AM 744/26 – Amendments to Members Social Media Policy

AM 744/26

NEW FOREST NATIONAL PARK AUTHORITY

AUTHORITY MEETING – 23 JULY 2026

AMENDMENTS TO MEMBERS SOCIAL MEDIA POLICY

Report by: Gareth Hale (Solicitor and Monitoring Officer)

Summary:

The Members social media policy was last reviewed and updated in 2023 (when it was first introduced) and so it is due for review. The intention of the review is to make the policy clearer and easier for users and the public to understand and to provide assistance for Members when using social media.

An amended policy was initially taken to Standards Committee on 12 May 2026. Members of the Standards Committee requested additional changes to the policy and these have since been incorporated in conjunction with them. Attached as Appendix 1 is a copy of the proposed amended policy with deletions shown in red struck through text, additions shown in red, and text that has been retained but relocated shown in green. Appendix 2 shows a clean copy of the policy with the changes introduced.

Recommendation

It is recommended that members agree to adopt the revised Members Social Media Policy attached to this report as Appendix 2.

Contacts:

• Gareth Hale
• Gareth.Hale@newforestnpa.gov.uk
• Hilary Makin
• Hilary.Makin@newforestnpa.gov.uk

Papers:

• AM 744/26 – Cover paper
• AM 744/26 – Appendix 1 Comparison Policy
• AM 744/26 – Appendix 2 Clean copy Policy