Members' Register of Interests
The Code of Conduct states which interests a member of a public body must register. All public bodies included in the ethical standards framework have a duty to set up, maintain make available for public inspection a register of the interests of their members which the relevant Code requires to be registered. The Register must be available electronically and members are required to update their entries in the Register of Interests within one month of their circumstances changing. Public Bodies are also asked to make this information available on their own websites.
Declaring Interests
The Code of Conduct states which interests a member of a public body must declare and when they must withdraw from a meeting and not vote as a result of a potential conflict of interest. The fundamental position is that no-one should use, or give the appearance of using, their public position to further their private interests. The conclusive test is whether a member of the public, acting reasonably, would consider that a member/councillor might be influenced by an interest they have.