Agenda item

Ward Newsletters in the run up to the 2017 Common Council Elections

A Member referred to the forthcoming 2017 Common Council elections and questioned whether any guidance currently existed for Members around using publications such as Ward Newsletters for what might be perceived as electioneering.

The Comptroller and City Solicitor reported that the Local Government Act 1986 touched upon this matter with regard to ‘promoting political ends’.

A Member commented that this matter did not seem to be within the remit of this Committee and highlighted the fact that guidance around the appropriate use of Corporation resources was normally circulated to all Members nearer the election period.

Members went on to question the publication of the Ward Newsletters and whether there was any oversight of this at officer level given that they were produced at the Corporation’s cost. The Comptroller and City Solicitor undertook to ascertain exactly what oversight of these publications was currently in place.

The Chairman suggested that a minute on this item be sent to the Policy and Resources Committee given that it was their decision a number of years ago to create Ward newsletters and to print and post these at the City Corporation’s expense. It would then be for them to consider whether or not guidance on the appropriate use of these publications should be issued to Members in the run up to the 2017 elections.