Councillors declaration of interest

Local councillors have to abide by a code of conduct part of which requires them to declare any interests, gifts or hospitality which they have or receive which could influence any decisions they may make as councillors. The local authority is required to publish these declarations.

 Under the Council’s members’ code of conduct, within 28 days of his election or appointment to office a member must register his financial and other interests in a register maintained by the authority under the Local Government Act 2000. Responsibility for maintenance of the register, which is available for public inspection, lies with the Council’s Monitoring Officer, the Borough Solicitor, to whom members must also notify any changes in those interests.

While the code of conduct places a number of other general obligations on a member as to his conduct a member must specifically consider, when attending any meeting of the authority, whether any item of business concerns any of his registered interests in respect of which he should make a declaration as to its existence and nature. In addition to such a declaration a member must also consider whether the interest is so significant that it is likely to influence his judgment in the matter in which case he should withdraw from the meeting. In addition to considering registered interests, members must also consider, in this regard, whether a meeting might consider an item of business which might be regarded as affecting him or a relative/friend to a greater extent than other persons. Any such declaration made is recorded in the minutes for the relevant meeting,

Members must also under the code of conduct, within 28 days of receiving any gift or hospitality over the value of £25, provide written notification to the Monitoring Officer of the existence and nature of that gift or hospitality. Such notifications are again open to public inspection

No charges are made for inspecting the pubic registers referred to above

For further information please see the Council’s members’ code of conduct contained within the Council’s constitution as well as Part III of the Local Government Act 2000

Useful web link – www.standardsboards.co.uk

Council contact: Liam Henry, Borough Solicitor Tel 01289 301710 or email wh@berwick-upon-tweed.gov.uk