Issue - meetings

The Town Clerk submits a report which identifies the key provisions and requirements of the new Model Code of Conduct for Members and the necessary measures to ensure both compliance and its effective implementation

The Town Clerk submitted a report which identified the key provisions and requirements of the new Model Code of Conduct for Members and the necessary measures to ensure both compliance and its effective implementation.

It was noted all Members, including co-opted Members, were bound by the Model Code and must agree in writing within two months of it’s adoption, that they would observe the provisions of the Code.  If any Member failed to sign up to the Code within the statutory timescale, they would cease to be a Member of the Council.  It was noted that the two month deadline was 29 January 2002 and not 26 January, as detailed in the report.

It was proposed to publish the Registers of Members’ Interests on the Internet and Intranet, although it was noted that under the provisions of the Data Protection Act, a Member could refuse to have their Register details published in this medium.

Members were asked if they supported the proposal that Members be advised to take advice from the Town Clerk, in the first instance, before taking up any issues with the Standards Board for England.

Members were happy for such advice to be given as long as this did not in any way restrict Members referring issues to the Standards Board if they should wish.

RESOLVED:

(1)to note that all Members were bound by the new Model Code (as the Council’s local code) and must agree in writing within two months of it’s adoption that they would observe the code and that if any Member failed to sign up to the local code within two months of it being adopted by Council (ie. by 29 January 2002), they would cease to be a Member;

(2)that the wording for the Declaration of  Acceptance of Office and the Undertaking to observe the Code of Conduct, as detailed at Appendix 6 of the report, be noted;

(3)that the proposal to provide comprehensive briefings for all Members on the new Model Code, alongside mandatory briefing on the Political Conventions (as determined by the Standards Committee), be endorsed;

(4)that approval be given in principle to the new Register of Members’ Interests and Register of Gifts and Hospitality both being held in electronic form, as well as hard copy, and published on the Council’s intranet and internet sites, subject to the consent of each Member