Code of conduct for members
A new Members’ Code of Conduct for North Yorkshire Council applies to the authority from 1 April 2023.
Copies of the Code and Register of Members’ Interests are available for inspection by members of the public, during office hours, at County Hall, Racecourse Lane, Northallerton, North Yorkshire, DL7 8AD and are also available to view below.
We believe in a strong ethical organisational culture. We aim to promote the highest levels of conduct by our members and officers, to increase public trust in the delivery of our vision and objectives, by:
- maintaining openness and transparency in conducting its business
- being accountable for all it says and does
- ensuring that everyone knows what is expected of them
- offering appropriate training and development programmes
- promoting the work of its standards and governance committee
Code of conduct and register of members' interests
All elected councillors and voting co-opted members on council committees must comply with the code of conduct for members when they go about their official duties.
View the code of conduct for members.
The code states that councillors must behave in certain ways, such as treating others with respect. It also sets out the rules about registering and declaring interests. The register of elected members' interests is published online and voting co-opted member interest forms are available to view. The interest forms are also open to public inspection at County Hall, Northallerton, during office hours.
Complaining about a breach of the code of conduct
Before you submit a complaint, please consider whether or not it is an alleged breach of the code of conduct.
- If you have a complaint against a councillor which does not involve an alleged breach of the code of conduct, then you should submit your complaint online.
- Complaints that a member may have breached the code of conduct must be made in writing, using the complaint form. Contact us for a form and return it to:
The Assistant Chief Executive (Legal and Democratic Services) and Monitoring Officer
North Yorkshire Council
County Hall,
Northallerton,
North Yorkshire
DL7 8AD
Tel: 01609 532173
Email: MonitoringOfficer@northyorks.gov.uk
What happens next?
The monitoring officer will then assess the complaint, in consultation with the independent person for standards, in accordance with agreed local assessment criteria.
The procedure for dealing with standards complaints is set out in the standards arrangements document.
The standards and governance committee
The standards and governance committee, supported by the monitoring officer, promotes and maintains high standards of conduct within the authority, assists and advises members and the council on standards and governance issues, monitors the operation of the code of conduct, and, where necessary, determines complaints that members may have breached the code. The committee also has a role in relation to other governance functions such as elections and community governance.
The committee has 10 elected council members. Current membership is set out in the council constitution. The 'independent persons for standards' are also invited to meetings of the committee and are consulted on all key standards issues.
You can view standards and governance gommittee agenda, reports and minutes here.