Community Planning Equality and Diversity Working Group

We work in partnership to empower people to make positive contributions to their communities, by challenging discrimination, promoting greater integration and maximising support for everyone across Dumfries and Galloway.

Guide contents

Code of Conduct

All members of the Equality and Diversity Working Group will adhere to the seven principles of public life of:

  • Honesty: You have a duty to declare any private interests relating to your public duties and to take steps to resolve any conflicts arising in a way that protects the public interest
  • Openness: You should be as open as possible about all the decisions and actions that you take. You should give reasons for your decisions, and restrict information only when the wider public interest clearly demands
  • Accountability: You are accountable for your decisions and actions to the public, and must submit yourself to whatever scrutiny is appropriate to your office
  • Integrity: You should not place yourself under any financial or other obligation to outside individuals or organisations that might influence you in the performance of your official duties
  • Objectivity: In carrying out public business, including making public appointments, awarding contracts, or recommending individuals for rewards and benefits, you should make choices on merit
  • Selflessness: You should take decisions solely in terms of the public interest. You should not do so in order to gain financial or other material benefits for yourself, your family, or your friends

Leadership

Members should:

  • should promote and support these principles by leadership and example.
  • show respect for all people and their views or opinions, regardless of race, age, disability, gender, sexuality, religion or belief.
  • act as a champion of diversity and equality and be positive about the Group's aims and objectives, promoting these through the various forums and networks in which they participate
  • prepare for meetings and conduct themselves in an appropriate manner during meetings
  • be responsible for representing the interests of their own service/organisation at meetings
  • not share any sensitive information or any sensitive/controversial views expressed at meetings with anybody who does not need to know that information
  • have the right to speak during meetings and make their point(s) without being interrupted
  • take responsibility for tasks chosen or assigned in meetings

Members will also respect this Code of Conduct. Failure to do so will be dealt with according to the nature of each particular case in the following way:

  • exclusion from the meeting - the Chair will ask the Member to leave for the rest of the meeting
  • representative replaced - the Chair will request a replacement to act as the representative of the organisation
  • there will be the right of appeal to the Lifelong Learning Manager