Council press gag? (From Stroud News and Journal)

Council press gag?

PARISH councillors in Minchinhampton could soon find themselves gagged from speaking to the press if new proposals are passed.

If the move goes ahead, the parish clerk - who is not an elected council member - would be the only person allowed to speak to reporters directly. Elected councillors would have to speak via the clerk.

The idea was criticised when it was announced by council chairman Eilish Cope at Monday's parish meeting.

Cllr Stan Waddington, who is also a Gloucestershire County Council cabinet member, said: "I have not heard of any other council doing such a thing.

"The district and county councils have far greater problems than this council but they don't have anything like this." And Cllr Roy Nicholas added: "We are in danger of going a bit over the top with this."

Cllr Cope said the move was needed because the community in Minchinhampton was getting mixed messages from the press.

She said there was no obligation for councillors to speak to the media.

"Residents think comments made by individual members are representative of the views of the council as a whole," she said.

Cllr Cope has sought advice from a range of bodies including the National Association of Local Councils about how to deal with journalists.

Marianne Webb, spokesperson for NALC, told the SNJ: "These changes would make it easier for the press because the clerk has details of all the minutes and issues could be dealt with much more quickly."

Plans to change the council's standing orders will be discussed at the next parish meeting on April 24.

The proposals were greeted with surprise by Sue Reed, parish chairman in nearby Nailsworth. "Anything that prevents communication between a council and the press is a regressive step," she said.

"They have probably made a rod for their own backs."