The Standards and Ethics Committee of Worcestershire Council was scheduled to discuss the recruitment of new independent members and consider draft guidance for councillors on the use of social media. The committee was also due to review its future work programme.

Independent Members

The committee was scheduled to consider the approach for appointing two further non-voting independent members. The council's constitution requires three independent members to serve on the committee, in addition to elected councillors. Currently, only one independent member, Dr Philip Whiteman, is serving. The role of an independent member is to promote and maintain high standards of conduct among councillors and co-opted members, assisting them in observing the Code of Conduct and monitoring its operation. The proposed job description for an independent member outlines requirements such as residing or working in Worcestershire, being fair and objective, and possessing sound judgement. The role is unpaid, though travel expenses are claimable.

Social Media Guidance for Councillors

A draft guidance note for elected members on the use of social media was scheduled for consideration. The aim of this guidance is to ensure councillors conduct themselves appropriately online, as unwise comments can negatively impact both the councillor's and the council's reputation, and potentially lead to legal action. The guidance reiterates that the Members Code of Conduct applies to all forms of communication, including social media. Councillors are advised to clearly distinguish between their official capacity and private capacity when using social media. The report highlights that even when acting in a private capacity, adverse publicity could still reflect poorly on the council. The draft guidance includes a list of dos and don'ts for councillors, such as being responsible and respectful, and avoiding posting in haste or making offensive comments. It also addresses legal considerations including libel, copyright, data protection, bias, and discriminatory comments. The Assistant Director for Legal and Governance, Hazel Best, was recommended to be granted delegated authority to finalise the guidance in consultation with the Chair of the Committee.

Work Programme

The committee was scheduled to review its future work programme. The programme indicated a complaints update and recommendations on training for councillors linked to standards and ethics for the meeting on 3 July 2026. Dates for future meetings on 14 October 2026 and 21 January 2027 were marked as To be decided .