Code of Conduct

Every authority is required to adopt a Code of Conduct that sets out rules governing the behaviour of its members. All elected, co-opted and independent members of local authorities, including parish councils, fire, police and national park authorities, are covered by the Code.

The Code of Conduct covers areas of individual behaviour such as members not abusing their position or not misusing their authority's resources. In addition, there are rules governing disclosure of interest and withdrawal from meetings where members have relevant interests. Members are also required to record their financial and other interests.

Each authority's Code must include the provisions of the Model Code of Conduct approved by Parliament.  Authorities had until 5th May 2002 to adopt the Code of Conduct 2001. Members of Bovey Tracey Town Council fully subscribed to this Code and adopted the Model Code of Conduct on 15th April 2002.

Authorities had until 1st October 2007 to adopt the Code of Conduct 2007. Members of Bovey Tracey Town Council fully subscribed to this revised Code and adopted the Model Code of Conduct on May 2007.

Procedure for making complaints about Members of the Council

The revised Code of Conduct has changed the way in which you can now complain about councillors:

Since 8 May 2008 the responsibility for considering complaints that a councillor may have breached the Code of Conduct, has moved from the Standards Board to the Standards Committees of local authorities. If you want to complain about the conduct of a Teignbridge District Councillor, or a Teignbridge parish or town councillor, you must submit your complaint in writing to the Teignbridge District Council's Standards Committee.

What this means to you

If you want to make a complaint about the conduct of a Bovey Tracey Town Councillor or a Teignbridge District Councillor, you must submit your complaint in writing to:

The Chairman of the Local Assessment Sub-Committee
Standards Committee
C/o The Monitoring Officer
Teignbridge District Council
Brunel Road
Newton Abbot
Devon TQ12 4XX
Email: monitoringofficer@teignbridge.gov.uk
Tel: 01626 361101

If you want to make a complaint about the conduct of a Devon County Councillor, you must submit your complaint in writing to:

Roger Gash
County Solicitor
Devon County Council
County Hall
Topsham Road
Exeter
EX2 4QD
Tel: 0845 155 1015

Your complaint will be considered by the Assessment Sub-Committee of the relevant Standards Committee and it will decide whether the complaint will be investigated. Please note that the Sub-Committee can only deal with complaints about the behaviour of a Councillor. It will not deal with complaints about things that are not covered by the Members' Code of Conduct.

If you make a complaint under this procedure it must be about why you think a Councillor has not followed the Code of Conduct and you should specify which provision of the Code has been breached when you write in. We will acknowledge your complaint and tell you what will happen next.

The Code of Conduct for Bovey Tracey Town Councillors can be obtained from the Town Clerk. The Code of Conduct for members of Teignbridge District Council and Devon County Council can be obtained from Teignbridge District Council (01626 361101 – www.teignbridge.gov.uk) and Devon County Council (0845 155 1015 – www.devon.gov.uk)