Sandbach Town Council commits to Civility and Respect Protocol

Sandbach Town Council wholeheartedly agreed to constructive and respectful working arrangements, as outlined by the recently issued ChALC best practice member-officer protocol, which was based on the Civility and Respect model of this relationship.

All officers and staff, who attended a gathering on 13 December, enthusiastically signed the document and agreed to adhere to the protocol for all their Council business.

The Chief Officer said ‘there is absolutely no place for unpleasant or disrespectful behaviour for either staff or members of the Town Council, and we hope that commitment to this protocol will embed a culture of positive and effective working, which the town council have encouraged in recent times, and that it will be practiced by all for years to come’. The Chief Officer added ‘Poor relations and behaviour are not only unpleasant but lead to disharmony and dysfunction which – bluntly – is a total waste of tax payers’ money. Further, it discourages recruitment and retention of voluntary councillors, who have such a lot to offer, and committed, valuable and skilled staff. The Good Councillors Guide refers also to this crucial working relationship ‘The best councils will have a clerk and councillors who work as a team to provide a service for the community’. Mrs Lloyd clarified ‘That is not to say the staff and members cannot challenge each other, but they should do it politely and with the good of the Council and residents in mind’.

The protocol also sets out the respective roles and responsibilities of members and officers as a helpful guide for effectively working together to deliver high quality public services.

Full Council aims to have a progress report to the next meeting and will monitor the effectiveness of the protocol through its Personnel Committee.

Caption: The Mayor and Chief officer lead the way in signing the member-officer protocol which promotes better understanding of roles and respectful communications