FURTHER advice may be issued to councillors and Dorset Council officers over their use of social media.

One senior councillor, Dorchester's Richard Biggs, has described the situation as "bit of a minefield and has asked the authority to clarify what councillors are able to do, and what they are not – in simple terms.

A committee, which he chairs, has been told that councillors should declare whether or not they are speaking on behalf of the council, or whether they are acting as an individual, when they go online.

The meeting also heard that there are rules for both councillors and officers about whether or not they should declare they are a councillor, or employed by the authority, when they sign up to social media groups.

Data protection officer for Dorset Council, James Fisher, said officers, in particular, had to be careful to follow the rules if they frequently looked at some groups, for fear of being accused of carrying out covert surveillance on individuals.

The authority's newest councillor, Belinda Bawden from Lyme Regis, admitted the found the situation confusing and asked if there were times when she should declare, to the council, what she had said on social media, or if responding as a councillor whether she should only use a council-provided device.

Officers told her that, generally, the answer was 'no', although as with all councillors and officers there might be times when it would be wise to seek advice.

Cllr Pauline Batstone, Blackmore Vale, said she used social media all the time to tell residents in her ward what the council was doing, making it obvious that the messages were coming from an elected councillor and found the use of social media very useful for sharing council activities.

Cllr Biggs added: "It seems that there is a little bit of confusion – perhaps we could be issued with some guidance."

Sherborne councillor Robin Legg said he had no fears about breaching any rules around social media: "I'm an antique and I don't use it at all" he said.