The ethical framework

Such members must adhere to a code of conduct for members, which places general conduct obligations upon them, for example not treating others with disrespect, and which also requires them to:

• disclose the existence and nature of disclosable pecuniary interests to meetings of the authority and its committees and then to withdraw from the meeting (unless s/he has a dispensation from the standards committee / monitoring officer);

• register certain statutorily prescribed disclosable pecuniary interests in the register of members' interests, which is open to public inspection during office hours. The register of members' interests is also available online.

All complaints that a member may have breached the members' code of conduct must be made, in writing, to the County Council's monitoring officer. Please see the standards committee section for more information about making a complaint.