Pencil question has councillors in Milton Keynes in a spin over sharpening their code of conduct

The proposed wording of a rule governing what councillors should do when being offered gifts had one leading councillor scratching his head over whether receiving a pencil or a cup of tea could be seen as being improperly influenced.

Proposed wording says that councillors have to agree to: “I do not accept gifts or hospitality, irrespective of estimated value.”

But Cllr Brackenbury (Lib Dem, Campbell Park & Old Woughton), said: “Reading that at face value I cannot accept a pencil from someone who theoretically might put a planning application in.

“I think that needs a little bit of a common sense test on it and maybe some alternative wording.

“The intent is absolutely fine. We want to show we are above board, we are not improperly influenced in any decision making.”

The current rules say councillors must declare any gift, benefit, or hospitality valued at more than £100. It is being proposed that this be reduced to £50 but Cllr Brackenbury was unclear about associated wording.

Cllr Brackenbury, who was chairing Thursday’s meeting of the standards committee, added that he thought the proposed net was so wide that “literally any anything could fall into”, which could mean that councillors become trapped for trivial matters.

“For example if somebody is at a meeting where there is teas in the corner. Would it be a standards issue to accept a cup of tea in a meeting?,” he asked.

Councillors across the country are considering the adoption of new codes of conduct.

Members of the committee decided to set up a politically balanced working group to chew over issues in more detail, with a plan to make proposals to a meeting of the council before the municipal year ends in May.

The committee also agreed to propose that the council should adopt social media guidance.

Some elected members have found themselves in hot water with the public over using their phones in meetings.

Councillors are also facing complaints about what they do during meetings. The standards committee heard that there has been a recent flood of at least six complaints following a controversial four hour meeting of the audit committee in December.

Members were discussing a report into the Blakelands warehouse planning issue and residents complained after seeing councillors yawning, eating, watching the television, and allegedly falling asleep.

The committee heard that the complaints, which are rising overall, are currently under investigation by the council.

Councillors are reminded to switch off their videos and microphones when not speaking at the start of meetings, but the advice has had limited success so far.