POLITICIANS may not often go quiet – but you may have heard a lot less from local councillors since the general election was called.

Local authorities are abiding by the convention of “purdah”, which means council resources should not be used to a political party’s advantage.

Even though there are no local elections at the moment, the general election campaign is considered a time of “heightened sensitivity” when councils should be scrupulous about being neutral.

That doesn’t bar councillors from speaking to the press, but it does mean they are unlikely to have their names put on council statements about controversial issues.

Yet at least two councillors have ended up under the impression that they should not be speaking to the Daily Echo at all.

And when it came to the row about the closure of Poole’s public toilets, the responsible cabinet member, Cllr John Rampton, wanted council officers to be present if he was to speak about it.

Since that would have broken purdah rules, the interview didn’t happen.

Diana Goldsmith, deputy monitoring officer at the Borough of Poole, said: “As a result of the general election, Borough of Poole is in a period known as purdah.

“During this time we should not publish any material which could influence public support for a political party. This means we do not include councillors’ quotes in news releases, issue photographs that include councillors or arrange any event that involves them.

“During purdah, the council continues to carry out its normal business activities. However, controversial or politically sensitive matters will be deferred until after the election on June 8.”

Bournemouth council’s communications staff have been given similar guidelines. Council statements will be in the name of officers rather than councillors, unless there is a “significant incident in which a leadership role is expected from a local politicians, e.g. very extreme weather”.

The council’s BH Life newspaper will go out on June 5, but with no pictures or comments from elected members.

Use of council buildings, including schools, for political meetings, is restricted during purdah.

Guidance from the Local Government Association makes clear: “Councillors are free to talk to the media and issue press releases, but must not use council resources to do so.”