MINCHINHAMPTON Parish Council is planning to introduce new rules gagging its councillors from talking publicly about other councillors' misconduct or incompetency.

The four proposed amendments to the council's standing orders are designed to make sure elected representatives 'speak with one voice'.

"This avoids confusion on the part of the public, especially if the press relate only part of the story," the council noted in its minutes of October 30, 2006.

"It was reiterated that a council in unity is a happy council."

Under the new rules: * Councillors must not criticise other councillors' conduct or capability in front of the press or public.

* Councillors must not ask 'hostile' questions.

* If councillors have complaints about the conduct or capabilities of other councillors, they must raise the matter in private with the chairman or vice chairman.

At the start of October, the council appointed a PR officer, Jacqui Corry, to supervise press contact.

Back in March, the SNJ reported on calls from some members to prevent the council's elected representatives from talking to the press.

At the time, chairman Cllr Eilish Cope said the move was needed because the public were getting mixed messages from the media.

But the proposal met with opposition from other councillors including Cllr Roy Nicholas and Cllr Stan Waddington, who argued he had never heard of any other council doing such a thing.

Cllr Cope was unavailable for comment as the SNJ went to press.