LOBBYING
Lobbying is recognised as a normal and proper part of the political process but in order to protect their impartiality and integrity from being called into question members will:
Lobbying is recognised as a normal and proper part of the political process but in order to protect their impartiality and integrity from being called into question members will:
- not seek to meet an applicant or potential applicant alone
- in addition to the declaration of pecuniary &non – pecuniary interests make an oral declaration at the appropriate committee of any significant individual contact with an applicant or objectors
- avoid expressing an opinion in advance of the determination of an application which may be taken as indicating that they have made up their mind without hearing all the evidence & the arguments which will be presented at the appropriate Committee
- restrict themselves to giving procedural advice only
- direct lobbyists, applicants or objectors to the relevant planning officer so that their opinions can be included in the officer’s report
- where they do express an opinion explain that they will not be in a position to make a final decision until they have all the relevant evidence & arguments at the Committee meeting
- where he/she considers that his/her impartiality has been comprised declare an interest & withdraw from the decision making process
- not seek to organise support or opposition to a planning application
- not lobby other councillors
- not pressurise officers for a particular recommendation
- not use political group meetings to decide how they should vote on applications to be determined subsequently
- seek the advice of the Monitoring Officer or the Deputy Monitoring Officer when they are unsure whether they have an interest &/or whether it should be declared
Membership of a Parish or Town Council which has expressed a view on an application does not of itself give rise to conflict provided the Member maintains an open mind until he/she has heard all the evidence & arguments which will be presented at the appropriate Committee of the District Council.
Membership of a Committee of the Council acting as a Consultee and/or making a recommendation on a planning application to another Committee or decision-making body of the Council does not of itself give rise to conflict provided the Member maintains an open mind until he/she has heard all the evidence and arguments which will be presented to the decision-making body of the Council.
In addition to the declaration of pecuniary and non-pecuniary interests and any oral declaration at the appropriate Committee of any significant individual contact with an applicant or objector, Members who wish to record any occasion when they have been approached or lobbied in respect of any planning matter may do so in a register kept for that purpose by the Monitoring Officer.
It should be noted that there is no requirement for Members to register such contacts other than provided for elsewhere in this Code of Conduct and those documents and statutes referred to in the Introduction.
