Agenda item

Guidance to Members – Members’ Code of Conduct

The Chairman suggested that the Committee take this opportunity to review Paragraphs 19-27 of the Guidance to members in light of some issues highlighted at the informal meeting with the Chairman of the Policy and Resources Committee earlier this morning and the general need to encourage a culture of transparency throughout the Corporation.

During discussion, the following points were made:

·        It was suggested that some preamble be added before paragraph 19 stating that the guidance around what should and should not be declared should not preclude Members from making any additional, precautionary declarations in order to encourage an ‘if in doubt, declare’ approach going forward. It was also suggested that the ‘public perception test’ should be referred to within this preamble;

·        It was suggested that paragraph 19 be amended to read “…that might reasonably be perceived to meet the thresholds set out in the Code”;

·        With regard to paragraph 20, it was agreed that the final bullet point regarding approximate values should be removed from the guidance but that reference should still be made to cumulative thresholds. It was then suggested that the first bullet point be expanded to read “description of the gift or hospitality (i.e. tickets to a theatre performance) including, where relevant, its value”. Finally, it was suggested that a note should be added to the third bullet point under paragraph 20 stating that Members should specify both the individual or organisation paying for an event and the individual or organisation from whom the invitation was received, if different;

·        Under paragraph 21, it was suggested that bullet point two (local government dinners) be removed from this list. It was also suggested that the final bullet point under paragraph 21 be removed;

·        It was agreed that paragraph 22 be removed and that, instead, the new arrangements around the Lord Mayor and Sheriffs declarations should be incorporated;

·        It was suggested that paragraph 23 should be strengthened to make it explicit that gifts and hospitality received by friends and family of a Member, by virtue of their being a Member, were also declarable. It was also suggested that Members’ attention should be drawn to the need to be mindful of where their private activities might cross over with or be perceived to cross over with their City of London activities;

·        Under paragraph 25, it was suggested that the text in brackets after bullet point two be removed from the guidance. It was also suggested that ‘formal luncheons’ be added to the examples already listed.

The Chairman requested that Officers work up a new draft of the Guidance document to be reviewed by the Committee at their next meeting.