Issue - meetings

Councillors were reminded that, at its meeting on 6 October 2020, the Council had considered a report on the outcome of a review by the Corporate Governance Task Group of the Councillors’ Code of Conduct, including the policy on acceptance of gifts and hospitality by councillors. 

As well as including a new requirement for the registration and declaration of certain non-pecuniary interests, the revised code made some significant changes to provisions on the acceptance of gifts and hospitality.  However, following the Council meeting on 6 October, officers identified an anomaly in the interpretation of this part of the Code, which required clarification. 

The Task Group had considered the matter again and had recommended some further remedial alterations to the Code, details of which were set out in the report submitted to the Council.

Upon the motion of Councillor Deborah Seabrook, seconded by Councillor Nigel Manning, the Council:

RESOLVED: That the proposed revisions to the Acceptance of Gifts and Hospitality section of the Councillors’ Code of Conduct, as set out in paragraph 4.10 of the report submitted to the Council, be adopted and implemented with immediate effect.

Reason:

To address and correct the anomaly in respect of acceptance of gifts and hospitality in the revised code of conduct agreed by the Council on 6 October 2020.