Comments on: UK council in trouble over tweeting http://www.140char.com/2010/02/uk-council-in-trouble-over-tweeting/ Microblogging news, tools and resources: Twitter, Google Buzz, Tumblr, Identi.ca, Yammer, Posterous Fri, 12 Mar 2010 10:06:10 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9 hourly 1 By: Jo Jordan http://www.140char.com/2010/02/uk-council-in-trouble-over-tweeting/comment-page-1/#comment-26831 Jo Jordan Mon, 08 Feb 2010 15:16:12 +0000 http://www.140char.com/?p=839#comment-26831 The issue is not really a social media policy. It is understanding the nature and legality of council meetings. The Councillors are there to attend to the papers, debate with each other and make decisions. At the moment that they are tweeting, they are mentally absent. Mental absence can happen for many reasons but when they tweet, there is a public record of them being absent from the meeting. It is the same as standing up, excusing oneself and leaving the room. The secretary will record there absence.<br><br>Additionally, when they are in Committee, as opposed to Council, deliberations as opposed to decisions are confidential. If they tweet from a committee, they would be subject to sanction. The issue is not really a social media policy. It is understanding the nature and legality of council meetings. The Councillors are there to attend to the papers, debate with each other and make decisions. At the moment that they are tweeting, they are mentally absent. Mental absence can happen for many reasons but when they tweet, there is a public record of them being absent from the meeting. It is the same as standing up, excusing oneself and leaving the room. The secretary will record there absence.

Additionally, when they are in Committee, as opposed to Council, deliberations as opposed to decisions are confidential. If they tweet from a committee, they would be subject to sanction.

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