Decision details

The following Notice of Motion Under Standing Order 13 was before the Council for consideration –

 

Ban on Political Posters on Council Property and Street Furniture.

 

The Council notes that:

 

The vast majority of Scottish local authorities - approximately 28 out of 32 - have already prohibited the use of council-owned street furniture, such as lampposts, for political posters and campaign materials.

 

Allowing political posters on council property can lead to issues such as visual clutter, damage to public infrastructure, and issues associated with removal and clean-up.

 

Council property is funded by the taxpayer and as such should not be used for political campaign purposes.

 

Political posters are often not environmentally friendly relying on single use plastics and can fall off/be removed leading to pollution of local communities.

 

The presence of posters on lampposts and other street furniture can present road safety concerns, particularly if they obstruct sightlines or distract road users.

 

Alternative methods of political campaigning, including digital outreach, leafleting, canvassing, and designated poster boards, remain available to all candidates and parties.

 

The Council therefore agrees:

 

To approve that the updated policy in Appendix 1 is adopted, which will have the effect that Argyll & Bute Council no longer permits the display of any campaign related material on any property under the Council’s control.

 

Proposed: Councillor Daniel Hampsey

Seconded: Councillor Gary Mulvaney

 

Amendment

 

The use of the election poster is a Scottish tradition and a visible and vibrant display of our national democratic values.

Ensuring that people who want to vote know when and how to do so, and that they have choices, is at the very heart of democracy. In a rural area like Argyll and Bute, reaching electors inevitably requires a broad approach which does not solely rely on digital options.

Election posters and banners play a key role in voter turnout, particularly in remote, rural and island communities. These items are in place for only a limited period and there is existing legislation and specific guidelines around their use, including how long they may remain in place, height limitations to avoid impact on others, restrictions on location and strict timescales for removal by political parties and independent candidates following the election. 

Local authorities across the country have, in fact, been encouraged by a number of other agencies on various occasions to continue to allow the use of posters to enhance the democratic process by helping to raise awareness at election time and encouraging voter participation. 

Accordingly this Council:

1.               Recognises that in a rural area like Argyll and Bute, the Scottish tradition of election posters and banners remains an invaluable resource in terms of raising the profile of elections and promoting turnout.

2.               Notes that there is legislation and clear guidance in place during election periods which is issued to candidates, agents and any others who wish to display posters and banners on any street-side council infrastructure, designed to minimise impact while fulfilling their key function; 

3.               Agrees to continue with the existing policy and arrangements in relation to the display of election posters and banners;

4.               Welcomes the fact that Argyll and Bute remains an area where display of election posters as a visible way of raising awareness of elections and encouraging voter participation is unrestricted.

Proposer: Councillor Jim Lynch

Seconder: Councillor Fiona Howard

 

As the meeting was being held on a hybrid basis the vote required to be taken by calling the roll and Members voted as follows-

 

Motion                             Amendment                               No vote

 

Councillor Corry                Councillor Armour                       Councillor Green

Councillor A Hampsey        Councillor Blair

Councillor D Hampsey       Councillor Brown

Councillor Hardie               Councillor Campbell-Sturgess

Councillor Kean                 Councillor Horn

Councillor Kennedy           Councillor Howard

Councillor McCabe            Councillor Hume

Councillor McNeilly            Councillor Irvine

Councillor Moreland          Councillor Kain

Councillor Mulvaney          Councillor Kennedy-Boyle

Councillor Penfold             Councillor Lynch

Councillor Sinclair              Councillor Martin

Councillor Vennard            Councillor MacQuire

Councillor Wallace             Councillor McFadzean

                                        Councillor McKenzie

                                        Councillor Paterson

                                        Councillor Philand

 

Decision

 

The Amendment was carried by 17 votes to 14 votes, with 1 no vote, and the Council resolved accordingly.

 

(Reference: Notice of Motion by Councillor Daniel Hampsey, seconded by Councillor Gary Mulvaney, submitted; and Amendment by Councillor Jim Lynch, seconded by Councillor Fiona Howard, tabled)