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 :-
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:-
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.
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.
Declaration of interests at meetings
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.
Subject | Description |
Employment, office, trade, profession or vocation | Any employment, office, trade, profession or vocation carried on for profit or gain. |
Sponsorship | Any payment or provision of any other financial benefit (other than from the Council) made to the member during the 12 month period ending on the latest date referred to in paragraph 6 above for expenses incurred by him/her in carrying out his/her duties as a member, or towards his/her election expenses. This includes any payment or financial benefit from a trade union within the meaning of the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992. |
Contracts | Any contract made between the member or between his/her spouse or civil partner or the person with whom the member is living as if they were spouses/civil partners (or a body in which such a person is a partner in a firm, a director of an incorporated body or holds the beneficial interest in securities*) and the Council under which goods or services are to be provided or works are to be executed; and which has not been fully discharged |
Land | Any beneficial interest in land which is within the area of the Council. |
Licences | Any licence (alone or jointly with others) to occupy land in the area of the relevant authority for a month or longer. |
Corporate tenancies | Any tenancy where (to the member’s knowledge) the landlord is the Council; and the tenant is a body in which the member, or his/her spouse or civil partner/ the person with whom the member is living as if they were spouses/civil partners has a beneficial interest |
Securities | Any beneficial interest in securities of a body where that body (to the member’s knowledge) has a place of business or land in the area of the Council; and either the total nominal value of the securities* exceeds £25,000 or one hundredth of the total issued share capital of that body; or if the share capital of that body is of more than one class, the total nominal value of the shares of any one class in which the relevant person has a beneficial interest exceeds one hundredth of the total issued share capital of that class. |
*‘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.
Subject | Description |
An interest which relates to or is likely to affect:
|
(i) any body of which the member is in a position of general control or management and to which he/she is appointed or nominated by the Council;
(iii) any gifts or hospitality worth more than an estimated value of £50 which the member has received by virtue of his or her office. |