Kents Hill & Monkston Parish Council Signs Civility and Respect Pledge
Kents Hill & Monkston Parish Council is pleased to announce that it has formally signed the Civility and Respect Pledge, demonstrating its commitment to fostering a positive, professional, and respectful culture across all areas of its work.
The certificate issued to the Council confirms that the Council believes ‘now is the time to put civility and respect at the top of the agenda and start a culture change for the local council sector.’
By signing the Pledge, the Council commits to:
- Treating all councillors, the Clerk and staff, members of the public, partners, and volunteers with civility and respect.
- Putting in place a structured training programme for councillors and employees.
- Ensuring that it has an adopted Code of Conduct for councillors.
- Maintaining strong governance arrangements, including contracts and a Dignity at Work Policy.
- Seeking professional help at an early stage should civility or respect issues arise.
- Calling out bullying and harassment whenever it occurs.
- Learning from sector best practice and aspiring to be a role model council through initiatives such as the Local Council Award Scheme.
- Supporting ongoing national lobbying for improved legislation, including appropriate sanctions for elected members where necessary.
Cllr Dan Hippey, Chair of the Council, said:
‘Signing the Civility and Respect Pledge is an important statement of our values as a council. We want Kents Hill & Monkston Parish Council to be known for its professionalism, its respect for others, and its commitment to good governance. This pledge reinforces our dedication to creating a safe, supportive, and constructive environment for councillors, staff, and residents alike.’
