Agenda item

The report of the Monitoring Officer is attached.

The Monitoring Officer submitted a report seeking the committee’s thoughts and suggestions on proposed revisions to the Code of Conduct for Councillors and Co-opted Members. It was noted that following the recent review of, and changes to the Borough Council’s Constitution and the previous Monitoring Officer’s report to the last Standards Committee, it had agreed that revisions to the Councillors Code of Conduct be considered (Minute No.17 2017/18). The report of the Monitoring Officer sought to identify potential areas of addition and amendment to the current code, and in particular the disclosure of non-Pecuniary Interests and the adoption of the Nolan Principles.

The report included information and examples from other council’s Codes of Conduct including Nottingham City Council, Gedling Borough Council and Nottinghamshire County Council and members of the committee considered whether any of the approaches and guidance offered by other councils could potentially be considered for inclusion in an amended Rushcliffe Borough Council Code of Conduct. The Committee also considered whether and to what extent, any additional guidelines relating to the handling of non-pecuniary interests might assist Town and Parish Councils who had already adopted the Borough Council’s Code of Conduct and what effect the amendment to the Boroughs Code of conduct would have on them if changes were adopted at Town and Parish level. The Monitoring Officer provided a suggested list of key policies, protocols and procedure for the Committee to comment upon which were included as appendices to his report.

Members of the Committee agreed that there was scope for improvement in areas that were already included in the Code of Conduct that were currently included to add clarity and aid understanding and supported the list of key policies, protocols and procedures and the introduction of a social media protocol that had been suggested by the Monitoring Officer.  Members also agreed that the Monitoring Officer should contact the Town and Parish Council Clerks to request information on their current Codes of Conduct and to enquire whether there was any interest in working together to adopt a universal Code of Conduct for all Town and Parish Councils, as well as Rushcliffe Borough Council. Members of the Committee enquired whether there was currently any protocol or guidance on the need to declare membership of Masonic Lodges, the Monitoring Officer advised that he was not aware of any, but that he would investigate this further.

Members of the Committee felt that it would be beneficial, particularly to new councillors, if the Code of Conduct were kept concise, clear and easy to understand and navigate.  Members also felt that it might be helpful were the Code of Conduct to refer to other policies and protocols from other parts of the Council’s Constitution.

Councillor Mallender commented that the Equality policy of the Council should be updated to include types of equality mentioned in the 2010 Equality Act that are not currently mentioned in the policy

It was RESOLVED that:

a)    the report be noted.

b)    the list of proposed key policies, protocols and procedures, as detailed in the report of the Monitoring Officer be supported where relevant to the Council’s activities.

c)     that the proposal for the introduction of a social media protocol be supported, and that the Monitoring Officer drafts a social media protocol for the committee’s consideration.

d)    that the Monitoring Officer contacts Town and Parish Council Clerks to seek information on their current Codes of Conduct and to establish if there was interest the adoption of a universal Code of Conduct for all Town and Parish Councils, as well as Rushcliffe Borough Council.

e)    that the Monitoring Officer looks to investigate and establish if there are any examples the requirement for the declaration of membership of Masonic Lodges that could be considered for inclusion in a revised Code of Conduct.

ACTION SHEET – 2 July 2018