The Local Authorities (Model Code of Conduct) (England) Order 2001

Participation in Relation to Disclosed Interests

12.—(1) Subject to sub-paragraph (2) below, a member with a prejudicial interest in any matter must—

(a) withdraw from the room or chamber where a meeting is being held whenever it becomes apparent that the matter is being considered at that meeting, unless he has obtained a dispensation(1) from the authority’s standard’s committee;

(b) not exercise executive functions in relation to that matter; and

(c) not seek improperly to influence a decision about that matter.

(2) A member with a prejudicial interest may, unless that interest is of a financial nature, and unless it is an interest of the type described in paragraph 11 above, participate in a meeting of the authority's—

(a) overview and scrutiny committees; and

(b) joint or area committees,

to the extent that such committees are not exercising functions of the authority or its executive.

13.  For the purposes of this Part, “meeting” means any meeting of—

(a) the authority;

(b) the executive of the authority; or

(c) any of the authority’s or its executive’s committees, sub-committees, joint committees, joint sub-committees, or area committees.

(1)

Under section 81(5) of the Local Government Act 2000, the Secretary of State may prescribe in regulations the circumstances in which standards committees may grant dispensations.