To consider whether a council response should be submitted in respect of the current national model code of conduct consultation.

The solicitor to the council presented the report.

The proposed national code of conduct from the Local Government Association had arisen following a recommendation from the Committee on Standards in Public Life.    There were some differences from the national code of conduct to the adopted code of Herefordshire Council.  The examples of the requirement to declare gifts and hospitality on the register of interest form and the need to declare a membership of closed society were used.   It was noted that there were currently no sanctions which could be imposed on councillors beyond an apology or training.  

The committee were supportive of the proposed responses to the survey questions which had been drafted by the solicitor to the council.   It was confirmed that the proposed responses took into account the views of the independent persons for standards but no views from councillors had been sought.    Details of the consultation had been provided to all councillors in case they wished to submit an individual response. 

In response to a question from a member of the committee, the solicitor to the council confirmed that there were informal arrangements in place but where a member of the public had complained then the formal process would need to be used. 

RESOLVED that

the solicitor for the council be authorised to submit the response to the national code of conduct consultation attached at appendix 4 by the deadline of 17 August 2020.