Review Date: May 2027
General principles of public life
The Localism Act 2011 requires Perranzabuloe Parish Council (PPC) to adopt a Code of Conduct for Members that is consistent with the following principles:
Selflessness – Members should serve only the public interest and should never improperly confer an advantage or disadvantage on any person.
Honesty and integrity – Members should not place themselves in situations where their honesty and integrity may be questioned. The public nature of a Member’s role means the distinction between acting in your official capacity and your private life may become blurred and a Member’s honesty and integrity may therefore be questioned.
As a result, a Member must ensure that, as far as possible, there is clear separation between what they do in their private life and in their capacity as a Member. This is especially the case when a Member’s activity in their private life relates to the functions of PPC and/or their corporate responsibilities as a Member such that a reasonable member of the public may perceive that the conduct comes within the scope of this Code of Conduct.
Objectivity – Members should make decisions on merit, including when making appointments, awarding contracts, or recommending individuals for rewards or benefits.
Accountability – Members should be accountable to the public for their actions and the manner in which they carry out their responsibilities and should co-operate fully and honestly with any scrutiny appropriate to their particular office.
Openness – Members should be as open as possible about their actions and those of their authority and should be prepared to give reasons for those actions.
Leadership – Members should promote and support these principles by leadership and, by example, and should act in a way that secures or preserves public confidence.
Cornwall Council and PPC also expect its Members to observe the following principles:
Duty to uphold the law – Members should uphold the law and, on all occasions, act in accordance with the trust that the public is entitled to place in them.
Personal judgement – Members may take account of the views of others, including their political groups, but should reach their own conclusions on the issues before them and act in accordance with those conclusions.
Respect for others – Members should promote equality by not discriminating unlawfully against any person, and by treating people with respect, regardless of their race, age, religion, gender, sexual orientation or disability. They should respect the impartiality and integrity of the authority’s statutory officers and its other employees.
Stewardship – Members should do whatever they are able to do to ensure that their authorities use their resources prudently, and in accordance with the law.
Whilst these overriding principles are not formally part of the Code of Conduct, they underpin the purpose and provisions of the Code of Conduct and are principles in accordance with which Members should conduct themselves.