Code of Conduct

1. Transitional arrangements (confirmed in The Localism Act 2011 (Commencement Order No.6 and Transitional, Savings and Transitional Provisions Order 2012) SI 2012/1463 (‘the 2012 Regulations’), brought into force on 7 June 2012, confirm :-

• – a parish council must adopt a new code of conduct to take effect on or after 1 July 2012.
• – the district/ unitary authority’s Monitoring Officer may prepare a register of interests for members of parish councils in the principal authority’s area to take effect on or after 1 July 2012.

2. The 2012 Regulations also confirm that on 1 July, a member of a parish council is at risk of prosecution for committing criminal offences in s.34 of the 2011 Act if:-

• – he/she participates or votes on a matter being considered at a meeting in which he/she has a ‘disclosable pecuniary interest’ (s.31(4) of the 2011 Act) or
• – written notification of such disclosable pecuniary interest has not already been given to the Monitoring Officer, and the member does not disclose the disclosable pecuniary interest to the meeting and does not provide written notification of the interest to the Monitoring Officer within 28 days of the meeting (31(2) and (3) of the 2011 Act) or
• – he/she provides false or misleading information about the above (s.34(2) of the 2011 Act).

A member’s mandatory obligations relating to prescribed disclosable pecuniary interests are incorporated in the NALC template code of conduct. If a parish council adopts the NALC template, its members and co-opted members are also required to register disclosable pecuniary interests within 28 days of adoption of the code.

If a parish council adopts a new code of conduct to take effect after 1 July 2012, it is NALC’s view that the parish council’s existing code of conduct based on the Local Authorities (Model Code of Conduct) Order 2007 SI 2007/1159, would continue to have effect. Accordingly, its members would remain subject to the requirements of their existing code (which includes obligations for the registration and disclosure of personal and prejudicial interests) until the parish council adopted a new code of conduct. Nevertheless, if a council has not adopted a new code by 1 July 2012, members of the parish council are still subject to the mandatory obligations in the 2011 Act, summarised above, in relation to disclosable pecuniary interests from 1 July 2012.

Useful reminders
The function of adopting, revising or replacing a code of conduct must be discharged by full council (s.28(13) of the 2011 Act).  A parish council must publicise its adoption (and in future any revision or replacement) of a code of conduct in such manner as it considers is likely to bring the adoption, revision or replacement of the code of conduct to the attention of persons who live in its area (s. 28(12)).

Whilst members of a parish council may provide written notification of interests (including disclosable pecuniary interests) to the local Monitoring Officer, most Monitoring Officers are likely to prepare a standard register of interests form for members of parish councils to complete. Members of parish councils should liaise directly with the local Monitoring Officer about providing written notifications about their interests.

This briefing was issued by Meera Tharmarajah, Solicitor and Head of Legal Services Copyright NALC 2012

Introduction
Pursuant to section 27 of the Localism Act 2011, Hammerwich Parish Council has adopted this Code of Conduct to promote and maintain high standards of behaviour by its members when they conduct the business of the Council. This Code of Conduct is based on the principles of selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty, and leadership.

Definitions
A ‘co-opted member’ is a person who is not a member of the Council but a member of any committee, sub-committee or  represents the Council on a joint committee or joint sub-committee of the Council and is entitled to vote on any question put before any meeting of that committee or sub-committee.

A ‘meeting’ is a meeting of the Council, any of its committees, sub-committees, joint committees or joint sub-committees.

Unless otherwise expressed, a reference to a member of the Council includes a co-opted member of the Council.

Member obligations
When a member of the Council acts, claims to act or gives the impression of acting as a representative of the Council, he/she has the following obligations.

• – He/she shall behave in such a way that a reasonable person would regard as respectful.
• – He/she shall not act in a way which a reasonable person would regard as bullying or intimidatory.
• – He/she shall not seek to improperly confer an advantage or disadvantage on any person.
• – He/she shall use the resources of the Council in accordance with its requirements.
• – He/she shall not disclose information which is confidential or where disclosure is prohibited by law.

Registration of interests
Within 28 days of this Code being adopted by the Council, or the member’s election or the co-opted member’s appointment (where that is later), he/she shall register with the Monitoring Officer the interests designated in Appendices A and B.

• – Upon the re-election of a member or the re-appointment of a co-opted member, he/she shall within 28 days re-register with the Monitoring Officer any interests in Appendices A and B.
• – A member shall register with the Monitoring Officer any change to interests or new interests in Appendices A and B within 28 days of becoming aware of it.
• – A member need only declare the existence but not the details of any interest which the Monitoring Officer agrees is a ‘sensitive interest’.  A sensitive interest is one which, if disclosed on a public register, could lead the member or a person connected with the member to be subject to violence or intimidation.

Declaration of interests at meetings

• – Where a matter arises at a meeting which relates to an interest in Appendix A the member shall not participate in a discussion or vote on the matter. He/she only has to declare what his/her interest is if it has not already been registered or notified to the Monitoring Officer.
• – Where a matter arises at a meeting which relates to an interest in Appendix A, which is a sensitive interest, the member shall not participate in a discussion or vote on the matter. If it is a sensitive interest which has not already been disclosed to the Monitoring Officer, the member shall disclose he/she has an interest but not the nature of it.
• – Where a matter arises at a meeting which relates to an interest in Appendix B, the member shall not vote on the matter.  He/she may speak on the matter only if members of the public are also allowed to speak at the meeting.
• – A member only has to declare his/her interest in Appendix B if it is not already registered or notified to the Monitoring Officer. If he/she holds an interest in Appendix B which is a sensitive interest not already disclosed, he/she shall declare the interest but not the nature of the interest.
• – Where a matter arises at a meeting which relates to a financial interest of a friend, relative or close associate (other than an interest in Appendix A), the member shall disclose the nature of the interest and not vote on the matter. He/she may speak on the matter only if members of the public are also allowed to speak at the meeting.  If it is a ‘sensitive interest’ the member shall declare the interest but not the nature of the interest.

Dispensations
On a written request to the Council’s proper officer (Clerk), the Council may grant a member a dispensation to participate in a discussion and vote on a matter even if he/she has an interest in Appendices A and B if the Council believes that it would prohibit such numbers as would impede the transaction of the business; or it is in the interests of the inhabitants to allow the member to take part, or it is otherwise appropriate to grant a dispensation.

*‘Securities’ means shares, debentures, debenture stock, loan stock, bonds, units of a collective investment scheme within the meaning of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 and other securities of any description, other than money deposited with a building society.