At February’s Elmbridge Council meeting all Councillors supported the Motion for Council in support of The Jo Cox Foundation - no place in politics: tackling abuse and intimidation, call to action which recommends how all levels of government seek to tackle abuse towards elected representatives.
It calls for Local Authorities to improve risk planning for abuse at council meetings and other events, ensuring security and wellbeing resources are available.
It also calls for councils to pass motions affirming principles to address abuse and model good behaviour from the Local Government Association’s (LGA) ‘A Debate not Hate’ toolkit.
To achieve this, Elmbridge Borough Council will, through its Audit and Standards Committee, bring forward the use of the LGA toolkit demonstrating our commitment to reducing the detrimental impact abuse and intimidation is having on Councillors and on democracy in the UK.
The proposer was Cllr Caroline James, seconded by Cllr Kirsty Hewens.