Register of Member's Interests Options

[Simon Kirby]

It's a requirement of serving on a parish or district council that councillors register certain interests for themselves and their partner (a requirement of sections 29 to 31 of the Localism Act 2011 and The Relevant Authorities (Disclosable Pecuniary Interests) Regulations 2012 I believe).

Here is a handy little page of links for all of the parish registers in the WBC area.

One of the catagories for registration is "Any body one of whose principal purposes includes the influence of public opinion or policy (including any political party or trade union) of which you are a member"

So you can browse the registers and see who is declaring their membership of the Newbury Today forum. Except I can't see that anyone is.

[Simon Kirby]

I'm seeing that quite a few councillors aren't actually members of the political parties that they're representing. Is that possible - do political parties allow you to stand for them if you're not a member of their party?

[On the edge]

I suppose it depends on the Party's own rule book. Don't think there is any legal restrictions; the law still thinks we vote for the individual and not the party.

[user23]

It's a requirement of serving on a parish or district council that councillors register certain interests for themselves and their partner (a requirement of sections 29 to 31 of the Localism Act 2011 and The Relevant Authorities (Disclosable Pecuniary Interests) Regulations 2012 I believe).

Here is a handy little page of links for all of the parish registers in the WBC area.

One of the catagories for registration is "Any body one of whose principal purposes includes the influence of public opinion or policy (including any political party or trade union) of which you are a member"

So you can browse the registers and see who is declaring their membership of the Newbury Today forum. Except I can't see that anyone is.

Is this forum a 'body'? Does it influence public opinion?

I'd say no on both counts.

[Simon Kirby]

Is this forum a 'body'? Does it influence public opinion?

I'd say no on both counts.

My view differs:

Is the forum a body? A "body" is any entity, it doesn't have to have a legal identity such as a body corporate, it's any entity that you can notionally be a member of. Perhaps if there was no registration process and anyone could post anonymous messages then such a board wouldn't be a "body" in the sense of the regulations, but with its membership requirement then the membership of the forum is just as tangible as say the west berkshire heritage forum, or a local residents association, or a church, or a patient participation group, or the round table, or an angling club, or indeed an allotment association - all of which have been registered.

Does it influence public opinion? The requirement for registration is that its principal purposes includes the influence of public opinion, and the forum clearly purposes to do that - that's explicitly why I'm here, as you very well know. Whether we achieve our purpose isn't at issue.

Giving the regulation a purposive construction, I'd say the intention was that parishoners could know what bodies the councillors were involved with and the kind of things the councillor might be saying there, and particularly the way the councillor might be trying to manipulate pubic opinion or policy through that body. For example, it could be a prejudicial interest if say a councillor who was a member of the forum was using her position as a councillor to suppress the contribution of other members on the same forum so as to give her miserably weak arguments an easier time.

[user23]

My view differs:

Is the forum a body? A "body" is any entity, it doesn't have to have a legal identity such as a body corporate, it's any entity that you can notionally be a member of. Perhaps if there was no registration process and anyone could post anonymous messages then such a board wouldn't be a "body" in the sense of the regulations, but with its membership requirement then the membership of the forum is just as tangible as say the west berkshire heritage forum, or a local residents association, or a church, or a patient participation group, or the round table, or an angling club, or indeed an allotment association - all of which have been registered.

Does it influence public opinion? The requirement for registration is that its principal purposes includes the influence of public opinion, and the forum clearly purposes to do that - that's explicitly why I'm here, as you very well know. Whether we achieve our purpose isn't at issue.

I don't think I've seen you admit you post on here to influence public opinion before.

[Simon Kirby]

I don't think I've seen you admit you post on here to influence public opinion before.

You thought I was here just because I enjoyed your company? How touching.

[NWNREADER]

Contributors may seek to influence opinion, but amongst a very small group of people. The forum is no more influential than the bunch at the pub deciding who should be in the next England team......

[motormad]

Contributors may seek to influence opinion, but amongst a very small group of people. The forum is no more influential than the bunch at the pub deciding who should be in the next England team......

Nail.
Head

Internet High-five.


This forum is basically a rich, deep, grassy tasting beer serving pub, whose patrons (if such a thing exists, outside of Sprite or Fanta I have no idea) who sit together arguing at the same three people, all of whom post up under psudo-IDs.

[Andy Capp]

Contributors may seek to influence opinion, but amongst a very small group of people. The forum is no more influential than the bunch at the pub deciding who should be in the next England team......

How influential is almost irrelevant, but I do know a number of people who read but don't take part. Where I would doubt Simon's idea, is that this forum isn't a collective body with a common mission. Having said that, perhaps there's a case that councillors should declare themselves if they use it for political messages.

The biggest shame is that councillors don't feel safe coming on here to 'put us right' where appropriate.

[Andy Capp]

Nail.
Head

Internet High-five.


This forum is basically a rich, deep, grassy tasting beer (if such a thing exists, outside of Sprite or Fanta I have no idea) who sit together arguing at the same three people, all of whom post up under psudo-IDs.

And people like you seem only interested in posting such messages these days.

[Andy Capp]

I don't think I've seen you admit you post on here to influence public opinion before.

What is your reason?

[motormad]

And people like you seem only interested in posting such messages these days.

I have freedom to post what I like.
That's democracy for you.

Until such a discussion comes up where everyone can chip in, as opposed to the "few" (I can count on one hand), then what's there to really say.

Seen any straw men lately?

[dannyboy]

So you can browse the registers and see who is declaring their membership of the Newbury Today forum. Except I can't see that anyone is.

Which means that no local councillor is a member of this forum then.

[Andy Capp]

I have freedom to post what I like. That's democracy for you.

I never said you don't. I'm just exercising my democratic right to give a point of view!

Many of your posts lately are just to moan about the forum, I just find it odd that you would still be interested enough to comment on a forum you hold in such contempt.

Until such a discussion comes up where everyone can chip in, as opposed to the "few" (I can count on one hand), then what's there to really say. Seen any straw men lately?

Not while you have been away.

[Andy Capp]

Which means that no local councillor is a member of this forum then.

...or are not declaring that they are.

[motormad]

I never said you don't. I'm just exercising my democratic right to give a point of view!

Many of your posts lately are just to moan about the forum, I just find it odd that you would still be interested enough to comment on a forum you hold in such contempt.

I get bored easily. I don't hold it in contempt, just some of the daft people who are on here.

Not while you have been away.

Touche!

[gel]

Register of Interests

I see only 2 Parishes, both starting with "P" are not conforming by providing Members list of 'financial interests'.

One has Chairman/Acting clerk who is PM's brother no less, and a Barrister, so should be on top of these legal niceities

[dannyboy]

...or are not declaring that they are.

why would they do that? makes absolutely no sense at all. It isn't as if this is the Hellfire Club.

[On the edge]

why would they do that? makes absolutely no sense at all. It isn't as if this is the Hellfire Club.

You've never been to a Great Newt of Orme meet then?