The Standards and Ethics Committee of Worcestershire Council was scheduled to discuss guidance for councillors on the use of social media and review an annual report on the number of complaints made against councillors. The committee was also due to consider its future work programme.

Social Media Guidance for Councillors

The committee was scheduled to consider draft guidance for councillors on the appropriate use of social media. The report highlighted that unwise comments online can negatively impact the reputation of both individual councillors and the council, potentially leading to legal action. It was noted that the Members Code of Conduct applies to all forms of communication, including social media. The guidance aims to ensure councillors make clear whether they are acting in their official capacity or as private individuals, and to understand that even private comments could reflect adversely on the council. The report indicated that the Assistant Director for Legal and Governance had drafted this guidance, which is not intended to form part of the council's constitution. Councillors were advised to pause before posting, to be responsible and respectful, and to avoid posting anything they would not say in a public meeting. The guidance also stressed the importance of not publishing confidential information and of not representing personal views as those of the council. Legal considerations such as defamation, copyright, and data protection were also outlined.

Annual Report on Member Complaints

The committee was scheduled to review the annual report detailing complaints made against councillors between 1 May 2025 and 30 April 2026. The report indicated that since that date, 64 complaints had been received. Of these, 11 related to District Councillors, over which the County Monitoring Officer does not have jurisdiction. Twenty-two complaints concerned social media posts by councillors, and 13 related to comments made in meetings. A significant number of complaints, 22 in total, were made by councillors against other councillors. The report noted that the majority of complaints stemmed from social media activity, and that a social media guide for councillors had been drafted. The Monitoring Officer recommended that social media training be provided to councillors, with a further session proposed for autumn 2026, following initial training offered after the May 2025 local elections. The report also mentioned that 13 complaints related to comments made in meetings, and referenced the enhanced protection for political expression under Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). It was noted that no complaint had yet been referred to a sub-committee for a formal hearing.

Work Programme

The committee was asked to note its future work programme, which included recommendations on training for councillors linked to standards and ethics, and the appointment of independent members, scheduled for 14 October 2026. Dates for future discussions in January and April 2027 were to be decided.

The agenda also included standard items such as apologies, declarations of interest, public participation, and the confirmation of previous minutes.