Terms of reference

1.1. The Leyland Town Board (LTB) has adopted this code setting out the expected behaviours required of its Board Members, acknowledging that they each have a responsibility to represent the ambition of the Town Deal for Leyland and work constructively with the Town Deal Delivery Team and partner organisations to develop and deliver the Town Investment Plan and associated activities.

1.2. The Town Deal Board will sign off each stage of a Town Investment Plan and Town Deal. The Board is responsible for:

a. Upholding the Seven Principles of Public Life (the Nolan Principles)

b. Developing and agreeing an evidence-based Town Investment Plan

c. Establishing a clear programme of interventions

d. Embedding arrangements in local plans (where appropriate) and undertaking Environmental Impact Assessments and fulfilling duties on public authorities under the Equalities Act, in particular, and the public sector equality duty

e. Coordinating resources and engaging stakeholders

f. Ensuring communities' voices are involved in shaping design and decision making at each phase of development

g. Ensuring diversity in its engagement with local communities and businesses

h. Helping develop detailed business cases

i. Overseeing each step of agreeing a Town Deal, and overseeing compliance with the Heads of Terms Agreement with government

1.3. Elaborating on point A above and in accordance with the Towns Fund Prospectus, when acting in a Board Member capacity, members must be committed to behaving in a manner that is consistent with the Nolan principles to achieve best outcome for our residents and maintain public confidence in the actions of the Board;

SELFLESSNESS:

Holders of public office should act solely in terms of the public interest.

INTEGRITY:

Holders of public office must avoid placing themselves under any obligation to outside individuals or organisations that might try inappropriately to influence them in their work. They should not act or take decisions in order to gain financial or material benefits for themselves, their family or their friends. They must declare and resolve any interests and relationships.

OBJECTIVITY:

Holders of public office must act and take decisions impartially, fairly and on merit, using the best evidence and without discrimination or bias. ACCOUNTABILITY: Holders of public office are accountable for their decisions and actions to the public and must submit themselves to the scrutiny necessary to ensure this.

OPENNESS:

Holders of public office should act and take decisions in an open and transparent manner. Information should not be withheld from the public unless there are clear and lawful reasons for so doing.

HONESTY:

Holders of public office should be truthful.

LEADERSHIP:

Holders of public office should exhibit these principles in their own behaviour. They should actively promote and robustly support the principles and be willing to challenge poor behaviour wherever it occurs.

CONFLICTS OF INTEREST

1.4. A conflict of interest arises where a Board Member, a close associate, immediate family, business, organisation or employer has an interest in a matter which is the same as, connected to or may be affected by the matter under discussion.

1.5. A Register of Interests shall be established and completed by all members of the Board. This shall be made available to the Chair at all meetings. The LTD Delivery Team will maintain a register of Board Member interests that will be reviewed annually to ensure it is up to date.

1.6. At a meeting, Board Members must declare any interest, which they have in any matter to be considered at that meeting. The Board may, at any time authorise a Member to remain in the meeting whilst a matter in which they have or may have a conflict of interest is discussed, then a Member may speak on the item but must not vote on it. Registration of Gifts and Hospitality

1.7. Board Members must register in the Register of Members Gifts and Hospitality, held by the LTD Delivery Team, any gift or hospitality worth £5 or over received (or offered), in connection with their official duties as a Board Member and the source of that gift or hospitality (or offer) within 28 days of receiving it. Acceptance by Board Members of hospitality through attendance at relevant events, conferences and other Board related activity is acceptable where it is clear the hospitality is corporate rather than personal.

2.0 Complaints where a person has reason to believe that the conduct of a Board Member of the LTB has fallen short of the standards set out above, encapsulated in the Nolan Principles, a complaint may be made in writing to; Governance Team, South Ribble Borough Council, Civic Centre, West Paddock, Leyland, PR25 1DH