b. Replacing the 2012 Suffolk Code of Conduct

In 2012 all principal councils and, it is believed, all parish and town councils in the County adopted what was known as the Suffolk Code of Conduct.

The Code generally worked well but did have some weaknesses, for example where a matter being considered at a meeting may have 'affected' a member's financial interests, but did not 'relate' to it.  Similarly, there were omissions regarding the interests of a member's wider family members or associates.

One recommendation in the 2019 Review by the Committee of Standards in Public Life was that there should be a national Code of Conduct. Following wide consultation, the Local Government Association (LGA) produced the LGA Model Councillor Code of Conduct.

This has to a large extent addressed the weaknesses of the Suffolk Code, and each of the County's five principal authorities and many local councils have now adopted the LGA Code.  It is anticipated that it will be followed by councils across England, and it is strongly recommended that any town or parish council yet to adopt does so at the earliest opportunity.

It should be noted that the Localism Act 2011 requires the adoption or any amendments to a Code of Conduct to be made by a resolution at full council, and for changes to a council's Code to be publicised to the local community.