Councillors in Sefton will not be required to complete criminal records checks after it was voted down last night.
The motion, to introduce basic DBS checks for all councillors, was submitted to a meeting of Sefton Council’s full council, held at Bootle Town hall last night, September 30.
It stated: “In addition to complying with the provisions of The Local Government (Disqualification) Act 2022 this Council recognises that due to the roles and responsibilities of being a councillor, it would be in the best interests of this Council, councillors and members of the public that all elected members are subject to a Basic DBS Check on taking office.
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“This would give the public confidence that the members who represent them are held to high standards (in line with many professions), in keeping with what one would expect from those who hold public office.”
If passed, the motion would have required all current councillors to take a basic DBS check within 28 days all new councillors to carry out similar checks, which would then be recorded on the council website.
Before conservative Cllr Prendergast presented his motion to council, Liberal democrat councillor Simon Shaw asked that if it was accepted, the motion should be forwarded to the audit and governance committee for further discussion.
Cllr Shaw said it was an “interesting motion”, adding: “it creates a situation where if it’s not supported, the public may wonder what are they trying to hide?”
He added: “It looks plausible, but it doesn’t really achieve anything.”
Cllr Shaw pointed to a recent example of conservative councillors in Devon who also tried to introduce such a motion at council following the imprisonment of a councillor for 21 years on child sex offences.
He said that a basic DBS “would not have made a difference” to the councillor holding the role prior to his conviction.
Cllr Shaw added that Cllr Prendergast could only call for a basic DBS because “that’s the only one councillors in their own right can obtain” noting that standard and enhanced checks, which can include more detail beyond criminal records, can only be obtained by employers or organisations.
The motion went to a vote, where it was defeated by a majority, with only the council’s four conservative councillors voting in favour, meaning councillors in Sefton will not be required to have a criminal record check going forward.
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