils from functioning effectively, councillors from representing local people, discourage people from getting involved, including standing for election, and undermine public confidence and trust in local democracy.
NALC, county associations and OVW, as the membership organisations representing the first tier of local government in England and Wales, and the SLCC, as the professional body for clerks, are committed to working together to promote civility and respect in public life, good governance, positive debate and supporting the well-being of councillors, professional officers and staff.
To that end, the Civility and Respect Working Group will be working to deliver tangible resources, actions and interventions in four main areas: providing councils with the tools to support good governance; lobbying to strengthen the standards regime and encouraging more people to get involved; training; and processes to intervene to provide support to struggling councils.
EDENBRIDGE TOWN COUNCIL – Civility and Respect Pledge
Councillors have shown support for the Civility and Respect Project and the Council has written to our local MP Tom Tugendhat to help have this raised via parliament.
Members noted the Society of Local Council Clerks (SLCC) campaign to address the issues that bullying, harassment and intimidation is having on our councils, councillors and staff, and the resulting effectiveness of local councils.
The day-to-day council work is being made more difficult thorough incivility, online and in person abuse, stalking and even threats to individuals. This is an issue at local government level and was being reflected in recruitment of clerks, staff and councillors to the public sector.
