Highland Council ban on Twitter is looming
A ban on social media savvy Highland councillors tweeting during key planning and licensing debates is looming, so they avoid accusations they could be open to outside influence.
But elected members will still be able to use Twitter on their mobile phones during other meetings in the Highland Council chamber, after a blanket ban on online activity met with hostility earlier this year.
The huge surge in popularity in recent years of social media websites like Twitter and Facebook has been replicated in local government, particularly amongst the fresh intake of younger councillors, after 2012’s elections.
About a quarter of the 79 members now have their own Twitter accounts and several regularly post tweets - which can be viewed by anybody - during meetings.
Some of them have tweeted barbs at other councillors, poked fun at each other’s political beliefs and even their dress attire in the Inverness chamber.
MSPs in the Scottish Parliament are banned from social media sites in the debating chamber by the presiding officer who believes the use of electronic devices is not compatible with their required conduct.
But this Wednesday, the council’s finance, housing and resources committee will be asked to approve the use of hand-held electronic devices in formal meetings – including accessing social media and the internet - provided they are on "silent" mode and do not interfere with the chamber’s business.
Gordon Fyfe, the council’s public relations manager, states in a report that members must aide by the Councillors’ Code of Conduct and be "considerate and courteous" to fellow councillors and staff when using social media.
It has been recommended that no tweets should be published or text messages sent during regulatory meetings like licensing and planning in case a councillor is directly contacted by a member of the public.
Mr Fyfe said a partial ban would avoid any perception councillors could come under outside influence when they are deliberating about planning or licensing applications, but they would still be able to use laptops.
"The recommendation is that there is a ban within the chamber during regulatory meetings, there would be no tweeting or texting," he said.
"Councillors would be able to use their laptops to read their speeches or an agenda and there is no ban on those."
Inverness councillor and prolific tweeter Richard Laird warned in January a complete ban would be a step backwards and said social media was an important tool in communicating to constituents.
The Highland Licensing Board member - who announced the controversial decision last year to axe the controversial "Cinderella" nightclub entry policy almost immediately via Twitter - had said the ability to update the public live from the council chamber was one he valued.
The very first social media training session for Highland councillors saw 21 members participate last month.
"We wanted to make them aware of the benefits which can be gained by social media but also alert them to the pitfalls," said Mr Fyfe.
Mr Fyfe said the local authority established a Twitter account in 2011 and almost 5,000 people now follow or subscribe to the news feed.
Tweeting councillors
The SNP has more Highland councillors with Twitter profiles than any other group.
Ten Nationalist members, including council leader Drew Hendry, have their own accounts. Former SNP councillor Alex MacLeod is also a regular Twitter user.
The Lib Dems, Independents and Labour have four councillors each on Twitter.
In terms of popularity amongst "followers" – the people who subscribe to their news feed - the SNP also dominates.
Caithness civic head Gail Ross - who was last week named by a political website as one of the top nine UK politicians using Twitter most effectively - has 1,388 followers.
Her old party colleague, Councillor MacLeod, has 1,060 followers and there are 815 people subscribed to Councillor Hendry’s feed.
Councillor Laird is fourth with 580 people following his regular updates.
