Use of cllr honorific

Question

Two members of our parish council have recently updated their facebook and X profiles to prepend the honorific title 'Cllr' to their names.  Other members of the council and the clerk have told them to stop doing this (outside of council - it hasn't been discussed at council nor any resolution made).

The councillors using this title say that our local district and county councillors do this, and there is no basis in law for parish councillors not doing the same, it is only a matter of preference / precedent that many choose to not use it.

The counter argument is that using the title on social media implies that the person is speaking on behalf of the council when they post.

I personally do not use the title on social media as I think it's a bit of an ego trip, but I don't have a problem with others doing it.  The argument about the use of the title implying that the user is speaking on behalf of the council is absurd - it clearly doesn't mean that with district and county councillors who frequently speak against those councils on social media - so why would the meaning suddenly change when applied to parish councillors.

I am fairly certain there is nothing in legislation to prevent a parish/town councillor using the title in everyday life (though please let me know if you think otherwise) so I am wondering what people think about a councils ability to restrict this through a resolution or through standing orders.  Could a council resolve to prevent a councillor using the honorific on social media, or elsewhere?

Answer 1

I recently attended an online briefing by NALC on the use of social media and if anything, they were very supportive of councillors "spreading the word" via their social media accounts.  However, I can see a situation where it might be possible to inadvertently bring the council into disrepute which would be contrary to the Code of Conduct as posting with the "councillor" heading would certainly suggest a link.  I suspect the ICO would have a view about whether using "councillor" brings the account into the realm of a potential SAR or FOI investigation.  Maybe the answer is to have a separate "councillor" account from a personal account.

Most councils these days seem to have a social media policy which sets out what you can or shouldn't do.

Comments

For SAR/FOI purposes, whether you call yourself Cllr or anything else is completely irrelevant. If the account (offical or personal) contains information held for council purposes then that information is subject to SAR/FOI legislation.

Answer 2

The council has no authority to impose restrictions upon an individual Cllr - whether by motion, desire or magic spell.

It does not infer that an individual is working / speaking / acting on behalf of the council if they choose to use the Cllr pre-nominal - it simply infers that they are a Cllr.

It would be unwise to unilaterally apply the pre nominal to all activities but any which are clearly council related might be appropriate.

Answer 3

I mean if you are using social media because you are a councillor it makes sense to have you name begin with "Cllr" or "Councillor" so people know you are a councillor. If it's a unrelated profile, not so much.

I went on a social media training organised my local NALC association and the implication that using the title implies that you are speaking as the Council was never mentioned. It seems a bizzare notion to me.

On the training, the idea of using a seperate Facebook page as a profile for an individual councillor was also talked about, again using "Cllr" wouild be normal for that, it refers to you as a public officer, not the Council itself.

I do sign emails with "Cllr" if it's related to council business and I don't know the person, and I don't think it comes across badly unless someone was to be absurd and call their bank or something and asked to be referred to in that way

As for resolutions about how councillors should use the designation I have no idea how that would be enforced and I hope your council would have better things to discuss.