The Code Uncovered - DVD

'The Code Uncovered' , has been produced to help monitoring officers, councillors and standards committees understand their obligations under the Code.

It uses a dramatised scenario to illustrate the lead-up to a potentially explosive planning committee meeting, and highlights the key changes to the revised Code. You can view a clip from the film below or read a text transcript of the scene.

The DVD has been distributed to all monitoring officers and County Association secretaries. Additional copies can be bought from Standards for England at a cost of £12.50 each. To order extra copies, please email publications@standardsforengland.gov.uk.

Video clip

Text transcript of scene from 'The Code Uncovered'

Councillor Hargreaves tries to walk past unnoticed in the street, but Councillor Austin hails her in a jocular way.

Cllr Austin: Hello Councillor Hargreaves! Have you come to sign the petition? 

Mrs Eldridge: (innocently) Oh yes, please do.

Cllr Hargreaves looks disdainfully at the poster, the petition and Mrs Eldridge and stomps off.

Cllr Hargreaves: Unlike Councillor Austin, I'm reserving judgment until I've heard all the facts. Good day.

Mrs Eldridge: Do I get the impression that Councillor Hargreaves is not totally opposed to the development?

Cllr Austin: I couldn't possibly comment.

Mrs Eldridge: Oh dear, you're all being very cautious.

Cllr Austin: Even though we might have a view, councillors can't appear to have prejudged the outcome. 

Mrs Eldridge: (bemused) I see.

Cllr Austin: Otherwise the courts could overturn our decisions. It's called predetermination and you really don't want to go there.

Related information

‘Assessment made clear’, is designed to help standards committee members and local authority officers involved in the assessment of complaints about elected or co-opted members.

Click here to view the trailer.