Members of the Broads Authority could be prevented from speaking directly to the press if a new communications policy is approved today.The organisation will be discussing a paper entitled 'Protocol on member and officer relations in the Boards Authority'.

Members of the Broads Authority could be prevented from speaking directly to the press if a new communications policy is approved today.

The organisation will be discussing a paper entitled 'Protocol on member and officer relations in the Boards Authority'.

Included in the agenda is a subsection on communications, which suggests normally allowing only its chairman and chief executive to talk to the media.

If approved, the protocol will also mean that appointed members and staff will be given guidance on how to respond to media contacts.

The protocol states: “The chair of the authority and chief executive should normally speak on behalf of the authority, though from time to time other committee chairs or lead members might be asked by the authority to speak to the media on specific issues.

“Members should discuss all media contacts with the chair and chief executive (and/or in due course the communications manager) in the first instance, to ensure that the authority is correctly represented.

“This principle will also apply to any letters or other types of correspondence written for publication (including websites).”

The protocol is designed to clarify and assist in the development of good working relations between authority members and officers to ensure the organisation runs smoothly.

It also sets out officers and members' roles and how all the authority's meetings should be conducted.