Policies & Procedures

(ALL POLICIES ARE AVAILABLE TO VIEW BY CLICKING ON THE LINKS BELOW)

All Councils are governed by legislation which is regularly being updated.  The majority of laws concerning Local Councils are within the Local Government Act of 1972.  Transparency and the Localism Act (2012) were introduced in recent years, along with the most recent legislation of GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation). 

As a result, Councils require a set of policies.  The most important of these are now the Standing Orders which lay out how the Council operates, and the Financial Regulations which state how the Council manages its finances.

Additionally, and in the interests of transparency, all Councillors are required to accept the Code of Conduct and to submit a record of their interests to the District Council.  Any member of the public can ask to see those interests.

During a meeting, in an item being raised might relate to an ‘interest’ of a Councillor, the Councillor is required by law to reveal that there is an interest.  Depending on the interest, the Councillor will declare a Non-Pecuniary Interest (insofar that he/she will have NO monetary gain or loss) or a Pecuniary Interest where he/she will have a monetary gain or loss.  If there is a Pecuniary Interest, it is normal for the Councillor to leave the meeting and the room and to no part in the debate.  The Councillor can ask for a dispensation to take part in the discussion for a Pecuniary Interest, which the Council would have to resolve to accept.