STANDARDS OF CONDUCT
(a) Standards Committee
Under the Local Government Act 2000, the Council has appointed a Standards Committee to promote high standards of conduct amongst both its own Members and the 301 Parish Councillors within the area.
(b) Code of Conduct
Borough and Parish Councillors are covered by a Code of Conduct. It is the job of the Standards Committee and the Monitoring Officer of the Borough Council to promote understanding of the Code. This is done by organising training and providing information.
All Councillors are required to make a declaration of financial and other interests and to keep it up to date. For Borough Councillors the documents can be viewed on this page or they may be inspected at the Town Hall. For Parish Councillors, copies of the registrations made by Parish Councillors may be inspected at the Town Hall or by contacting the Parish Clerk.
(c) Breaches of the Code
The Standards Board for England (SBE) considers written allegations of breaches of the Code. You can complain about the following:-
- unlawfully discriminating against someone
- failing to treat people with respect
- doing something to prevent those who work for the authority from being unbiased
- revealing information that was given to them in confidence, or stopping someone getting information they are entitled to by law
- damaging the reputation of their office or authority
- using their position improperly, to their own or someone else's advantage or disadvantage
- misusing the authority's resources
- allowing the authority's resources to be misused for the activities of a registered political party
- failing to report another member's misconduct to us
- failing to register financial or other interests
- failing to reveal a personal interest at a meeting
- taking part in a meeting or making a decision where the member has an interest that is so significant that it is likely to affect his or her judgement
- failing to register any gifts or hospitality they have received in their role as a member, worth over £25
A leaflet is available from the SBE explaining how to make a complaint. Their contact details are:
The Standards Board for England, PO Box 36656, London SE1 0WN
Tel: 0800 107 2001 Fax: 020 7378 5005
Email: newcomplaints@standardsboard.co.uk
Website: www.standardsboard.co.uk
(d) Register of Interest at Meetings
The Code of Conduct sets down general rules about the declaration of interests made by Councillors at meetings. Declarations made by Borough Councillors at meetings are recorded electronically on the Council's website as a source of reference for both Councillors to aid consistency and for members of the public in the interests of openness and transparency. For details see
