APPENDIX 5

Council Procedure Rules

1.         A Member with a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest or Other Significant Interest in a matter to be considered, or being considered at a meeting must:

(a)          disclose the interest; and

(b)          explain the nature of that interest at the commencement of that consideration or when the interest becomes apparent (subject to paragraph 5 below); and unless they have been granted a dispensation;

(c)          not participate in any discussion of, or vote taken on, the matter at the meeting; and

(d)          withdraw from the meeting room whenever it becomes apparent that the business is being considered; and

(e)          not seek improperly to influence a decision about that business.

2.         A Member with an Other Significant interest, may attend a meeting but only for the purpose of making representations, answering questions or giving evidence relating to the business, provided that the public are also allowed to attend the meeting for the same purpose, whether under a statutory right or otherwise.  The Member will withdraw from the meeting room immediately after making representations, answering questions or giving evidence.

3.         Where a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest or an Other Significant Interest has been agreed by the Monitoring Officer as being a Sensitive Interest, the Member need only disclose the existence of the interest but not its nature.

4.         This Standing Order also applies to a Cabinet member acting alone under portfolio powers and to a ward Member who discharges functions at ward level.