Millom Town Council
Millom Town Council was formed in 1974 when the parish boundaries changed from Cumberland.
All members and staff of Millom Town Council (“the Council”) must register any gifts or hospitality they receive in connection with their official duties and whose value exceeds the level stated in Section 5.2 of the Council’s Code of Conduct. You must specify the value of the gift or hospitality, and details of the source from which it came, within 28-days of receiving it.
As with other registered interests, Councillors have a personal interest in any matter under consideration at a meeting if it is likely to affect a person giving them a gift or hospitality. Councillors must declare the existence and nature of the gift or hospitality as an interest at the meeting. You will also need to consider whether your interest is prejudicial.
A form for registering gifts and hospitality can be obtained from the Clerk.
The receipt of gifts or hospitality can be misinterpreted. This guidance is intended to help Councillors consider the implications of receiving gifts and hospitality and to make an appropriate judgement.
Treat with extreme caution any offer or gift, favour or hospitality that is made to you personally which may possibly be perceived to be in connection with your position as a Councillor.
Your personal reputation and that of the Council can be seriously jeopardised by the inappropriate acceptance by you of gifts or hospitality.
The acceptance of gifts and hospitality is not always unlawful or inappropriate. The decision for you, in every case, is whether or not it is appropriate to accept any gift or hospitality that might be offered to you having regard to how it might be perceived.
No hard and fast rules can be laid down to cover every circumstance as to what is appropriate or inappropriate. The following general principles will enable you to make your own decision.
It is a criminal offence corruptly to solicit or receive any gift, reward or advantage as an inducement to doing, or forbearing to do anything, in respect of any transaction involving the Council.
The onus would be on you to disprove corruption in relation to a gift from a person holding or seeking to obtain a contract from the Council.
The Code of Conduct does not apply to:
The expressions ‘gifts’ and ‘hospitality’ have wide meanings and no conclusive definition is possible.
Gifts and Hospitality include:
Common gifts include pens, diaries, calendars and other business stationery, articles of clothing, books, flowers and bouquets. When making purchases you should be cautious if additional services, privileges or advantages are offered which might be related to your position as a Member of the Council.
There are some circumstances where you may accept gifts and hospitality as being in the normal course of your duties as a member:
In deciding whether it is appropriate to accept any gift or hospitality you must apply the following principles:
It is a criminal offence for a person corruptly to give or offer any gift, reward or advantage as an inducement or reward to you for doing or forbearing to do anything as a member of the Council.
You must immediately report to the District Council’s Monitoring Officer any circumstances where an inappropriate gift or hospitality has been offered to you.
You may, thereafter, be required to assist the Police in providing evidence.
Signed: ……………………… …………………………… Chair
Date: 28th February 2024
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JULY 30TH: Methodist Church meeting room
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