Agenda item - Amendments to the Code of Conduct for Members

Report of the Head of Law & Monitoring Officer (to follow).

96.1    The Committee considered a report of the Head of Legal & Democratic Services in relation to Amendments to the Code of Conduct for Members. The report reviewed the code of Conduct following the adoption of a new code in July 2012. The report proposed some changes: to include the corporate values; to simplify the declaration of interests rules and to require co-operation with investigations into unauthorised disclosure of information.

96.2    Councillor Wealls asked specific questions in relation to Members’ declaration of interests at Budget Council and whether the amended code changed the position. In response, the Head of Law & Monitoring Officer explained that interests in relation to land were part of the statutory requirement as they constituted ‘disclosable pecuniary interests’. The Council therefore did not have the ability to override the requirement in the statutory instrument using the local code.  

96.3    Dr Horne noted that he welcomed the comments in relation to the changes to the Code of Conduct.

96.4    RESOLVED:

        i.            That the Committee approve in principle the proposed amendments to the Code of Conduct for Members

      ii.            That the Committee recommends Council to agree the amendments to the Code of Conduct for Members as set out in Appendix 1 to this report.