Councillors' code of conduct: consultation 2020

Annex B

Definitions

1. "Employee"; This includes individuals employed:
a) directly by the Council;
b) by any arms' length external organisation;
c) by any other public body;
d) as contractors by the Council, any arms' length external organisation or public body; and
e) by a contractor to work on any Council premises.

2. "Chair": This includes Committee Conveners or any other individual discharging a similar function to that of a Chair or Convener under alternative decision-making structures.

3. "Committee": This includes all forms of executive and scrutiny operating models. 

4. "Gifts": A gift could be any item or service I receive free of charge, or which may be offered to me at a discounted rate or on terms not available to the general public.  The category covers benefits such as relief from indebtedness, loan concessions, or provision of property, services or facilities at a cost below that generally charged to members of the public. This will include gifts I may receive directly or gifts received by any company in which I hold a controlling interest in, or by a partnership of which I am a partner.

5. "Hospitality": Can include the offer of food, drink, accommodation or entertainment or the opportunity to attend any cultural or sporting event on terms not available to the general public.

6. "Confidential Information": This is: 
a) any information passed on to the Council by a Government department (even if it is not clearly marked as confidential) which does not allow the disclosure of that information to the public;
b) information the which the law prohibits disclosure (under statute or by the order of a Court);
c) any legal advice provided to the Council; and
d) any other information which is reasonably considered would be a breach of confidence should it be made public.

7. "Remuneration": includes any salary, wage, share of profits, fee, expenses, other monetary benefit or benefit in kind. This would include, for example, the provision of a company car or travelling expenses by an employer.

8. "Outside Organisation": Includes all bodies, organisations, charities and community groups to which a councillor has been nominated, appointed or otherwise formally asked by the Council to be a member of or to attend.

9. "Securities": A security is a certificate or other financial instrument that has monetary value and can be traded. Securities includes equity and debt securities, such as stocks bonds and debentures.

10. "Undertaking" means:
a) a body corporate or partnership; or
b) an unincorporated association carrying on a trade or business, with or without a view to a profit.

11. "Election expenses" means expenses incurred, whether before, during or after the election, on account of, or in respect of, the conduct or management of the election.

12. "A person" means a single individual or legal person.

13. "Spouse" does not include a former spouse. It also does not include any individual from whom you have separated and no longer live with, even if you remain married.

14. "Cohabitee" includes any person, whether of the same sex or not, who is living with you in a relationship similar to that of a partner or spouse.