ANNEX C: REGISTERS OF INTERESTS
Members of public bodies must register certain kinds of interests – financial and non-financial. These are called “Registerable Interests”. You must ensure that these interests are registered at all times and that you update them whenever relevant circumstances change. It is your duty to ensure any changes in circumstances are reported within one month of them changing.
Guidance on registration of interests
Regulations describe the detail and timescale for registering interests. You should review regularly, and at least once a year, your personal circumstances.
Category One: Remuneration
You have a Registerable Interest where you receive remuneration by virtue of being: · employed;
- self-employed;
- the holder of an office;
- a director of an undertaking;
- a partner in a firm; or
- undertaking a trade, profession or vocation or any other work.
In relation to the above, the amount of remuneration does not require to be registered and remuneration received as a member does not have to be registered.
If a position is not remunerated it does not need to be registered under this category.
However, unremunerated directorships may need to be registered under category two, “Related Undertakings”.
If you receive any allowances in relation to membership of any organisation, the fact that you receive such an allowance must be registered.
When registering employment, you must give the name of the employer, the nature of its business, and the nature of the post held in the organisation.
When registering self-employment, you must provide the name and give details of the nature of the business.
When registering an interest in a partnership, you must give the name of the partnership and the nature of its business.
Where you undertake a trade, profession or vocation, or any other work, the detail to be given is the nature of the work and its regularity. For example, if you write for a newspaper, you must give the name of the publication, and the frequency of articles for which you are paid.
When registering a directorship, it is necessary to provide the registered name of the undertaking in which the directorship is held and the nature of its business.
Registration of a pension is not required as this falls outside the scope of the category.
Category Two: Related Undertakings
You must register any directorships held which are themselves not remunerated but where the company (or other undertaking) in question is a subsidiary of, or a parent of, a company (or other undertaking) in which you hold a remunerated directorship.
You must register the name of the subsidiary or parent company or other undertaking and the nature of its business, and its relationship to the company or other undertaking in which you are a director and from which you receive remuneration.
The situations to which the above paragraphs apply are as follows:
- you are a director of a board of an undertaking and receive remuneration declared under category one – and
- you are a director of a parent or subsidiary undertaking but do not receive remuneration in that capacity.
Category Three: Contracts
You have a registerable interest where you (or a firm in which you are a partner, or an undertaking in which you are a director or in which you have shares of a value as described in paragraph 4.19 below) have made a contract with the public body of which you are a member:
- under which goods or services are to be provided, or works are to be executed; and
- which has not been fully discharged.
You must register a description of the contract, including its duration, but excluding the consideration.
Category Four: Houses, Land and Buildings
You have a registerable interest where you own or have any other right or interest in houses, land and buildings, which may be significant to, of relevance to, or bear upon, the work and operation of the body to which you are appointed.
The test to be applied when considering appropriateness of registration is to ask whether a member of the public acting reasonably might consider any interests in houses, land and buildings could potentially affect your responsibilities to the organisation to which you are appointed and to the public, or could influence your actions, speeches or decision making.
Category Five: Interest in Shares and Securities
You have a registerable interest where you have an interest in shares comprised in the share capital of a company or other body which may be significant to, of relevance to, or bear upon, the work and operation of
(a) the body to which you are appointed and
(b) the nominal value of the shares is:
(i) greater than 1% of the issued share capital of the company or other body; or
(ii) greater than £25,000.
Where you are required to register the interest, you should provide the registered name of the company in which you hold shares; the amount or value of the shares does not have to be registered.
Category Six: Gifts and Hospitality
You must register the details of any gifts or hospitality received within your current term of office. This record will be available for public inspection. It is not however necessary to record any gifts or hospitality as described in paragraph 3.7 (a) to (c) of this Model Code.
Category Seven: Non–Financial Interests
You may also have a registerable interest if you have non-financial interests which may be significant to, of relevance to, or bear upon, the work and operation of the body to which you are appointed. It is important that relevant interests such as membership or holding office in other public bodies, clubs, societies and organisations such as trades unions and voluntary organisations, are registered and described.
In the context of non-financial interests, the test to be applied when considering appropriateness of registration is to ask whether a member of the public might reasonably think that any non-financial interest could potentially affect your responsibilities to the organisation to which you are appointed and to the public, or could influence your actions, speeches or decision-making.