Please don’t use councillors details without consent

A complaint was recently made to SODC with regard to “the burning of farm waste” at a location on the Stert Road, Kingston Blount.

It reported that waste was “being burnt in field adjacent to farmyard. Black smoke, chemical smell. Visible metal debris.”

Notably, the complainer wanted to stay anonymous yet felt the need to use my contact details – phone and address – saying that “as a parishioner I wish to remain anonymous, but have entered the details of my Parish Council on my behalf.”

This is wholly unacceptable; the person complaining entered, without permission, the details of an individual who happens to serve as a councillor.

I have spoken to SODCs Waste Team about the complaint and my details have been removed. The complaint now has no named complainer and so is no longer considered a complaint.

The complaint has consequently failed as SODC will not be taking any action.

Going forward, if a resident has a complaint that they wish to raise anonymously, AND it is within the competence and powers of the parish council, the correct route would be ask the clerk () to raise the complaint. Such a complaint must be made by someone who is identifiable albeit with their details requested to be kept confidential.

By definition, applying the parish council’s details to a complaint does not necessarily mean that it will be taken up by the council.

I would ask residents to not use the personal details of councillors on complaints or elsewhere without consent else their contact information will be removed entirely from the parish council website.

Adam Bernstein

Chairman, Aston Rowant Parish Council