Salisbury City Council signs up to Civility and Respect Pledge

Salisbury City Council Councillors are putting civility and respect at the top of their agenda.

There are growing concerns among local authorities about the impact of bullying, harassment and intimidation on Town and Parish Councils, Councillors and staff.

For this reason the National Association of Local Councils and the Society of Local Council Clerks have drawn up a Civility & Respect Pledge, and Councillors at Monday’s Full Council meeting agreed to sign up to it.

At the same meeting the Council approved a new Code of Conduct for Councillors, based on a model code drawn up by Local Government Association, and designed “to protect our democratic role, encourage good conduct and safeguard the public’s trust in local government”.

Independent Cllr Annie Riddle, a Leader of the Council, said: “There is no excuse for poor behaviour, bullying or rudeness in public life. We are committed to standing up for civilised values, and the Code makes it clear what that involves.”