That a councillor is deemed to be acting as a councillor at all times.

Rejected 10 signatures

What the petition asks

To make it law that ALL councillors at ALL levels of councils are deemed to be acting as councillors at ALL times. Also that they must adhere to the Nolan Principles of Public Life at all times. These rules MUST be adopted by ALL councils as part of their Code of Conduct.

This rule will not have an effect on most councillors because they already take their positions seriously. However, a minority of councillors are not held to account when acting wrongly by saying that they were not acting as a councillor at the time. This is wrong as it has the effect of potentially bringing a council into disrepute. Councillors are elected to represent the residents and as such should follow Nolan Principles of Public Life at all times.

Why it was rejected

It was not clear what the petition asked the UK Government or Parliament to do.

Petitions must call for a specific action that the UK Government or House of Commons is responsible for.

Decisions about local authority codes of conduct and scrutiny of councillors' behaviour are a matter for individual local authorities and the electorate, not the Government or House of Commons. The Seven Principles of Public Life (also known as the Nolan Principles) apply to anyone who works as a public office-holder, including councillors.

We could accept a petition calling for it to be made an offence for councillors to breach the Nolan Principles, if that's something you would like to happen.

Timeline

26 Jul 2021	Petition opened for signatures
30 Jul 2021	Rejected by the Petitions Committee

Key facts

Signatures 10

Status Rejected

Rejected 30 Jul 2021

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