Code of conduct - Annexes

Annex 1: The seven principles of public life

In accordance with the Localism Act 2011, in order to help maintain public confidence, you are committed to behaving in a manner that is consistent with the following principles. However, it should be noted that these principles do not create statutory obligations for members and do not form part of the code. We cannot accept allegations that they have been breached.

• Selfishness: you should act solely in terms of the public interest.
• Integrity: you must avoid placing themselves under any obligation to people or organisations that might try inappropriately to influence them in their work. They should not act or take decisions in order to gain financial or other material benefits for themselves, their family, or their friends. They must declare and resolve any interests and relationships.
• Objectivity: you must act and take decisions impartially, fairly and on merit, using the best evidence and without discrimination or bias.
• Accountability: you are accountable to the public for their decisions and actions and must submit themselves to the scrutiny necessary to ensure this.
• Openness: should act and take decisions in an open and transparent manner. Information should not be withheld from the public unless there are clear and lawful reasons.
• Honesty: you must be truthful.
• Leadership: should exhibit these principles in their own behaviour. They should actively promote and robustly support the principles and be willing to challenge poor behaviour wherever it occurs

Annex 2: Disclosable pecuniary interest

As prescribed by regulations, are as follows:

Definitions

“The Act” means the Localism Act 2011.

“body in which the relevant person has a beneficial interest” means a firm in which the relevant person is a partner or a body corporate of which the relevant person is a director, or in the securities of which the relevant person has a beneficial interest.

“director” includes a member of the committee of management of an industrial and provident society.

“land” excludes an easement, servitude, interest or right in or over land which does not carry with it a right for the relevant person (alone or jointly with another) to occupy the land or to receive income.

“M” means a member of the relevant authority.

“member” includes a co-opted member.

“relevant authority” means the authority of which M is a member

“relevant period” means the period of 12 months ending with the day on which M gives a notification for the purposes of section 30(1), or section 31(7), as the case may be, of the act.

“relevant person” means M or any other person referred to in section 30(3)(b) of the Act (the Member’s spouse, civil partner, or somebody with whom they are living as a husband or wife, or as if they were civil partners).

“securities” means shares, debentures, debenture stock, loan stock, bonds, units of a collective investment scheme within the meaning of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 and other securities of any description, other than money deposited with a building society.