Decision details

General Dispensation granted to all members of the Council for a period of 12 months from today’s date, in the following terms:

You may participate in any business of the Council where that business relates to the Council’s functions in respect of:
(i) housing, where you are a tenant of your authority provided that those functions do not relate particularly to your tenancy or lease;
(ii) school meals or school transport and travelling expenses, where you are a parent or guardian of a child in full-time education, or are a parent governor of a school, unless it relates particularly to the school which the child attends;
(iii) statutory sick pay under Part XI of the Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992, where you are in receipt of, or are entitled to the receipt of, such pay;
(iv) an allowance, payment or indemnity given to councillors or co-opted members;
(v) any ceremonial honour given to councillors; and
(vi) setting Council Tax or a precept under the Local Government Finance Act 1992.

The general dispensation was agreed by members in 2021 when they adopted the Code of Conduct. The new Model Code of Conduct adopted in January 2025 does not contain this provision.
S33 Localism Act 2011 provides that a dispensation may be granted where so many Members of the decision-making body have an interest in a matter that the business of the meeting would be impeded.
I consider that a general dispensation is needed to ensure that the lawful business of the meeting is not impeded.

Not to grant a dispensation. This would mean that all councillors would have to declare an interest and for some cases, that may be a disclosable pecuniary interest.

Delegated authority set out in 2.4.10 of the Constitution – Power to grant dispensations