Borough councillors in a Lincolnshire town are being ordered to consult their chief executive before talking to the press.

In a letter leaked to the Boston Target, borough councillors are reminded of an “agreed protocol” whereby officers and councillors should be mutually supportive to minimize any potential embarrassment to the authority.

The attempted “muzzling” of elected members by chief executive Nicola Bulbeck asks them to raise matters with her, the senior officers or cabinet portfolio members instead of approaching the newspapers.

The move comes after the free weekly Target tackled payments to a fundraising body concerning the town’s Princess Royal Arena project.

It appears to be a rebuke to a Labour party spokesman who commented on the topic to the Target.

A settlement between the two bodies, reported in the paper, was subject to a confidentiality clause, according to the chief executive, but the councillor concerned said there was reference to the item in the public section of a committee agenda.

The member concerned – Coun Paul Kenny – told the paper he believed the letter that went out was a “clear attempt” to gag council members before the arrival of inspectors at the authority, who were due to report on its performance targets.

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