Northern Ireland code of local government conduct
29.—(1) After section 7 of the principal Act there shall be inserted
“Northern Ireland code of local government conduct.
7A.—(1) The Department, for the guidance of members of councils, may issue a code of recommended practice as regards the conduct of members of councils to be known as the Northern Ireland code of local government conduct.
(2) The Department may revise or withdraw a code issued under this section.
(3) The Department, before issuing, revising or withdrawing a code, shall consult such councils, such associations or bodies representative of councils and such other associations or public bodies as appear to the Department to be desirable.
(4) A code shall not be issued or revised unless a draft of it has been laid before and approved by a resolution of the Assembly.
(5) The form of declaration of acceptance of office under section 7 and Part I of Schedule 1 shall include an undertaking by the declarant to be guided by the Northern Ireland code of local government conduct in the performance of his functions.
(6) In this section “member”, in relation to a council, includes any person who, whether or not a member of the council, is a member of a committee or sub-committee of the council or of any joint committee of two or more councils.”.
(2) In Part I of Schedule 1 to the principal Act (declaration of councillor) at the end of the declaration there shall be added—
“I affirm that I have read and will be guided by the Northern Ireland code of local government conduct in the performance of my functions as a councillor.”.