Compact Code of Conduct for Meetings
Since 2010 there has been a specific North East Lincolnshire Code of Conduct for Meetings. The set out aims are:
…to set out clear guidelines for Compact members setting up and/or attending meetings. In most cases, the effectiveness of meetings can be maximised if everyone involved is committed to some simple ground rules for behaviour before and during meetings.
It is important that decisions taken at meetings are informed by having appropriate, accurate information and debate. The wider community must be able to feel that decisions, particularly those affecting the spending of public funds, are fair and have not been influenced by the vested interests of those making the decisions or based on misinformation. This makes it essential that declarations of interest are stated at the outset of meetings.
The Code has been well used by the North East Lincolnshire Local Involvement Network (LINk) over the past few years, but has not necessarily been well used elsewhere.
You can download a .pdf copy of the Code here which you can use or circulate for your meetings. VANEL encourages all local public and community organisations who respect the principles of the Compact to use this Code during their own meetings.
Any questions about this or any other part of the Compact, please email compact@vanel.org.uk.
The entire wording/text of this Code of Conduct is reproduced below:
NORTH EAST LINCOLNSHIRE COMPACT – CODE OF CONDUCT FOR MEETINGS
1. Introduction
The aim of this code is to set out clear guidelines for Compact members setting up and/or attending meetings. In most cases, the effectiveness of meetings can be maximised if everyone involved is committed to some simple ground rules for behaviour before and during meetings.
It is important that decisions taken at meetings are informed by having appropriate, accurate information and debate. The wider community must be able to feel that decisions, particularly those affecting the spending of public funds, are fair and have not been influenced by the vested interests
of those making the decisions or based on misinformation. This makes it essential that declarations of interest are stated at the outset of meetings.
2. Guidelines for Participants
The following guidelines provide a template for all participants to agree either at the outset of each meeting or series of meetings.
Participants agree to:
1. Treat people and organisations with respect without being derogatory in speech or manner – individual and personal disputes should not be allowed to affect conduct within the meeting.
2. Act in the public interest, and not seek to gain advantage for themselves, their family or friends.
3. Act in a way that is fair and unbiased.
4. Allow everyone to take part without interruption or intimidation.
5. Participants do not hold ‘meetings within meetings’ – discussing issues with individuals or groups of individuals as the meeting progresses.
6. Be open and honest about actions and decisions, and give reasons for them.
7. Be clear and honest about whether they are giving a personal view or the views of their organisation.
8. Declare any private interests or interests of their organisation relevant to their involvement and seek to resolve any conflict in the public interest.
9. Avoid acting or speaking in a way that may be perceived as bullying, abusive, discriminatory or derogatory.
10. Ensure confidential information remains confidential.
3. Role of the Chair
The role of a meeting chairperson can often be challenging. In order to manage and direct the meeting effectively and with integrity, the chair should be aware of the code of conduct for meetings and to remind participants of the agreed guidelines if needs be.
The guidelines set out above are intended to support the role of chair, they should be applied fairly and all participants should be made aware that the meeting is to be managed in this way.
Additionally, participants should:
1. Address contributions to the meeting via the chair – in turn, the chair needs to ensure an equal and fair consideration of all sides of an argument.
2. Accept that the time available for meetings is finite and that the chair is empowered to set the time a contributor is permitted to speak if this is necessary to support the conduct of business.
3. Accept that partnership work means abiding by majority decisions, and that partnerships operate on behalf of all the people within a community not for individuals.
4. Non-compliance
Ultimately, the chair has the authority to remind any participant who does not comply with the Code of Conduct that they will be asked to leave the meeting. [At this stage, the Chair may wish to call a brief cooling-off period in order to allow individuals the opportunity to collect their thoughts.] It should be made clear that further non-compliance will result in that individual being asked to leave.* Any person excluded from an individual meeting because of their behaviour will only be allowed to return to future meetings if they agree to abide by the code of conduct.
For further information on NEL Compact Guide to Resolving Disagreements, or other Compact issues contact:
compact@vanel.org.uk or call VANEL on 01472 231123.
*Please note that the Compact Code of Conduct for meetings does not in any way supersede the Public Meetings Act
1908, whereby it is a criminal offence to ‘endeavour to break up a public meeting by acting disorderly’. A full text of the
narrative relating to the Act is available on request.