Liverpool Council has banned the use of its street letter service until the local elections after receiving evidence that the system was being wrongly used for political campaigning.
Yesterday the ECHO revealed that the council had suspended its street letter system for councillors and launched an investigation into misuse of the system.
The street letter system allows elected councillors to print and distribute letters to residents in their wards about local issues and their work as councillors. The letters must not be used for party political purposes.
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Today, the council's chief solicitor and monitoring officer Dan Fenwick contacted all councillors to say that the letter service will be suspended for the entire period before May's local elections. He said two complaints had been made about the misuse of the system including one with 'prima facie evidence' that council resources had been used for electoral campaigning.
In a sternly worded letter, Mr Fenwick said: "In my letter to members about the restrictions running up to the election, I advised all members that street letters to residents cannot be used for the promotion of candidates. They can continue to be used to provide factual information, e.g. a road closure or planning applications. All street letters will be reviewed in the pre-election period to ensure compliance and if any issues are found they will be referred back to the councillor for amendment.
"I would add to this that it should be self-evident that the street letter system was only for letters within a councillor’s existing ward and also that the names of current wards in the city should be used only.
"The street letter system operates on trust and is supported by junior officers only. The council cannot expect those officers to be checking letters and recipients for compliance, alongside their other tasks. "
"I would advise members therefore to maximise the use of social media, WhatsApp groups etc. as well as door knocking to inform their current constituents of council matters. These routes are normally more effective in reaching people quickly and also reduce our carbon footprint. With regard to planning applications, the Planning Service will normally write to affected residents about applications in any event."
He added: "Going forward, after the election, we will discuss within the council how we can support members with improving their use of social media tools to reach residents. I apologise for the short notice on this suspension.
"Parties may of course use their own resources to campaign in existing or new wards but should not use council letterheads or other resources etc. for any such correspondence. Further details are set out in the letter sent to members, which I attach again."
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