Councillors’ code of conduct updated in new handbook
An updated edition of the Vale Council’s Candidate and Elected Member Handbook has been issued ahead of elections in May.
The handbook contains information about the way the council is supposed to function and how councillors are expected to conduct themselves.
Councillors are informed in the handbook that they “must agree to follow the Vale Council Code of Conduct as set out in the council’s constitution.” and are warned that “Failure to undertake or observe the code of conduct could result in a councillor being temporarily suspended, issued with a formal censure or removed from office”.
The handbook was briefly discussed during the council’s cabinet meeting on 14th February, where council leader Cllr Neil Moore endorsed the document: “A tremendous amount of work has been carried out, but I think it’s important that anybody who wants to take on this role realises the responsibilities and the commitment.
“Safeguarding everybody and treating everybody with respect is something that social media has taken a hold on – I think there’s too much disrespect out there, and people don’t understand the amount of work by yourselves [referring to the cabinet], myself and others of our colleagues,” he said.
After several of his cabinet colleagues spoke briefly to endorse the handbook, Cllr Moore encouraged people considering becoming candidates for the council to read the document to develop their understanding of procedure and the limitations of the role: “There is an element of caution. No matter how passionate you may be about something, you still have to work within the parameters that are available to you, for example finance, or for example the provision of the legislation that you have to work within.
“With anyone who comes forward, clearly they’re going to need some support. I’ve been here since 1988, and when I came in, we didn’t have this sort of help. I think it’s important because legislation has moved on, but we’re now living in a different era in terms of things like social media, and we have to take that on board.
“If anybody gets in and needs advice, there’s a mentoring system in place with those who are already here, and even, if necessary, those who have now left us,” he said.
The handbook states that elected members have a ‘legal duty’ to act ethically and must ‘have regard to 10 principles: Selflessness, honesty, integrity and propriety, duty to uphold the law, stewardship, objectivity in decision making, equality and respect, openness, accountability, leadership.
This is followed by a list of 17 ‘general rules an elected member needs to follow under the code’.
Many of these rules are unlikely to receive much opposition, such as ‘do not bully and harass people’, but at the top of the list of ‘general rules’ is a controversial statement that councillors have a duty to ‘promote equality’, which is open to wide interpretation and there are fears it will lead to restrictions on freedom of speech.
Several current councillors and candidates for the upcoming elections were approached for comment but were reluctant to do so for fears their remarks would be misinterpreted under the code, but Philip Rapier, a former Labour councillor on Penarth Town Council questioned the purpose of the handbook. He said: “In my ‘other life’, I am an actor and writer, and I’m passionate about freedom of expression.
“The Vale Council are patronising the electorate. Mainstream parties are bound by their own constitutions and manifesto pledges on non-discrimination.
“We are all also bound by the rule of law and the Equality and Human Rights Commission. If candidates need to be told this, then they’re not suitable to stand for public office anyway.
“I am strongly in favour of an egalitarian approach, but I would always question why we need to go beyond what’s stated in law and what the parties commit to in their manifestos.”
Elections to the Vale Council and all other unitary authorities in Wales will be held on 5th May.
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