What is the Code of Conduct?
Councillors and co-opted members must observe various rules of conduct.
How it works
The council has a duty to promote and maintain high standards of conduct by members and co-opted members of the council, and formally adopt a code of conduct, in accordance with the Localism Act 2011.
All elected Oxfordshire County Councillors and co-opted members (referred to jointly as members) must comply with the members' code of conduct. The code sets out the ethical framework within which members must conduct themselves and the council's business.
They must observe various rules of conduct, such as registering any employment, business or financial interests they may have.
A full description of the rules that members must observe, including what financial and other interests are relevant, is set out in the council's Constitution:
- 9.1 Members' Code of Conduct (including General Principles) (pdf format, 40Kb)
- 9.6 Protocol on Member/ Officer Relations (pdf format, 112Kb).
Complaints
The council is responsible for considering complaints that a member may have breached the code of conduct.
Employees code of conduct
Council employees are governed by the 9.7 Officers' Code of Conduct (pdf format, 423Kb). This is separate from the Members' Code of Conduct and also in the council's Constitution.