Gateshead Council’s Reform administration has voted down proposals for compulsory basic DBS checks for all councillors, citing legal and cost concerns. The ruling party’s deputy leader, Councillor Fiona Pearce, told councillors that stronger checks, including barring checks for working with children or vulnerable adults, already exist for members with those responsibilities.
Voluntary Checks Proposed Instead
Councillor Pearce stated that basic DBS checks would be recommended on a voluntary basis, in line with neighbouring authorities. She argued that across-the-board mandatory checks were unnecessary, as councillors without specific safeguarding roles would never be unsupervised with a child or vulnerable adult in a regulated activity. She said: “All other councillors will never be, I would hope, unsupervised with a child or a vulnerable adult. This is classed as a regulated activity. Regulated activity does require, very strictly, a person with an enhanced DBS with a barring list.”
She added that the voluntary approach represents “appropriate, proportionate, and reasonable action without too much cost to our residents and without too much administrative burden to council officers.”
Labour Motion Rejected
The Labour group’s motion had cited the 2023 Independent Review into the Disclosure and Barring Service, which recommends basic checks for all councillors and encourages councils to adopt it as best practice. However, Councillor Pearce noted that the review left a “grey area” regarding what the council would have to do if a DBS check revealed a criminal history.
Following the debate, Reform’s amendment to the motion was carried. Labour group leader Councillor John Adams expressed disappointment, saying: “I do think it is a real shame that you have voted against the central part of this motion, which is compulsory, mandatory, DBS checks for all councillors. If it is worth doing, then why on earth make it voluntary?”
Regional Context
Northumberland County councillors were encouraged to enact similar measures after the council passed a motion in 2024, following a petition signed by more than 1,000 residents. In February of this year, North Tyneside Council bosses stated they would ask their legal department to look into introducing DBS checks for councillors.
