A COUNCIL ban on internet blogging and social networking sites has sparked fury.
Councillors, elected officials and staff at Conwy County Borough Council have been forced to stop accessing the sites. The block has prompted angry councillors to hit out at the newly introduced policy, claiming accessing the sites is essential to keep on top of local issues.
At a recent informal meeting of the council, Conwy councillors Jason Weyman and Linda Groom submitted questions to council chief executive, Byron Davies.
Cllr Groom argued many internet blogs, written by local people, are an informative way to keep councillors up-to-date on local issues. She said: “AMs and MPs also use blogs as a way of keeping people informed. They are not critical. They create discussion, I understand that social networking sites do give away personal information. But blogs do not do this.”
Blogger Cllr Weyman claims councillors were previously permitted to access the sites in their own time and were monitored by the council’s IT department. He said many social networking sites can be used by councillors to keep them informed about the younger generation such as the Duke of Edinburgh scheme’s Facebook page.
“There are around 12 local blogs that have been created by people in Conwy. They highlight concerns. They are like any letters page in a newspaper, but give people more space to expand. We should have freedom to express our opinions and to listen to our electorate.”
But some councillors have backed the move to block the sites. Cllr Abdul Khan, Mayor of Colwyn Bay, said the council has a responsibility to stop blogging. He said: “It has been banned for staff and therefore it should be banned for councillors. It hasn’t really affected me. Looking at blogs is not really part of my job role. I serve my community and so don’t have time to blog.”
Byron Davies, Chief Executive of Conwy County Borough council claimed public sector organisations have to keep a “very careful eye” on the use of IT facilities. He said: “I have therefore decided we will block access to Blog sites. By doing this, we will conserve faster Internet access for our essential work."
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