The use of artificial intelligence (AI) by Cheshire West and Chester Council will be examined by full council this week as members consider a motion urging the authority to embed recognised ethical standards into its own AI arrangements.
Motion seeks formal adoption of AI principles
The notice of motion, tabled by cabinet member and Labour councillor for Winsford Wharton Nathan Pardoe, asks councillors to align the council’s AI approach with the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) Artificial Intelligence Ethics Charter.
It lists a suite of principles the council should adopt, including:
- Fairness, impartiality and non-discrimination
- Transparency and traceability
- System integrity and confidentiality
- Human agency, oversight and accountability
- Societal and environmental responsibility
- Continuous improvement
The motion also urges a proportionate approach to deploying AI: it should be used only where there is a clear service need, where the benefits and risks are understood and where human oversight is maintained.
“Human review, oversight, and revision are essential to realise the potential of AI and associated technologies. Irresponsible use of AI frustrates people, erodes trust, and undermines communication.”
Practical safeguards and training proposed
Among the measures called for are tighter data controls so that AI tools can access only authorised information, and the introduction of training for councillors and officers on how to use AI responsibly. The motion also seeks to empower staff and elected members to challenge any improper use of the technology.
The council’s principal base is The Portal, a public services hub in Ellesmere Port, and members will debate the motion at the full council meeting scheduled for Thursday.
Why this matters locally
Councils across the UK are increasingly using AI to assist with administrative tasks such as sorting housing applications and flagging social care concerns. The motion reflects wider concerns about how automated systems can affect access to services, data privacy and residents’ trust in local government decision-making.
Adopting the charter’s principles would be intended to: introduce consistent standards across council-built or procured systems; protect sensitive information; and ensure that human judgement remains central to public services.
| Area | What the motion seeks |
|---|---|
| Governance | Embed CJEU AI ethics principles into council standards |
| Data use | Limit AI access to authorised data with controls |
| Training | Provide training for councillors and officers on responsible AI use |
The motion’s title, ‘remember the human’, underlines its emphasis on maintaining human interaction and oversight in council services. If agreed, it would set an expectation for how AI is tested, approved and monitored within council operations, though any specific implementation would require further decisions by officers and councillors.
The debate will be watched by residents concerned about the increasing role of automated systems in public services and by officers responsible for procurement, data protection and service delivery.
