Social media house rules

Using our social media channels

Our social media channels play an important role in keeping local people informed about council services and local issues – as well as providing a valuable place for people to connect with one another, share their views or ask questions.

We want everyone to get the most out of these online spaces, so it’s important that our channels feel like a safe, friendly and useful place for everyone.

Our social media house rules are designed to make our channels a better place for our community, so please familiarise yourself with the guidance below.

We reserve the right to remove posts when our house rules aren’t observed. We may also block users without explanation if our guidelines are breached.

 

Remember, it’s public – be nice

When posting comments online it can be easy to forget that they are visible for anyone to see – just like if you were to say them aloud in a public place, but with the ability to reach a much greater number of people. If you wouldn’t say it in person, think twice about saying it online.

 

Unacceptable content

We reserve the right to remove comments which contain:

  • swearing or profanity – we want to make sure our channels are suitable for everyone, so please don’t use foul or rude language
  • abusive, offensive or discriminatory language – we will not tolerate comments which are rude, provocative or contain sexist, racist, xenophobic or homophobic remarks; posts or messages that contain threats of violence, whether directly or indirectly targeted at individuals, groups or organisations, will be reported to the police
  • misinformation – we will remove comments which we believe to contain factually incorrect statements, contradict health guidance or incite members of the public to break the law. We welcome healthy debate and people expressing their opinions, but misinformation or ‘fake news’ is not helpful to anyone
  • potentially libellous / slanderous language – do not post false or unfounded statements about any individual.
  • repetitive comments – please keep the discussion on track, and refrain from posting the same or similar content repeatedly

We receive the right to block any user, without notice, if they repeatedly break our social media house rules.

 

Got a question? Need information from us?

We’re here to help you. Every day we deal with many queries which are sent either publicly via comments sections, or privately using a direct message. Feel free to get in touch either way – however, if your query includes private or sensitive information about yourself or others, please message us directly.

With the exception of emergencies, we read and respond to messages during office hours only – 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday, excluding Bank Holidays. We’ll do our best to respond to your query as soon as possible but, dependent on the volume of messages we are receiving and the complexity of your request, we might not always be able to respond to you on the same day.

If you wish to request a service, report an issue in your area, manage payments or make a complaint, the fastest and easiest way to access the vast majority of council services is by using the My Chesterfield platform, our dedicated all-in-one portal for Chesterfield borough residents.

If your council property needs a repair, you can report a repair issue using our website.

If you can’t access the service you’re after, feel free to message us on social media and we will do our best to help you find the support and guidance you need.

 

Is your query an emergency?

We understand that social media can often be the fastest way for residents to message us – however, our social media channels should not be treated as emergency hotlines and we might not be able to deal with urgent requests as quickly as you would like or need us to.

If you have an emergency housing repair issue – such as a burst pipe or smoking electrics – please call 0800 587 5659 if calling during office hours, or alternatively call the out-of-hours service on 01246 345041 if our offices are closed.

If you urgently need a different service, you can find our emergency contact information on our website.

 

Our social media channels

We have a variety of profiles on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), LinkedIn and Instagram which serve different functions and services of the council.

Facebook:

X (formerly Twitter):

LinkedIn:

Instagram:

 

Spotted online abuse? Report it

If you have seen a post or comment which you find abusive or offensive, please report it directly to the social media network where it was published.

Last updated on 24/06/2024