50. As a Member:
a. I register and disclose my interests.
51. Section 29 of the Localism Act 2011 requires the Monitoring Officer to establish and maintain a register of interests of members of the authority.
52. An example of an interest is something which is of value to you which you may have through personal, professional or other private reasons. For example, your job, home or other property. Your main financial interests are called Pecuniary Interests.
53. You should note that failure to register or disclose a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest as set out in Table 1 of Appendix B, is a criminal offence under the Localism Act 2011 for which you can be prosecuted.
54. You need to register your interests so that the public, local authority employees and fellow Members know which of your interests might give rise to a conflict of interest.
55. An example of a conflict of interest is ‘a situation where your interests (or responsibility to another organisation) could be (or could be seen to be) in conflict with your responsibilities as a Member’. This is especially important in relation to your role as a decision maker at the Council. Table 3 of Appendix B sets out how different types of declarations should be dealt with at meetings.
56. If in doubt, always seek advice from your Monitoring Officer.
57. The register of interests maintained by the Monitoring Officer is a public document that can be consulted when (or before) an issue arises. Your interests will be published on your Council web page.
58. The register also protects you by allowing you to demonstrate openness and a willingness to be held accountable. You are personally responsible for deciding whether you should disclose an interest in a meeting, but it can be helpful for you to know early on if others think that a potential conflict might arise. It is also important that the public know about any interest that might have to be disclosed by you or other Members when making or taking part in decisions, so that decision making is seen by the public as open and honest. This helps to ensure that public confidence in the integrity of local governance is maintained.