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The purpose of this Code of Conduct is to assist you, as a Member, in modelling the behaviour that is expected of you, to provide a personal check and balance, and to set out the type of conduct that could lead to action being taken against you. It is also to protect you, the public, fellow Members, local authority officers and the reputation of local government. It sets out general principles of conduct expected of all Members and your specific obligations in relation to standards of conduct. The LGA encourages the use of support, training and mediation prior to action being taken using the Code. The fundamental aim of the Code is to create and maintain public confidence in the role of Member and local government.

This Code of Conduct has been developed from the Model Code of Conduct published by the Local Government Association (LGA). The LGA has also produced guidance to accompany its Model Code. This guidance is a useful reference point for Members and officers on the application of the Code.

Although the guidance is a useful reference for officers and Members, it will be for the Monitoring Officer in consultation with the Independent Person and/or Standards Advisory Committee as appropriate, (applying the Code), to determine whether a Member has breached it.

Everyone in public office at all levels; all who serve the public or deliver public services, including ministers, civil servants, Members and local authority officers; should uphold the Seven Principles of Public Life , also known as the Nolan Principles. The Nolan Principles are set out in Appendix A to the Code of Conduct.

https://www.local.gov.uk/publications/guidance-local-government-association-model-councill or-code-conduct#impartiality-of-officers-

Officers work for the local authority as a whole and must be politically neutral (unless they are political assistants). They should not be coerced or persuaded to act in a way that would undermine their neutrality. You can question officers to understand, for example, their reasons for proposing to act in a particular way, or the content of a report that they have written. However, you cannot require or coerce them to act differently, change their advice, or alter the content of that report.

Impartiality of Officers

https://www.local.gov.uk/publications/guidance-local-government-association-model-councillor-code-conduct#impartiality-of-officers-

https://www.local.gov.uk/publications/guidance-local-government-association-model-councillor-code-conduct#impartiality-of-officers-