Method
How we choose entries
Rules for Council Record, the side-by-side public record of councillor statements and council votes.
Back to Council RecordHow entries are chosen
Entries cover on-record statements (council meetings, campaign material, credible press) that relate to a recorded council vote. The same standard applies to every councillor in both cities. Each entry is approved by the editor before publication.
Exact quotes
A statement is the councillor's words, quoted exactly. The entry does not paraphrase the quote.
Sources
Each quote needs two credible sources. Every source shows the publisher, the link and the date. Social media is never a credible source. A social post, a forum or a rumour does not qualify on its own. When either source is the councillor's own page or post, the entry also needs an archived copy.
The vote
The vote is the council decision that sits beside the statement. It names the item, the position and the date. The position is one of: Voted for, Voted against, Abstained, Absent, or No vote yet. The minutes link is the primary city record.
Presentation
The statement and the vote are shown side by side, in neutral language. Any opinion appears only in a separate commentary field, and that commentary is signed by the person who wrote it.
Dates, status and corrections
Every entry shows the date it was published, the date it was last verified, and a status. The status is a neutral label for the record. Each entry links to a correction and right-of-reply form. Correction requests are reviewed within 72 hours. If a vote is reconsidered or the minutes are corrected, the entry is updated within 48 hours and marked Updated.
Request a correction / right of reply or use the link on the entry itself. The entry link includes the record id, as in /corrections?entry= followed by that id.
Comment before publication
The newsroom asks the councillor for comment before an entry is published. The reply deadline is at least two business days after the date the comment was requested. The entry shows that request date and the reply, or "No reply by" the deadline.
Public conduct only
Entries cover public conduct. They include nothing about family, home or private business.
Legal review
A lawyer reviews the format and the first batch before entries go live.