Cusop Parish Council has adopted a new Code of Conduct for councillors – and new rules to control spending.
The changes are necessary to keep up to date with the law, and with best practise.
The Code of Conduct sets out how councillors are expected to behave: in some circumstances breaching the rules can mean breaking the law.
The Code of Conduct is based on Herefordshire’s model, which is itself based on the seven principles of public life.
The new Code updates the earlier Cusop Code of Conduct, which dated from 2012.
They seven principles of public life are:
Selflessness
Holders of public office should act solely in terms of the public interest.
Integrity
Holders of public office must avoid placing themselves under any obligation to people or organisations that might try inappropriately to influence them in their work. They should not act or take decisions in order to gain financial or other material benefits for themselves, their family, or their friends. They must disclose and resolve any interests and relationships.
Objectivity
Holders of public office must act and take decisions impartially, fairly and on merit, using the best evidence and without discrimination or bias.
Accountability
Holders of public office are accountable to the public for their decisions and actions and must submit themselves to the scrutiny necessary to ensure this.
Openness
Holders of public office should act and take decisions in an open and transparent manner. Information should not be withheld from the public unless there are clear and lawful reasons for so doing.
Honesty
Holders of public office should be truthful.
Leadership
Holders of public office should exhibit these principles in their own behaviour. They should actively promote and robustly support the principles and be willing to challenge poor behaviour wherever it occurs.
Cusop Parish Council has also updated its Financial Regulations, which ensure public money is spent wisely, decisions are made transparently, and that your council tax is not raised unnecessarily. It contains important protections against mis-use of funds, including fraud.
The new Financial Regulations replace an earlier version agreed in 2015.
Copies of both documents are linked below:
Cusop – Councillors’ Code of Conduct – June 2024
Cusop Parish Council – Financial Regulations – Adopted June 2024