Code of Conduct
East Lindsey District Council Code of Conduct
East Lindsey District Council have adopted this Code setting out the expected behaviours required of its members or co-opted members, acknowledging that they each have a responsibility to represent the community and work constructively with our staff and partner organisations to secure better social, economic and environmental outcomes for all.
In accordance with the Localism Act provisions, when acting in this capacity all Councillors must be committed to behaving in a manner that is consistent with the following principles to achieve best value for our residents and maintain public confidence in this authority.
SELFLESSNESS: Holders of public office should act solely in terms of the public interest. They should not do so in order to gain financial or other material benefits for themselves, their family, or their friends.
INTEGRITY: Holders of public office should not place themselves under any financial or other obligation to outside individuals or organisations that might seek to influence them in the performance of their official duties.
OBJECTIVITY: In carrying out public business, including making public appointments, awarding contracts, or recommending individuals for rewards and benefits, holders of public office should make choices on merit.
ACCOUNTABILITY: Holders of public office are accountable for their decisions and actions to the public and must submit themselves to whatever scrutiny is appropriate to their office.
OPENNESS: Holders of public office should be as open as possible about all the decisions and actions that they take. They should give reasons for their decisions and restrict information only when the wider public interest clearly demands.
HONESTY: Holders of public office have a duty to declare any private interests relating to their public duties and to take steps to resolve any conflicts arising in a way that protects the public interest.
LEADERSHIP: Holders of public office should promote and support these principles by leadership and example.
The Act further provides for registration and disclosure of interests and in East Lindsey District Council this will be done as follows:
On taking up office a member or co-opted member must, within 28 days of becoming such, notify the Monitoring Officer of any ‘disclosable pecuniary interests’, as prescribed by the Secretary of State.
On re-election or re-appointments, a member or co-opted member must, within 28 days, notify the Monitoring Officer of any ‘disclosable pecuniary interests not already included in his or her register of interests.
The Council has considered but decided at this stage not to adopt any Council Procedure Rules requiring registration of non-disclosable pecuniary interests and/or non-pecuniary interests.
If a member or co-opted member is aware that they have a ‘disclosable pecuniary interest’ in a matter they must not participate in any discussion or vote on the matter at a meeting.
If a member or co-opted member is aware of a ‘disclosable pecuniary interest’ in a matter under consideration at a meeting but such interest is not already on the Council’s register of interests or in the process of entry onto the register having been notified to the Monitoring Officer, the member or co-opted member must disclose the ‘disclosable pecuniary interest’ to the meeting and register it within 28 days of the meeting at which it is first disclosed.
The Council has adopted Council Procedure Rules requiring:
- a member or co-opted member with a ‘disclosable pecuniary interest’ to withdraw from the meeting while any discussion or vote on any matter relating to it takes place, taking no part in the debate or vote – EXCEPT that a member or co-opted member with a ‘disclosable pecuniary interest’ may take part in any public speaking scheme at that meeting but must leave the room immediately after having so participated.
The Council has considered but decided not at this stage to adopt any council procedure Rules requiring disclosure of non–disclosable pecuniary interests and/or non-pecuniary interests at meetings.