8. Councillors

In this section:

Councillors
Role
Chair of the Council
Rights and Duties
Conduct
Allowances
Register of Interests
Code of Member Conduct
Protocol on County Councillor/Officer Relations
Members' Allowance Scheme

Councillors

8.1

Composition and eligibility:

a) The Council comprises 84 Members who are elected as county councillors by the voters of each of the 82 electoral divisions in Lancashire.

b) There are rules about eligibility which must be met before a person can stand for election. Information can be found on the Local Government Association website: Be a Councillor – Lancashire County Council (local.gov.uk) or by writing to the Monitoring Officer at County Hall, Preston, PR1 0LD.

8.2

Elections and Term of Office:

a) Elections to the Council are normally held on the first Thursday in May every four years.

b) County councillors’ terms of office will start on the fourth day after being elected and will finish on the fourth day after the date of the next election.

c) A by-election will be held to fill a vacancy which occurs between elections, unless the vacancy occurs within the six months before the day of the next election.

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Role

8.3

All county councillors will:

a) Collectively through the Full Council approve the Constitution, the Budget, Council Tax levels, Policy Framework, elect the Executive Leader, appoint statutory officers, and carry out a number of strategic and corporate management functions;

b) Be involved in decision-making by participating in Council committees;

c) Represent their communities and bring their views into the Council’s decision-making process, i.e. become the advocate of and for their communities;

d) Deal with local issues and act as an advocate for constituents in resolving particular concerns or grievances;

e) Balance different interests identified within the electoral division and represent the electoral division as a whole;

f) Be available to represent the Council on other bodies;

g) Maintain the highest standards of conduct and ethics and observe the Code of Member Conduct and the other codes and protocols adopted by the Council;

h) Share responsibility with officers of the Council to act as effective and caring corporate parents for looked after children; and

i) Undergo an enhanced criminal record (DBS) check if required under the Protocol for Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service Checks for Members [LINK].

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Chair of the Council

8.4

The Chair and Vice Chair will be elected by the Full Council annually. The duties and responsibilities of the Chair are in addition to their role as a county councillor.

8.5

When acting in the role of Chair, to have the following duties and responsibilities:

a) To preside impartially over meetings of the Full Council so that its business can be carried out efficiently and with regard to the rights of county councillors and the interests of the community;

b) To promote and support the good governance of the Council and its activities to the public;

c) To attend such civic and ceremonial functions as the Council and they determine appropriate;

d) To be politically impartial and uphold the democratic values of the Council;

e) To undertake the duties and functions set out in the Standing Orders in relation to meetings and decisions; and

f) To offer support and advice to members of the Council.

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Rights and Duties

8.6

County councillors have rights of access to such documents, information, land and buildings of the Council as are necessary for the proper discharge of their functions and in accordance with the law.

8.7

County councillors must not make public any information which is confidential or exempt without the consent of the Council or divulge information given in confidence to anyone other than a councillor or officer entitled to know it.

8.8

For these purposes, “confidential” and “exempt” information are defined in the Access to Information Rules.

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Conduct

8.9

County councillors and voting co-opted members must at all times maintain the highest standards of conduct and ethics, and observe:

a) The Code of Member Conduct;

b) The Protocol on Language and Behaviour;

c) The Protocol of Good Practice on Development Control Matters [LINK];

d) Protocol on the Disclosure of Confidential Information; and

e) The Protocol on County Councillor/Officer Relations.

8.10

County councillors and voting co-opted members must have regard to the Seven Principles of Public Life (the Nolan Principles) (gov.uk).

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Allowances

8.11

County councillors will be entitled to receive allowances in accordance with the Members’ Allowances Scheme.

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Register of Interests

8.12

The Council maintains a register of financial and other interests of county councillors in accordance with section 81 of the Local Government Act 2000.

8.13

The register is open to inspection at the offices of the Chief Executive, (Democratic Services), County Hall, Preston, PR1 0LD. Details of individual councillor declarations are available on each councillor's webpage: Council - Your Councillors (lancashire.gov.uk).

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Code of Member Conduct, Protocol on County Councillor/Officer Relations, and Members' Allowance Scheme

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