Decision details

It was moved by Councillor Jones and seconded by Councillor Hartill:

“That the Council:

1.         recognises the devastating effect the disgraceful and cowardly act of trolling can have on individuals or their close relatives;

2.         notes the concerns of the public expressed in recent research conducted by Kantar where 85% of those surveyed believed there needs to be new legislation to deal with the issue of trolling and stronger rules be introduced to govern it; and

3.         requests the Government to amend legislation to ensure that:

(i)         someone who has been proved to have taken part in trolling not be allowed to stand for election as a councillor; and

(ii)        an elected memberbe removed from their position if proved to  have taken part in trolling.”

An Amendment was moved by Councillor Brodie-Browne, seconded by Councillor Weavers that the Motion be amended by:

1.    In paragraph 1, the addition of the word "malicious” before"trolling" and after "trolling” the insertion of "/cyberbullying as defined by the Malicious Communications Act 1988";

2.    In paragraph 2, the addition of the word "malicious” before"trolling" and after "trolling” the insertion of "/cyberbullying"; and

3.    The deletion of paragraph 3.

Following debate thereon Councillor Brodie-Browne agreed to delete Paragraph 3 of his amendment, providing that Paragraph 3 of Councillor Jones’s Motion was amended by the substitution of the word “trolling” in (i) and (ii) with the words “trolling/cyberbullying”.

Following debate thereon, on a show of hands, the Mayor declared that the amendment was carried unanimously.

On a show of hands, the Mayor declared that the Substantive Motion was carried unanimously and it was

RESOLVED:

That the Council:

1. recognises the devastating effect the disgraceful and cowardly act of malicious trolling/cyberbullying, as defined by the Malicious Communications Act 1988 can have on individuals or their close relatives;

2. notes the concerns of the public expressed in recent research conducted by Kantar where 85% of those surveyed believed there needs to be new legislation to deal with the issue of malicious trolling/cyberbullying and stronger rules be introduced to govern it; and

3.         requests the Government to amend legislation to ensure that:

(i)         someone who has been proved to have taken part in trolling/cyberbullying not be allowed to stand for election as a Councillor; and

(ii)        an elected member be removed from their position if proved to  have taken part in trolling/cyberbullying.