Agenda item

Report of the County Solicitor analysing the content of the Local Government Association Model Code of Conduct and a comparison to the Council’s current own Code of Conduct, attached.

Also attached is the Local Government Association Model Code of Conduct and a copy of the Council’s own Code.

Members are asked to consider the various discussion points with a view to retaining the current Code or any suggested amendments which would be brought back to the next meeting.

The Committee discussed the Report of the County Solicitor which had analysed the content of the Local Government Association Model Code of Conduct and produced a comparison against the Council’s current own Code of Conduct. Copies of the Local Government Association Model Code of Conduct and the Council’s own Code had been circulated with the papers.

Members were asked to consider the various discussion points with a view to retaining the current Code or any suggested amendments which would be brought back to the next meeting.

Whilst the Council’s Code was robust and had been updated over the last two years in line with national best practice and therefore covered most elements (and in some case more) than the Local Government Association Model Code, there had been some suggested additions to the Council’s Code for consideration.

Members comments for additions and changes to the Council’s current Code of Conduct were as follows:

·         Joint statement - a supporting statement for the Council’s Code should be produced, including reference to social media;

·         Definition of Councillor – the Council’s Code should include a definition of ‘Co-opted’ (voting and non-voting co-opted members);

·         Purpose – the Council’s Code should include an explanation as to the purpose of the Code;

·         Application of Code – the scope of the Council’s Code should be widened to include issues such as social media;

·         (1) Standards of Councillor conduct – the Council’s Code should be expanded to include a definition of respect, to include the reference to the public and representatives of partner organisations and volunteers as well as respect towards Councillors;

·         (2) Bullying, harassment and discrimination – include a reference to the Protection from Harassment Act in the Council’s Code;

·         (8) Complying with the Code of Conduct - the Council’s Code should include a reference to the importance of Code of Conduct training and that Members endeavour to attend, particularly induction sessions;

·         (8) Complying with the Code of Conduct - the Council’s Code should include reference to sanctions;

·         (10) Gifts and Hospitality – ensure a cross reference from the Code of Conduct to financial regulations and other advice on gifts and hospitality. This included retaining the current guideline of £25 as the threshold for when gifts have to be declared and also ensuring the guidance places a duty on Members to declare a gift and / or hospitality that had been declined.

·         Interests……..

o   ensure that unpaid directorships were included on the register of interests form (not currently explicit); and

o   that given the Council’s Code was silent on the issue of the interests of family and / or friends, this should be strengthened;

Members also noted that the guidance which accompanied the Model Code outlined that Members who received an allowance from another Authority and or body (e.g. Fire Authority) should declare it as a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest. Members were asked to consider whether an amendment to both the declaration of Interests form was required as well as considering the general dispensation.

RESOLVED

(a) that a revised Code of Conduct be brought back to the next meeting of the Committee, encompassing the issues raised above; and

(b) that the Declaration of Interests form and general dispensation be amended to deal with the issue of allowances received from another public body in line with the delegated powers of the County Solicitor.