GERRARDS Cross councillors are taking steps to make sure none of its members make a costly mistake like the Sally Bercow Twitter scandal when making comments over the internet.

The parish council agreed this week to put together a formal media policy to decide who can speak to the media, and on what subjects.

Mike Shiman, who proposed the policy, said he was concerned that with the council now using Facebook and Twitter to communicate, it was important to agree on what is said and by whom to avoid any potential pitfalls.

He said: “We are speaking more than ever to the media and residents, especially over the internet and social media, and it makes us more vulnerable and more likely to give the wrong impression.

“We need to put in place a formal policy about who can speak to the media. As Mrs Bercow knows, we cannot just say what we like over the Internet.”

It was agreed that the council’s communications committee would draw up a formal procedure to be ratified by the council.

Cllr Shiman stressed the policy was important to avoid quotes being taken out context and to ensure councillors did not make statements on behalf of the council when not in possession of all the facts.

Mrs Bercow, the wife of Speaker of the House of Commons John Bercow, was ordered to pay damages last month after making a defamatory Twitter comment about Conservative peer Lord McApline.