A PROPOSAL to publicly discuss banning Devizes town councillors from making certain comments on Facebook – including telling jokes – was itself gagged at a council meeting on Tuesday, following complaints about the move on Facebook.

Members of the council’s Community and Civic Resources Committee were scheduled to discuss a proposal that the authority’s social media policy, set in 2017, be reviewed. But the discussion was dropped after social media comments about the plan.

The proposal included a clause that “all councillors and staff are expected to comply with this policy at all times.”

It also stated that councillors who are administrators of social media groups “must not promote or encourage others to post comments of a political nature” and that “councillors and staff must not upload, forward or post a link to chain mail, junk mail, cartoons, jokes or gossip”.

However, when, prior to the committee meeting, Conservative councillor Iain Wallis posted the full list of the proposals on Devizes Issues, the Facebook group of which he is an administrator, it caused protests from residents against restrictions on councillors’ posts.

One member of the group posted to Cllr Wallis: “Why on earth would DTC want to restrict councillor’s social media usage? It should be something supported and encouraged, to restrict it will create the illusion they’ve something to hide… it sounds regressive not to communicate with the public.”

Another added: “Why on Earth would anyone think restricting usage of social media was okay? It’s an integral part of society. Smacks of stupidity and lack of understanding.”

The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald: Cllr Iain Wallis says councillor engagement on Facebook should be encouraged not restrictedCllr Iain Wallis says councillor engagement on Facebook should be encouraged not restricted

Cllr Wallis posted: “Only a couple of people have taken offence to me posting notices and reports of council meetings, sadly they are councillors!”

Cllr Wallis and, it is understood, other councillors believe that the “at all times” clause and the proposed limitations on posting or discussing “comments of a political nature” would disable their ability to engage with the public on social media about council matters that affect the town.

Sources close to Cllr Wallis informed this newspaper: “This would effectively end his involvement in Devizes Issues as he would not be able to discuss anything political. He would contend that anything a councillor deals with is political from potholes, to hedges, to social housing, to planning.

"He also believes that the clause would stop councillors campaigning on social media as it restricts political comment and no council policy should restrict campaigning outside of direct council activity.”

Cllr Wallis commented: “As councillors it is our duty to represent our residents and to do that properly we must engage with them, including on social media.

"Of course councillors must abide by a code of conduct but any policy over and above that must encourage and support councillor engagement on social media, not restrict and discourage it.”

The committee decided not to discuss the social media review at the public meeting but to refer it for further review.