Members are reminded that there are now only two types of Declaration of Interest:
• Level 1 – Personal
• Level 2 – Personal and Prejudicial
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Personal Interests:
• May relate to employment or business interests
• May relate to property interests
• May relate to contents
• May relate to interests in other bodies
or
• If a decision on the matter being discussed, might reasonably be regarded as affecting a Member to a greater extent than other Council Tax payers, ratepayers or inhabitants of the Member’s ward, the well or financial position of himself, a relative or a friend or any employment, business, interest etc of such a person.
Action to be taken in respect of Personal Interests:
The following must be disclosed at the meeting:
• Existence of the interest
• The nature of the interest
These will be recorded in the minute of the meeting by the Committee Officer.
Prejudicial Interests
A Member (or Officer) with a personal interest ALSO has a prejudicial interest if a member of the public with knowledge of the relevant facts would reasonably regard as so significant that it is likely to prejudice the Members’ judgement of the public interest. [There are special provisions which may exclude the above provisions in certain circumstances.]
Action to be taken in respect of Personal and Prejudicial Interests:
Members must:
• Declare the existence and nature of the interest
• Withdraw from the meeting during discussion of the relevant item unless there is a general right for members of the public to speak at the meeting.
• Not seek to improperly influence a decision on the matter
[Members are asked to note that this summary has been prepared to assist Members in deciding at the actual meeting their position on Interests. It is not a substitute for the full explanation regarding Interests as set out in the Council’s Constitution, which all Members must acquaint themselves with.
Members and Officers are advised to seek advice on Interests from the Council’s Monitoring Officer (the Borough Solicitor, Liam Henry) well in advance of the meeting.]
