General conduct
Relationship with Employees of the Public Body
3.1 You will treat any staff employed by the body with courtesy and respect. It is expected that employees will show you the same consideration in return.
Allowances
3.2 You must comply with any rules of the public body regarding remuneration, allowances and expenses.
Gifts and Hospitality
3.3 You must never canvass or seek gifts or hospitality.
3.4 You are responsible for your decisions connected with the offer or acceptance of gifts or hospitality and for avoiding the risk of damage to public confidence in your public body. As a general guide, it is usually appropriate to refuse offers except:-
- (a) isolated gifts of a trivial character or inexpensive seasonal gifts such as a calendar or diary, or other simple items of office equipment of modest value;
- (b) normal hospitality associated with your duties and which would reasonably be regarded as inappropriate to refuse; or
- (c) gifts received on behalf of the public body.
3.5 You must not accept any offer by way of gift or hospitality which could give rise to a reasonable suspicion of influence on your part to show favour, or disadvantage, to any individual or organisation. You should also consider whether there may be any reasonable perception that any gift received by your spouse or cohabitee or by any company in which you have a controlling interest, or by a partnership of which you are a partner, can or would influence your judgement. The term “gift” includes benefits such as relief from indebtedness, loan concessions, or provision of services at a cost below that generally charged to members of the public. You must not accept repeated hospitality from the same source.
3.6 You must record details of any gifts and hospitality received and the record must be made available for public inspection.
3.7 You must not accept any offer of a gift or hospitality from any individual or organisation which stands to gain or benefit from a decision your body may be involved in determining, or who is seeking to do business with your organisation, and which a person might reasonably consider could have a bearing on your judgement. If you are making a visit to inspect equipment, vehicles, land or property, then as a general rule you should ensure that your body pays for the costs of these visits.
Confidentiality Requirements
3.8 There may be times when you will be required to treat discussions, documents or other information relating to the work of the body in a confidential manner. You will often receive information of a private nature which is not yet public, or which perhaps would not be intended to be public. There are provisions in legislation on the categories of confidential and exempt information and you must always respect and comply with the requirement to keep such information private.
3.9 It is unacceptable to disclose any information to which you have privileged access, for example derived from a confidential document, either orally or in writing. In the case of other documents and information, you are requested to exercise your judgement as to what should or should not be made available to outside bodies or individuals. In any event, such information should never be used for the purpose of personal or financial gain, or used in such as way as to bring the public body into disrepute.
Use of Public Body Facilities
3.10 Members of public bodies must not misuse facilities, equipment, stationery, telephony and services, or use them for party political or campaigning activities. Use of such equipment and services etc must be in accordance with the public body’s policy and rules on their usage.
Appointment to Partner Organisations
3.11 You may be appointed, or nominated by your public body, as a member of another body or organisation. If so, you are bound by the rules of conduct of these organisations and should observe the rules of this Code in carrying out the duties of that body.
3.12 Members who become directors of companies as nominees of their public body will assume personal responsibilities under the Companies Acts. It is possible that conflicts of interest can arise for such members between the company and the public body. It is your responsibility to take advice on your responsibilities to the public body and to the company. This will include questions of declarations of interest.