Agenda item

Report of the Clerk to the Joint Committee.

The Clerk to the Joint Committee, Sharon Spence reminded Members that recommendations within the External Auditor’s Annual Audit Letter 2009/10 recommended that the Joint Committee adopt the Code of Conduct of the Lead Authority and to have a separate Declaration of Interest return annually for Members of the Joint Committee.  The Joint Committee was advised that a new Code of Conduct had been adopted by Durham County Council on 25 July 2012 which also included an update to the Declaration of Interest to included Disclosable Pecuniary Interest and accordingly, the Joint Committee was asked to agreed to the new Code of Conduct as set out at Appendix 2 (for copy see file of minutes) and for Members to complete a copy of the Pecuniary Interest Form.

Resolved:

(i)         That the Joint Committee adopts the Code of Conduct for Councillors as annexed as Appendix 2 to the report.

(ii)        That all Members of the Joint Committee complete a copy of the Notification of Pecuniary and Other Interests form and return to the Clerk.