Swindon councilors and local officials are asked to disclose gifts and entertainment from companies and other organizations, even if they decline them.
The new guideline will be presented to members of the Swindon Borough Council Standards Committee at its Wednesday meeting.
The report proposing the change states that the new directive must comply with national laws, the Bribery Act 2010 and the Local Government Act 1972.
It says: “These require compliance with statutory disclosure requirements, conflicts of interest, property interests, gifts and hospitality received or offered but rejected.
“However, both the Members ‘Code of Conduct and the Officials’ Code of Conduct are inconsistent with the Anti-Fraud and Corruption Strategy, as gifts and entertainment do not need to be offered, but declined, declared and recorded.
“This could undermine the awareness and understanding of officials and members and limit the ability to review potential bribes related to gifts and entertainment that were offered but declined.”
The new councilors policy, to be decided next week, says gifts or entertainment must be declared worth more than £ 50, but councilors and officials can declare them at a lower estimated value.
Catering from another authority or from events supported by the Council, such as sporting and cultural events, “modest working lunches and adequate hospitality and external visits, meetings or conferences, if they are available to other participants” are appropriate.
Councilors are advised to think about the motivation of the gift giver and are told, “You need to consider whether the gift or entertainment should influence your decision-making, or whether it might appear that way in public. When in doubt, refuse.
The Council does not maintain a list on its website of the gift and hospitality statements accepted by Council members, although a paper list is available upon request.
Each member’s pages on swindon.gov.uk contain each city council’s declaration of interest with a gifts and entertainment section to be completed within 28 days of receiving such an offer.
The only recent statement made by a cabinet member was Council Chief David Renard. He has declared a match ticket and hospitality at the County Ground of Swindon Town after meeting the club directors prior to the club’s first home game of the season.
Coun Renard’s tweets indicate he was at the game with Vice Chairman of the Council Gary Sumner and South Swindon Rep. Robert Buckland.
They may not have received tickets, hospitality, or issued a statement – although Coun Sumner still has 16 days to do so at the time of going to press.