UPDATE **** 12 September 2007 - please click here to view notes on the revised model code of conduct
PART 1
General Provisions
Scope
1. - (1) A Member must observe the Authority's code of conduct whenever he -
(a) conducts the business of the Authority;
(b) conducts the business of the office to which he has been appointed; or
(c) acts as a representative of the Authority,
and references to a Member's official capacity shall be construed accordingly.
(2) The Authority's code of conduct shall not, apart from paragraphs 4 and 5(a) below, have effect in relation to the activities of a Member undertaken other than in an official capacity.
(3) Where a Member acts as a representative of the Authority -
(a) on another relevant authority, he must, when acting for that other authority, comply with that other authority's Code of Conduct; or
(b) on any other body, he must, when acting for that other body, comply with the Authority's Code of Conduct, except and insofar as it conflicts with any other lawful obligations to which that other body may be subject.
(4) In this code, "Member" includes a co-opted member of an authority.
2. A Member must -
(a) promote equality by not discriminating unlawfully against any person;
(b) treat others with respect; and
(c) not do anything which compromises or which is likely to compromise the impartiality of a police officer or those who work for, or on behalf of, the Authority.
3. A Member must not -
(a) disclose information given to him in confidence by anyone, or information acquired which he believes is of a confidential nature, without the consent of a person authorised to give it, or unless he is required by law to do so; nor
(b) prevent another person from gaining access to information to which that person is entitled by law.
4. A Member must not in his official capacity, or any other circumstance, conduct himself in a manner which could reasonably be regarded as bringing his office or Authority into disrepute.
5. A Member -
(a) must not in his official capacity, or any other circumstance, use his position as a Member improperly to confer on or secure for himself or any other person, an advantage or disadvantage; and
(b) must, when using or authorising the use by others of the resources of the Authority -
(i) act in accordance with the Authority's requirements; and
(ii) ensure that such resources are not used for political purposes unless that use could reasonably be regarded as likely to facilitate, or be conducive to, the discharge of the functions of the Authority or of the office to which the Member has been elected or appointed.
6. A Member must when reaching decisions have regard to any relevant advice provided to him by -
(a) the Authority's chief finance officer acting in pursuance of his duties under section 114 of the Local Government Finance Act 1988, and
(b) the Authority's monitoring officer acting in pursuance of his duties under section 5(2) of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989.
7. A Member must, if he becomes aware of any conduct by another Member which he reasonably believes involves a failure to comply with the Authority's code of conduct, make a written allegation to that effect to the Standards Board for England as soon as it is practicable for him to do so.
PART 2
Interests
Personal Interests
8. - (1) A Member must regard himself as having a personal interest in any matter if the matter relates to an interest in respect of which notification must be given under paragraphs 13 and 14 below, or if a decision upon it might reasonably be regarded as affecting to a greater extent than other council tax payers, ratepayers, or inhabitants of the Authority's area, the well-being or financial position of himself, a relative or a friend or -
(a) any employment or business carried on by such persons;
(b) any person who employs or has appointed such persons, any firm in which they are a partner, or any company of which they are directors;
(c) any corporate body in which such persons have a beneficial interest in a class of securities exceeding the nominal value of £5000; or
(d) any body listed in sub-paragraphs (a) to (e) of paragraph 14 below in which such persons hold a position of general control or management.
(2) In this paragraph -
(a) "relative" means a spouse, partner, parent, parent-in-law, son, daughter, step-son, step-daughter, child of a partner, brother, sister, grandparent, grandchild, uncle, aunt, nephew, niece, or the spouse or partner of any of the preceding persons; and
(b) "partner" in sub-paragraph (2)(a) above means a member of a couple who live together.
Disclosure of Personal Interests
9. A Member with a personal interest in a matter who attends a meeting of the Authority at which the matter is considered must disclose to that meeting the existence and nature of that interest at the commencement of that consideration, or when the interest becomes apparent
Prejudicial Interests
10. - (1) Subject to sub-paragraph (2) below, a Member with a personal interest in a matter also has a prejudicial interest in that matter if the interest is one which a member of the public with knowledge of the relevant facts would reasonably regard as so significant that it is likely to prejudice the Member's judgement of the public interest.
(2) A Member may regard himself as not having a prejudicial interest in a matter if that matter relates
to -
(a) another relevant authority of which he is a member;
(b) another public authority in which he holds a position of general control or management;
(c) a body to which he has been appointed or nominated by the Authority as its representative;
(d) the functions of the Authority in respect of statutory sick pay under Part XI of the Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992, where the Member is in receipt of, or is entitled to the receipt of such pay from a relevant authority; and
(e) any functions of the Authority in respect of an allowance or payment made under sections 173 to 176 of the Local Government Act 1972, section 18 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989, or paragraphs 25, 25A and 25B of Schedule 2 and paragraphs 20, 20A and 20B of Schedule 2A to the Police Act 1996.
Participation in Relation to Disclosed Interests
11. A Member with a prejudicial interest in any matter must -
(a) withdraw from the room or chamber where a meeting is being held whenever it becomes apparent that the matter is being considered at that meeting, unless he has obtained a dispensation from the Authority's standards committee; and
(b) not seek improperly to influence a decision about that matter.
12. For the purposes of this Part, "meeting" means any meeting of -
(a) the Authority; or
(b) any of the Authority's committees, sub-committees, joint committees or joint sub-committees.
PART 3
The Register of Members' Interests
Registration of Financial and Other Interests
13. Within 28 days of the provisions of this Code of Conduct being adopted, or within 28 days of his appointment to office (if that is later), a Member must register his financial interests in the Authority's register maintained under section 81(1) of the Local Government Act 2000 by providing written notification to the Authority's monitoring officer of -
(a) any employment or business carried on by him;
(b) the name of the person who employs or has appointed him, the name of any firm in which he is a partner, and the name of any company for which is a remunerated director;
(c) the name of any person, other than a relevant authority, who has made a payment to him in respect of any expenses incurred by him in carrying out his duties;
(d) the name of any corporate body which has a place of business or land in the Authority's area, and in which the Member has a beneficial interest in a class of securities of that body that exceeds the nominal value of £25,000 or one hundredth of the total issued share capital of that body;
(e) a description of any contract for goods, services or works made between the Authority and himself or a firm in which he is a partner, a company of which he is a remunerated director, or a body of the description specified in sub-paragraph (d) above;
(f) the address or other description (sufficient to identify the location) of any land in which he has a beneficial interest and which is in the area of the Authority;
(g) the address or other description (sufficient to identify the location) of any land where the landlord is the Authority and the tenant is a firm in which he is a partner, a company of which he is a remunerated director, or a body of the description specified in sub-paragraph (d) above; and
(h) the address or other description (sufficient to identify the location) of any land in the Authority's area in which he has a licence (alone or jointly with others) to occupy for 28 days or longer.
14. Within 28 days of the provisions of this Code of Conduct being adopted, or within 28 days of his appointment to office (if that is later), a Member must register his other interests in the Authority's register maintained under section 81(1) of the Local Government Act 2000 by providing written notification to the Authority's monitoring officer of his membership of or position of general control or management in any -
(a) body to which he has been appointed or nominated by the Authority as its representative;
(b) public authority or body exercising functions of a public nature;
(c) company, industrial and provident society, charity, or body directed to charitable purposes;
(d) body whose principal purposes include the influence of public opinion or policy; and
(e) trade union or professional association.
15. A Member must within 28 days of becoming aware of any change to the interests specified under paragraphs 13 and 14 above, provide them written notification to the Authority monitoring officer of that change.
Registration of Gifts and Hospitality
16. A Member must within 28 days of receiving any gift or hospitality over the value £25, provide written notification to the Authority's monitoring officer of the existence and nature of that gift or hospitality.
