The Board Code of Conduct outlines how the Wisbech Town Board expects our members to act. The detailed Code of Conduct has been signed up to by all Members.

A Register of Interests is also held by the Board Secretary and is available upon request by email to mwright@fenland.gov.uk or jblackmore@fenland.gov.uk

Wisbech Town Board Code of Conduct

The Wisbech Town Board has adopted this code setting out the expected behaviours required of Board Members, acknowledging that they each have a responsibility to represent the ambition of the Vision for Wisbech and are also agreeing to work constructively with Fenland District Council's delivery officers and partner organisations to develop and deliver the Vision and associated three-year delivery plan as stipulated by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC).

The Role of the Wisbech Town Board in relation to the Vision for Wisbech is to:

• Develop and agree an evidenced based ten-year Town Investment Plan delivered to DLUHC before November 1 2024, comprising of:
  1. Ten-year Vision
  2. Three-year Investment Plan
• Agree a clear programme of interventions for Wisbech
• Coordinate resources and influence local stakeholders to facilitate delivery
• Approve submission of the Vision and 3-year delivery plan to DLUHC
• Self govern and work closely with Fenland District Council as the Accountable Body

Board Member Standards

When acting in a Board Member capacity, members must be committed to behaving in a manner that is consistent with the Nolan principles (The Seven Principles of Public Life) to achieve best outcome for residents and to maintain public confidence in the actions of the Board;

Selflessness:

Members of the Board should act solely in terms of the public interest.

Integrity:

Members of the Board must avoid placing themselves under any obligation to outside individuals or organisations that might try inappropriately to influence them in their work. They should not act or take decisions in order to gain financial or material benefits for themselves, their family, or their friends. They must declare and resolve any interests and relationships.

Objectivity:

Members of the Board must act and take decisions impartially, fairly and on merit, using the best evidence and without discrimination or bias.

Accountability:

Members of the Board are accountable for their decisions and actions to the public and must submit themselves to the scrutiny necessary to ensure this.

Openness:

Members of the Board should act and take decisions in an open and transparent manner. Information should not be withheld from the public unless there are clear and lawful reasons for so doing.

Honesty:

Members of the Board should be truthful.

Leadership:

Members of the Board should exhibit these principles in their own behaviour. They should actively promote and robustly support the principles and be willing to challenge poor behaviour wherever it occurs.

Conflict of Interests

Having regard to the nature of the likely interventions that will be explored as part of development of the Vision, from time to time a conflict of interest may arise for Board members.

A conflict of interest arises where a Board Member or

• a close associate of a Board Member,
• an immediate family member of a Board Member,
• a business or an, organisation in which a Board Member has an interest, a significant shareholding or is in a position of control in;
• or the employer of a Board Member

has an interest in a matter which is the same as, connected to or may be affected by the matter under discussion.

At a meeting, Members must declare any interest which they have in any matter to be considered at that meeting.

If the interest in the matter being discussed which a member of the public who knew of the facts would reasonably regard as so significant that it is likely to prejudice the Board Member's judgement of the Board's interest in the matter, then the Board Member must declare the interest at the start of the meeting and must not vote on the matter. However, due to the nature of information the Board Member may have relating to the topic under discussion, such as financial, viability, feasibility and volume, the Board Member will be able to take part in the debate.

A Register of Interest will be maintained by Fenland District Council and will be available publicly and will include the following, with any other conflicting interests to be declared and added to the register as detailed above:

• Employment
• Any beneficial interest in land in the town
• Positions of significant control in any businesses or voluntary of charitable organisations such as owner, director, trustee or ownership of 25% or more of the share capital
• Extend to interests of partners regarding the matter above.

Registration of Gifts and Hospitality

Board Members must register in the Register of Members Gifts and Hospitality, held by the Council's Monitoring Officer any gift or hospitality worth £50 or over received (or offered), in connection with their official duties as a Board Member and the source of that gift or hospitality (or offer) within 28 days of receiving it.

Acceptance by Board Members of hospitality through attendance at relevant events, conferences and other Board related activity is acceptable where it is clear the hospitality is corporate rather than personal.

Complaints

Where a person has reason to believe that the conduct of a Board Member has fallen short of the standards set out above, encapsulated in the Nolan Principles, a complaint may be made in writing to:

• Fenland District Council, Fenland Hall, County Road, March, PE15 8NQ
• Or email the Complaints team at 3cs@fenland.gov.uk

The complaint should set out as follows;

• The nature of the complaint
• Details of how the Board Member was acting in an official Board capacity
• Details of which Nolan Principle has been breached and why
• If relating to a conflict of interest, details of how the conflict has occurred and impact of that conflict.

An appropriate FDC Officer will review the complaint and determine if the Board Member was acting in an official capacity and if the complaint was proven, and whether a Nolan Principle may have been breached. If both of these are criteria are met, the complaint will be referred to the Chair of the Wisbech Town Board (or Deputy Chair in the event that the Chair is subject to a complaint).

Removal of a Board Member from the Board

In the event that a Board Member's conduct falls short of that expected and a breach of the Code of Conduct has taken place, the Board may by resolution remove that Board Member from the Wisbech Town Board.

This may only occur when;

• The Board Member has been given at least 14 days clear days' notice in writing of the meeting of the Board at which the resolution will be proposed and the reasons why it will be proposed; and
• The Board Member has been given a reasonable opportunity to make representations to the meeting in person and/or in writing. The other Board Members must consider any representations made by the Board Member and inform them of their decision following such consideration.
• There shall be no right of appeal from the Board's decision to terminate the membership of a Board Member.