THE CODE OF CONDUCT

For members of Ryde Town Council

Introduction and interpretation

This Code which was adopted at July 2012 meeting of the Council and

subsequently amended at the May 2014 meeting applies to you as a

member of Ryde Town Council.

You should read this Code together with the seven general principles

prescribed by the Localism Act 2011 as follows:

SELFLESSNESS - Holders of public office should act solely in terms of

the public interest. They should not do so in order to gain financial or other

material benefits.

INTEGRITY - Holders of public office should not place themselves under

any financial or other obligation to outside individuals or organisations that

might seek to influence them in the performance of their official duties.

OBJECTIVITY - In carrying out public business, including making public

appointments, awarding contracts, or recommending individuals for

rewards and benefits, holders of public office should make choices on

merit.

ACCOUNTABILITY - Holders of public office are accountable for their

decisions and actions to the public and must submit themselves to

whatever scrutiny is appropriate to their office.

OPENNESS - Holders of public office should be as open as possible about

all the decisions and actions that they take. They should give reasons for

their decisions and restrict information only when the wider public interest

clearly demands.

HONESTY - Holders of public office have a duty to declare any private

interests relating to their public duties and to take steps to resolve any

conflicts arising in a way that protects the public interest.

LEADERSHIP - Holders of public office should promote and support these

principles by leadership and example.

It is your responsibility to comply with the provisions of this Code.

In this Code "meeting" means any meeting of:

(a)

Ryde Town Council

(b)

Any of Ryde Town Council's committees, sub-committees, joint

committees, joint sub-committees, panels or area committees

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"Member" includes a co-opted member and an appointed member.

In relation to a Parish or Town council, references to an authority's

monitoring officer shall be read as references to the monitoring officer of

the Isle of Wight Council under section 55(12) of the Local Government

Act 2000.

Scope

a. Subject to sub-paragraphs b to e, you must comply with this Code whenever

you:

Conduct the business of Ryde Town Council (which, in this Code,

includes the business of the office to which you are elected or

appointed); or

ii.

Act, claim to act or give the impression you are acting as a representative

of Ryde Town Council, and references to your official capacity are

construed accordingly.

b. This Code does not have effect in relation to your conduct other than where

it is in your official capacity.

c. Where you act as a representative of Ryde Town Council:

On another relevant authority, you must, when acting for that other

authority, comply with that other authority's code of conduct; or

ii.

On any other body, you must, when acting for that other body, comply

with Ryde Town Council’s code of conduct, except and insofar as it

conflicts with any other lawful obligations to which that other body may

be subject.

General obligations

a. You must treat others with respect.

b. You must not:

Do anything which may cause Ryde Town Council to breach any of the

equality enactments (In particular the Equality Act 2010);

Bully any person;

iii

Intimidate or attempt to intimidate any person who is or is likely to be:

A complainant,

A witness, or

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Involved in the administration of any investigation or proceedings,

in relation to an allegation that a member (including yourself) has

failed to comply with their Council’s code of conduct; or

iv Do anything which compromises or is likely to compromise the

impartiality of those who work for, or on behalf of Ryde Town Council.

You must not:

a. Disclose information given to you in confidence by anyone, or information

acquired by you which you believe, or ought reasonably to be aware, is of a

confidential nature, except where:

You have the consent of a person authorised to give it;

ii You are required by law to do so;

iii

The disclosure is made to a third party for the purpose of obtaining

professional advice provided that the third party agrees not to disclose

the information to any other person; or

iv The disclosure is:

Reasonable and in the public interest; and

Made in good faith and in compliance with the reasonable

requirements of the authority; or

b. Prevent another person from gaining access to information to which that

person is entitled by law.

You must not conduct yourself in a manner which could reasonably be regarded

as bringing your office or Ryde Town Council into disrepute.

You:

a. Must not use or attempt to use your position as a member improperly to

confer on or secure for yourself or any other person, an advantage or

disadvantage; and

b. Must, when using or authorising the use by others of the resources of the

Ryde Town Council:

Act in accordance with Ryde Town Council's reasonable requirements;

Ensure that such resources are not used improperly for political

purposes (including party political purposes); and

c. Must have regard to any applicable Local Authority Code of Publicity made

under the Local Government Act 1986.

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When reaching decisions on any matter you must have regard to any relevant

advice provided to you by the Clerk to Ryde Town Council

You must give reasons for all decisions in accordance with any statutory

requirements and any reasonable additional requirements imposed by the Ryde

Town Council.

You must complete your register of interest within 28 days of being elected and

then update your register of interests within 28 days of any event that requires

a change.

10.

Declaration of an Interest

If you have a matter due to be considered by Ryde Town Council that affects a

matter disclosed in your register of interest or your register of disclosable

pecuniary interests then you must declare that interest before the matter is

being discussed or when that interest becomes apparent.

If the matter relates to an interest in your register of pecuniary interests then

you must take no part in its consideration and if it is being considered at a

meeting of Ryde Town Council you must leave the room for that item, other than

to participate as a member of the public to express your views where public

speaking is allowed under the Council’s normal procedures. In such cases once

you have participated as a member of the public you must leave the room during

the remainder of the debate.

11.

Personal Interests

A Member has a “personal interest” in an item of business where it relates to or

is likely to affect any of the following bodies of which they are a member: a

public or charitable body, any body to which the Member has been appointed

by the authority, any political party, trade union or other body one of whose

principal purposes is to influence public opinion or policy.

A Member also has a “personal interest” in an item of business where a decision

in relation to it might reasonably be regarded as affecting the well being or

financial position of the Member, a member of the Member’s family or person

with whom they have a close association, more than other council tax payers,

ratepayers or inhabitants of the authority’s area.

A Member shall disclose a “personal interest” at a meeting of the authority,

committee or sub-committee, where the Member considers that interest to be

relevant to an item of business being considered at that meeting. The disclosure

shall be made at the commencement of the meeting, or when the interest

becomes apparent, and shall be recorded in the minutes of the meeting.

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Disclosure of a personal interest will only affect the ability of the Member to

participate in discussion or vote on the relevant item if it is also a disclosable

pecuniary interest; OR if the personal interest is so close (ie the mater directly

affects a member of your family). In either case you should exclude yourself

from the meeting.

12.

You must register with the Clerk any gift or hospitality exceeding a value of

£50 that you have been offered (whether accepted or not) as part of your role

as a member of Ryde Town Council.

Ryde Town Council - Standing Orders - Appendix 7 - The Code of Conduct - V2 May 2019