Death threats and a spike in abusive and intimidating behaviour has prompted Gloucester civic chiefs to denounce the rise in hatred across the county. says there is no place for such behaviour in a democracy. And councillors agreed to write to city MP Richard Graham and the Local Government Association to highlight their concerns over the increase in threatening behaviour councillors are subjected to. Elsewhere in the county, Cheltenham Borough Council brought in after activists became disruptive and abusive during a public meeting. The temporary measures currently in place at the mean members of the public wishing to attend a council meeting must notify the authority two hours in advance. There is also now a register of attendance people who attend meetings at Shire Hall must fill in. And a similar measure was introduced for Gloucester City Council’s meetings at North Warehouse. Councillor (C, Grange), who put forward the motion on March 21, said the rights to protest and free speech are fundamental. But these rights come with the responsibility of behaving in a fair and decent way, he added. He told the council it is imperative that the authority reaffirms its commitment to upholding the highest standards of behaviour, morality and integrity. “We cannot expect others to behave with restraint if we ourselves display intolerance and aggression. Locally, I have never before experienced the need for security protection in this chamber. “Or that I should receive a threatening phone call from somebody I do not know about a subject over which I have no control. In all my years, I have never before heard of an officer of this council allegedly feeling intimidated by a member of this council. His proposals was seconded by Cllr Andy Lewis (C, Quedgeley Severn Vale). He told the council he received death threats over the sudden closures last year of GL1 and Oxstalls Sports Centre and for taking part in the pride march while he was mayor. “This stuff has got to stop,” he said. “We are going to argue and I’ve got no problem over that, but death threats? “Some of the stuff I had over Aspire, even
Facebook took down. There was a lot of wiping up over social media. It was nothing to do with me but I got the blame for it. “I was getting death threats, I once got a death threat for taking part in the pride march when I was mayor.” He said some councillors have been worried about actually entering the council chamber. “That should not happen, he said. “We are in a democracy. “We are not like Putin, we aren’t going to throw the opposition out of the damn window. That should not happen and we should not be harbouring anything like that in this country.” A friendly amendment by the Liberal Democrat group to suggest the training is offered rather than imposed on members was accepted by the Tories. Councillor Tree Chambers-Dubus (L, Moreland) told the meeting she had an incident that involved somebody else in the council and it was quite threatening. She said when she reported it to the council she was told “as a councillor you need to expect that”. “The motion is fantastic,” she said. ‘But I think the council needs to lead from the front here. If we cannot feel protected in our roles and officers don’t feel protected in their roles. “We don't get this ripple effect that spreads out. Please can somebody look at it?” Councillors unanimously voted to back the motion which means all council members elected in May will be offered training on the use of
Social Media and how to combat intimidation. All councillors are to be given a protocol on how to report threatening behaviour and the council leader will write to Gloucester MP Richard Graham and the LGA. to register their concerns.