Use of emails

THE use of personal email by councillors was raised by resident Philip Meadowcroft, who wanted to know the council’s policy on such usage “when communicating to any individual, group, or media on matters connected with the Member’s status as elected councillors”.

Responding, council leader John Halsall said that the council had an ICT policy, aimed at employees and not councillors, that points out that any email, regardless of whether it is sent from a private or council address, becomes part of the council’s corporate record.

“Councillors may use private or other email addresses when conducting Council business.

“For example, councillors are contacted by residents at non-Wokingham.gov.uk addresses, and for example particularly, where councillors are also town or parish councillors or an appointment to a charity or community body.

“However, as stated earlier, such correspondence if it pertains to the Borough Council forms part of the Council’s corporate record.”

Mr Meadowcroft pushed the point, saying that Cllr Halsall and fellow northern parishes councillors had signed off columns in the Wargrave News publication with their private email addresses, but this changed in December 2020, to the council addresses.

The mayor warned Mr Meadowcroft that his supplementary question was in danger of becoming a speech and wanted him to get to his follow-up query.

Mr Meadowcroft again called on the council to adopt a suitable set of rules similar to those used in Whitehall, but Cllr Halsall declined, saying policy could not be made on the hoof, and promised a fuller response with a written reply.