Councillors push for Nottinghamshire County Council’s Reform UK leadership to re-engage with press after ban imposed on Nottinghamshire Live and Local Democracy Reporting Service reporters

Council leadership is being called to commit to engaging with journalists about council business, after a ban on speaking to press was introduced.

Broxtowe Alliance councillor Teresa Cullen will propose and Broxtowe Independent Group councillor Steve Carr will second a motion titled ‘Supporting a Free Press in Nottinghamshire’ at a full council meeting of Nottinghamshire County Council tomorrow (September 18).

It calls for the council to: reiterate support for freedom of the press, particularly for local media outlets; commit to engaging with journalists and answering questions on council business ‘regardless of whether one likes what is being asked’; and reaffirm the council’s commitment to openness, transparency, and accountability.

The motion comes after the authority’s Reform UK administration confirmed on August 26 that the leader and wider group at Nottinghamshire County Council would ‘disengage with reporters’ from Nottinghamshire Live, including the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS), for which the outlet holds the contract.

The LDRS covers local authority stories, and share these with other local and regional outlets who are signed up to the partnership — including the Advertiser.

The decision meant that while the Nottinghamshire Live and LDRS reporters could still attend council meetings, they would not be able to interview Reform councillors before or after meetings, would be removed from the council’s mailing list, and would not be invited to press events.

Nottinghamshire Live reported that these measures were a result of a “recent article on the ongoing discussions about local government reorganisation” and meant it was “no longer allowed to scrutinise those running one of the biggest authorities in our area”.

The motion, which is due to be debated by councillors tomorrow, explains that “local media outlets play a vital role in holding politicians to account”, and that public scrutiny is essential.

It also further highlighted the role local media outlets have in reporting on issues and events that are “often missed by national publications”.