Issue - meetings

The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director – Enterprise, Community and Resources, on the revised Members Code of Conduct (the model code).

It was reported that the Local Government Association (LGA) had published some minor changes to the model Code of Conduct for Members. However, a significant change had been made to the prejudicial interest test, which in the Merseyside Model Code and original LGA Model Code was applied to ‘your interests’. The revised drafting properly expanded the scope of the test to include other interests and those of family and associates in accordance with the Principles of Public Life.

The Merseyside Model Code was based on the December 2020 version of the LGA Model Code and the 17 May 2021 version had only recently been made available to Liverpool City Region Monitoring Officers, whilst the 19 January 2921 version was not provided. As such, additional amendments may be subsequently required to incorporate into the Merseyside Code of Conduct any further relevant changes and/or to provide for other local arrangements. Monitoring Officers across the LCR would continue to work together in an attempt to align amendments to the Merseyside Model Code across their respective authorities.

The model code was attached at Appendix A for Members consideration.

RESOLVED:  That  the Board recommends Council to adopt the revised Code of Conduct for Members attached to the report as Appendix 1.