Issue - meetings

Adoption of a revised code of conduct

Meeting: 19/05/2022 - Council (Item 10)

10 Adoption of Oxfordshire Code of Conduct for Councillors pdf icon PDF 277 KB

The Joint Audit and Governance Committee, at its meeting on 29 March 2022, considered the report of the councils’ monitoring officer on a draft model Code of Conduct.

 

The committee agreed to recommend the adoption of the Code to both South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse District Councils.

 

The report of the monitoring officer, which the committee considered on 29 March, is attached.

 

RECOMMENDATION: to approve the Oxfordshire Code of Conduct, appended to the report of the monitoring officer to the meeting of the Joint Audit and Governance Committee held on 29 March 2022.

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Council considered the recommendation of the Joint Audit and Governance Committee, made at its meeting on 29 March 2022, to adopt the Oxfordshire Code of Conduct.

 

RESOLVED: to approve the Oxfordshire Code of Conduct, appended to the report of the monitoring officer to the meeting of the Joint Audit and Governance Committee held on 29 March 2022.

 


Meeting: 29/03/2022 - Joint Audit and Governance Committee (Item 129)

129 Adoption of Oxfordshire code of conduct for councillors pdf icon PDF 237 KB

To consider the report of the head of legal and democratic and monitoring officer.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The monitoring officer introduced the report and explained that they had some concerns regarding the existing code of conduct for the two councils. The monitoring officer explained that they had worked with other monitoring officers across Oxfordshire to produce an Oxfordshire Code of Conduct which was based on the LGA model code with some refinements. The proposed model code was described as being far more comprehensive, and gave members clearer guidance on what was expected in terms of ethical standards and behaviour. The guidance that would complement the new document was expected to act as a complimentary piece. The committee were then told that further training for members would take place in June and September, and the monitoring officer concluded that should the committee express satisfaction and commend the code of conduct to the council, it would be sent to Annual Council and take immediate effect once adopted.

 

The committee commented that they supported the harmonisation of a code of conduct across the Oxfordshire authorities, and that this would both protect members and officers, and be a positive step forward. The committee also expressed wider support for the training that would be delivered and indicated strong support for the proposed Oxfordshire Code of Conduct.

 

A question was asked regarding other registrable interests and what was considered a body in which an interest would need to be declared. The response from the monitoring officer was that it would be applicable where a member had influence such as management or general control. This would take away from purely a financial perspective, but ensure members did not take part in matters where they would have other vested interests.

 

South Oxfordshire District Council RESOLVED: to approve the Oxfordshire Code of Conduct appended in the report and commend it to the council for adoption.

 

Vale of White Horse District Council RESOLVED: to approve the Oxfordshire Code of Conduct appended in the report and commend it to the council for adoption.

 


 

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