Code of Practice for Council Members

29 Code of Practice for Council Members 21 The Chairman and Council members shall register in writing their personal interests, direct or indirect, pecuniary or otherwise, when they first join the Council, and annually thereafter, to the Secretary of the Council. The Secretary of the Council will keep the registers of Council members’ interests, which should be made available for inspection or request by other Council members. If any Council member (including the Chairman) has any direct personal or pecuniary interests in any matter under consideration by the Council, s/he must, as soon as practicable after s/he has become aware of it, disclose to the Chairman (or the Council) prior to the discussion of the item. The Chairman (or the Council) shall decide whether a Council member disclosing an interest may speak or vote on the matter, may remain in the meeting as an observer, or should withdraw from the meeting. If the Chairman declares an interest in a matter under consideration, the chairmanship may be temporarily taken over by the Vice-Chairman. When a known direct pecuniary interest exists, the Secretary of the Council may withhold circulation of relevant papers to the Council member concerned. Where a Council member is in receipt of a paper for discussion which s/he knows presents a direct conflict of interest, s/he should immediately inform the Secretary of the Council and return the paper. All cases of declaration of interests shall be recorded in the minutes of the Council meeting. 4.8.2. Undertaking by Council Members New Council member will be invited to undertake in writing the acceptance of commitment to service in the Council, providing their range of skills and pledging to comply with the principles of this Code. They will then have to sign the undertaking on an annual basis to affirm their commitment. 4.8.3. Council Members as Representatives Council members are not the delegates of the constituencies from which they are nominated; nor are their roles of advancing the interests of those constituencies. Council members are nominated in an individual capacity and should not be bound, when speaking or voting, by mandates given to them by others. 4.8.4. Attendance Records and Service Records of Council Members Council members discharge their duties and responsibilities through attending the Council meetings and Council committees.