Conduct, Complaints and Standards

North West Leicestershire Audit and Governance Committee

The Council has appointed an Audit and Governance Committee in accordance with the provisions set out in the Council’s Arrangements under the Localism Act 2011.

 The Committee consists of District Council Members with the option to co-opt Parish Council Members if it is felt appropriate and relevant to the matters before the Committee.

 The Council has also appointed a pool of Independent Persons to assist the Committee with matters of Conduct.

The Monitoring Officer

Local Authorities are required to appoint a Monitoring Officer to generally oversee the introduction and operation of the Councillors Code of Conduct and to keep the statutory Register of Members Interests.

The Monitoring Officer’s duties include advising the Audit and Governance Committee on investigations or determination of complaints referred to it under the Council’s Arrangements.

The Monitoring Officer also has a duty to report to the Council on any unlawful decisions or actions of the Executive. The Monitoring Officer is available to advise individual Councillors about compliance with the Code of Conduct.

Councillors' Interests

Register of Councillors' Interests

All Councillors (District and Parish) are required to register their interests in a Register kept by the District Council’s Monitoring Officer. The requirement to disclose the interests as set down in the Localism Act 2011 and includes interests of the spouse or partner of the Councillor also.

The sort of things that have to be registered are set out by Government Regulations together with any other interests the Council feels are appropriate for ensuring the high standards of conduct expected from Councillors. These include land ownership, employment, membership of certain bodies.  

The Register also includes details of certain organisations that Councillors belong to, whether nominated by the Council, or in their own right, including public authorities or similar bodies, companies, industrial and provident societies, charities or similar bodies whose principle purposes include influencing public opinion or policy, and any Trade Union membership or membership of professional associations. The Register of Interests of both Parish and District Councillors is available for public inspection at the Council Offices in Coalville (see the Members Code of Conduct (PDF Document, 0.1 Mb) for full details).

The Register of Parish and District Councillor's Interests is available for public inspection at the Council Offices in Coalville.

Declarations of Interests - When Are Councillors Required to Leave Meetings?

If anything comes up for discussion at any Council meeting (including any Committees, Sub-Committees or other meetings conducting Council business) in which the Councillor has an interest, including anything which is already registered on the Register of Interests, then the Councillor has to declare that interest to the meeting and ensure any new interest is recorded on their Register.

Councillors have to consider whether their interest is of a financial nature falling within the statutory definition of a Disclosable Penuciary Interest. Where such an interest exists the Councillor is statutorily forbidden from taking part in the matter and must leave the meeting before the matter is discussed.

There are certain circumstances when Members can still participate and advice should be sought from the Monitoring Officer on these points. (see the  Guidance on the Code of Conduct (PDF Document, 0.23 Mb) for details).