Standing Orders

Code of Conduct & Dispensations – SO13

 [Note: See also SO3.21.]

  1. All councillors and non-councillors with voting rights shall observe the code of conduct adopted by the Council.
  2. Unless he has been granted a dispensation, a councillor or non-councillor with voting rights shall withdraw from a meeting when it is considering a matter in which he has a disclosable pecuniary interest. He may return to the meeting after it has considered the matter in which he had the interest.
  3. Unless he has been granted a dispensation, a councillor or non-councillor with voting rights shall withdraw from a meeting when it is considering a matter in which he has another interest if so required by the Council's code of conduct. He may return to the meeting after it has considered the matter in which he had the interest.
  4. Dispensation requests shall be in writing and submitted to the Proper Officer as soon as possible before the meeting.
    Failing that, it should be submitted at the start of the meeting for which the dispensation is required.
  5. A decision as to whether to grant a dispensation shall be made by a meeting of the Council, or committee or sub-committee for which the dispensation is required and that decision is final
  6. A dispensation request shall confirm:
    • the description and the nature of the disclosable pecuniary interest or other interest to which the request for the dispensation relates;  
    • whether the dispensation is required to participate at a meeting in a discussion only or a discussion and a vote;
    • the date of the meeting or the period (not exceeding four years) for which the dispensation is sought; and  
    • an explanation as to why the dispensation is sought.
  7. Subject to SOs 13.4 and 13.6, a dispensation request shall be delivered to the Proper Officer before the meeting or, if this is not possible, at the start of the meeting for which the dispensation is required.  
  8. A dispensation may be granted in accordance with SO13.5 if having regard to all relevant circumstances any of the following apply:
    • without the dispensation the number of persons prohibited from participating in the particular business would be so great a proportion of the meeting transacting the business as to impede the transaction of the business;  
    • granting the dispensation is in the interests of persons living in the Council's area; or
    • it is otherwise appropriate to grant a dispensation