The Conduct of Members (Principles) (Wales) Order 2001

Made: 21st June 2001

Coming into force: 28 July 2001

The National Assembly for Wales makes the following Order in exercise of the powers conferred upon it by sections 49(2) and 105(1) of the Local Government Act 2000[^f00001].

Citation, commencement and application

1

• (1) This Order may be cited as the Conduct of Members (Principles) (Wales) Order 2001 and shall come into force on 28 July 2001.

• (2) This Order applies to each relevant authority in Wales.

Interpretation

2

In this Order—

• “co-opted member” (“aelod cyfetholedig”), in relation to a relevant authority, means a person who is not a member of the authority but who—is a member of any committee or sub-committee of the authority, oris a member of, and represents the authority on, any joint committee or joint sub-committee of the authority,and who is entitled to vote on any question which falls to be decided at any meeting of that committee or sub-committee;

• “member” (“aelod”) includes a co-opted member; ...

• “protected characteristics” (“nodweddion gwarchodedig”) has the meaning given by section 4 of the Equality Act 2010;

• “relevant authority” (“awdurdod perthnasol”) means—a county council,a county borough council,a community council, a corporate joint committee established by regulations made under Part 5 of the Local Government and Elections (Wales) Act 2021 (asc 1), a fire and rescue authority constituted by a scheme under section 2 of the Fire and Rescue Services Act 2004 or a scheme to which section 4 of that Act applies, and a National Park authority established under section 63 of the Environment Act 1995[^f00003].

Principles governing conduct of members of relevant authorities

3

The principles which are to govern the conduct of members of a relevant authority in Wales are set out in the Schedule to this Order.

SCHEDULE — THE PRINCIPLES

Selflessness

1

Members must act solely in the public interest. They must never use their position as members to improperly confer advantage on themselves or to improperly confer advantage or disadvantage on others.

Honesty

2

Members must declare any private interests relevant to their public duties and take steps to resolve any conflict in a way that protects the public interest.

Integrity and Propriety

3

Members must not put themselves in a position where their integrity is called into question by any financial or other obligation to individuals or organisations that might seek to influence them in the performance of their duties. Members must on all occasions avoid the appearance of such behaviour.

Duty to Uphold the Law

4

Members must act to uphold the law and act on all occasions in accordance with the trust that the public has placed in them.

Stewardship

5

In discharging their duties and responsibilities members must ensure that their authority’s resources are used both lawfully and prudently.

Objectivity in Decision-making

6

In carrying out their responsibilities including making appointments, awarding contracts, or recommending individuals for rewards and benefits, members must make decisions on merit. Whilst members must have regard to the professional advice of officers and may properly take account of the views of others, including their political groups, it is their responsibility to decide what view to take and, if appropriate, how to vote on any issue.

Equality and Respect

7

Members must carry out their duties and responsibilities with due regard to the need to promote equality of opportunity for all people, regardless of their protected characteristics or socio-economic circumstances, and show respect and consideration for others.

Openness

8

Members must be as open as possible about all their actions and those of their authority. They must seek to ensure that disclosure of information is restricted only in accordance with the law.

Accountability

9

Members are accountable to the electorate and the public generally for their actions and for the way they carry out their responsibilities as a member. They must be prepared to submit themselves to such scrutiny as is appropriate to their responsibilities.

Leadership

10

Members must promote and support these principles by leadership and example so as to promote public confidence in their role and in the authority. They must respect the impartiality and integrity of the authority’s statutory officers and its other employees.

Signed

Signed on behalf of the National Assembly for Wales under section 66(1) of the Government of Wales Act 1998[^f00004].

D. Elis-Thomas — The Presiding Officer of the National Assembly — 2001-06-21

Explanatory note

(This note does not form part of the Order)

Part III of the Local Government Act 2000 (“the Act”) establishes a new ethical framework for local government in Wales.

Section 49(2) of the Act provides that the National Assembly for Wales may by order specify the principles which are to govern the conduct of members and co-opted members of relevant authorities (defined in Article 2 of this Order) in Wales.

Such authorities include (amongst others) county councils, county borough councils and community councils, but do not include police authorities.

This Order specifies the relevant principles.

Footnotes

[^f00001]: 2000 c. 22.

[^f00003]: 1995 c. 25.

[^f00004]: 1998 c. 38.

Enwi, cychwyn a chymhwyso

Dehongli

Yr egwyddorion sy'n llywodraethu ymddygiad aelodau awdurdodau perthnasol

Anhunanoldeb

Gonestrwydd

Uniondeb a Gwedduster

Dyletswydd i Gynnal y Gyfraith

Stiwardiaeth

Gwrthrychedd wrth wneud Penderfyniadau

Cydraddoldeb a Pharch

Bod yn Agored

Atebolrwydd

Rhoi Arweiniad

Editorial notes

[^key-11df47dd52b5108f23d31ce9e0c869e4]: Art. 1 in force at 28.7.2001, see art. 1(1)

[^key-50468a9a430e13a74d8efe399ce79360]: Art. 2 in force at 28.7.2001, see art. 1(1)

[^key-5d0151e2960c4c8016686eb499e03e5a]: Art. 3 in force at 28.7.2001, see art. 1(1)

[^key-d73537b00164835a348c3a0d05123426]: Sch. para. 1 in force at 28.7.2001, see art. 1(1)

[^key-5adb281fe0cdfa1cdc40b439f2b7cbf9]: Sch. para. 2 in force at 28.7.2001, see art. 1(1)

[^key-afe9d252c074d84aa0c08ed5e8809426]: Sch. para. 3 in force at 28.7.2001, see art. 1(1)

[^key-a0880bbcc12868aef084192a87e08b79]: Sch. para. 4 in force at 28.7.2001, see art. 1(1)

[^key-ba0a4fd6d45322b657d3f39898c0fe7c]: Sch. para. 5 in force at 28.7.2001, see art. 1(1)

[^key-20d14bded6c51512e5de6eb6e82d4c08]: Sch. para. 6 in force at 28.7.2001, see art. 1(1)

[^key-43b4269d5f62e5285765865f8ac4f6e0]: Sch. para. 7 in force at 28.7.2001, see art. 1(1)

[^key-36e0d17d314de7b7bc3ce476a2562996]: Sch. para. 8 in force at 28.7.2001, see art. 1(1)

[^key-ab0321568bb2494e27bcebc0b7dd7033]: Sch. para. 9 in force at 28.7.2001, see art. 1(1)

[^key-0744a073088d68a362ba520e213c8830]: Sch. para. 10 in force at 28.7.2001, see art. 1(1)

[^key-96ef344f6049929f9c8b4bded20568a0]: Words in art. 2 substituted (25.10.2005) by The Fire and Rescue Services Act 2004 (Consequential Amendments) (Wales) Order 2005 (S.I. 2005/2929), arts. 1(1), 55

[^key-b6f4942e53547c48920742a6757d31be]: Words in art. 2 inserted (5.8.2022) by The Conduct of Members (Principles) (Wales) (Amendment) Order 2022 (S.I. 2022/805), arts. 1(2), 2

[^key-ce36a05b6d3b7269aa286c53e92d27ad]: Word in art. 2 omitted (5.1.2026) by virtue of The Local Government (Standards Committees and Member Conduct) (Miscellaneous Amendments) (Wales) Regulations 2025 (S.I. 2025/1217), regs. 1(2), 3(2)(a)

[^key-0b516464e2f04e1bb1b3f67eb573355e]: Words in art. 2 inserted (5.1.2026) by The Local Government (Standards Committees and Member Conduct) (Miscellaneous Amendments) (Wales) Regulations 2025 (S.I. 2025/1217), regs. 1(2), 3(2)(c)

[^key-9737748b3dad74ffc5f18eab0750de60]: Words in Sch. para. 7 substituted (5.1.2026) by The Local Government (Standards Committees and Member Conduct) (Miscellaneous Amendments) (Wales) Regulations 2025 (S.I. 2025/1217), regs. 1(2), 3(3)