59. As a Member:
a. I do not accept gifts or hospitality, irrespective of estimated value, which could give rise to real or substantive personal gain or a reasonable suspicion of influence on my part to show favour from persons seeking to acquire, develop or do business with the local authority or from persons who may apply to the local authority for any permission, licence or other significant advantage.
b. I register with the Monitoring Officer any gift or hospitality with an estimated value of at least £25 within 28 days of its receipt.
c. I register with the Monitoring Officer any gift or hospitality that I have been offered but have refused to accept.
d. I will also declare repeated smaller hospitality/gifts which, when combined, would likely exceed £25 within any three-month period.
e. I will consider donating any gifts to the Speaker’s Charity or other charitable causes.
60. In order to protect your position and the reputation of the local authority, you should exercise caution in accepting any gifts or hospitality which are (or which you reasonably believe to be) offered to you because you are a Member.
61. It would be expected that you would accept normal gifts and hospitality in relation to your work. However, if the gift or hospitality was valued at over £100 you would normally only accept it if it directly related to your role as a Member. You should make the reasons for acceptance clear in your declaration.
62. However, there may be times when such a refusal may be difficult if it is seen as rudeness in which case you could accept it but must ensure it is publicly registered.
63. However, you do not need to register gifts and hospitality which are not related to your role as a member and that you would have received anyway such as:
- gifts from your friends and family,
- gifts/hospitality primarily in relation to your employment, voluntary work or similar which are not related to your role as a Member,
- invitations to weddings and similar events from family and friends,
- small gifts or hospitality received as part of weddings, life-events, religious festivals and celebrations that you would in any case have attended in a personal capacity (Christmas, Eid, Hannukah, Ramadan etc).