53.—(1) The Department may issue a code of conduct as regards the conduct which is expected of councillors (to be known as the Northern Ireland Local Government Code of Conduct for Councillors).
(2) The code of conduct must specify principles which are to govern the conduct of councillors.
(3) The principles may be—
(a)principles which are to apply to a person at all times;
(b)principles which are to apply to a person otherwise than at all times.
(4) The code of conduct may include—
(a)provisions which are to apply to a person at all times;
(b)provisions which are to apply to a person otherwise than at all times.
(5) The Department must not issue a code of conduct under subsection (1) unless a draft of the code of conduct has been laid before, and approved by resolution of, the Assembly.
(6) The Department may revise or withdraw the code of conduct.
(7) The Department must not issue a revised code of conduct under subsection (6) unless a draft of the revised code of conduct has been laid before, and approved by resolution of, the Assembly.
(8) The Department must not exercise its powers under subsection (1) or (6) unless it has consulted the local government auditor, the Commissioner, councils, and—
(a)such associations or bodies representative of councils;
(b)such associations or bodies representative of councillors;
(c)such associations or bodies representative of officers of councils; and
(d)such other bodies or persons,
as appear to the Department to be appropriate.
(9) If—
(a)the Assembly by resolution approves a draft code of conduct under subsection (5) or (7); and
(b)the draft does not state when the code of conduct is to come into force,
the Department must add a statement specifying when the code of conduct comes into force.