Vale of Glamorgan Council councillors concern over abuse

That is the view of a councillor as Vale Council representatives look to remove their addresses entirely from public documents in order to protect their safety.

One councillor described how times have changed since she began in politics and that councillors receive far more abuse now than they did when she started out.

At a Standards Meeting held on Thursday, March 23, during a discussion over applications for dispensation, chairman of the committee Richard Hendicott commented that in one of the councillor’s applications her address had been redacted entirely – something he felt was the right thing to do.

“We do live in strange times and I think councillors should be protected as much as possible," said Cllr Hendicott.

“This is something we have raised in meetings with our group leaders as to whether councillors addresses should be made public. I think the address should be completely redacted.”

Cllr Chris Franks, of Plaid Cymru, felt councillors should be identifiable and that he was saddened this step was being taken.

“It goes against the grain for councillors addresses to be removed,” said Cllr Franks.

“I think councillors should be identifiable. We do live in strange times, but I do not feel comfortable that we can hide behind such procedures and I do not know if it is necessary. If someone wants to find out where you live they will find out.

“I am saddened it seems necessary to go down this route.”

Vale Councillors at a recent Standards Meeting

Current Ombudsman guidance is whole addresses are not published, with Vale Council publishing the street name of councillors, but not the house name or number and postcode.

Cllr Rhiannon Birch pointed out that there had been cases in Penarth of councillors' addresses being shared online for malicious reasons.

“We have keyboard warriors out there who think it is entertaining to put people’s addresses out there,” said Cllr Birch.

Vale of Glamorgan's Cllr Rhiannon Birch says she has never seen such abuse in 25 plus years in politics

In a sad indictment of the current situation, Cllr Birch said that in her 25-plus years in politics she had never seen councillors receive so much abuse.

Cllr Birch continued: “We do live in quite different times than when. I came into politics and it feels like a more malevolent atmosphere now than it did then, and we get far more unpleasant stuff, some of it quite personal. I have my own safety to consider.”

How do I contact Vale Council?

To contact the Vale of Glamorgan Council go to the 'contact us' section of www.valeofglamorgan.gov.uk/, or call the contact centre on 01446 700111.