Hounslow Council's Licensing Panel convened on Monday, 28 July 2025, to review the guidelines surrounding the declaration of interests for members under the Members' Code of Conduct. The review was prompted by a note from the Monitoring Officer, which aimed to clarify the different types of interests that councillors must declare to ensure transparency and public trust. These include disclosable pecuniary interests (DPIs) and other registerable interests. The guidance also covered the topics of predetermination and bias, ensuring that members approach decisions with impartiality.

The note outlined that members with a DPI, who have not been granted a dispensation, must not seek to improperly influence the decision. They are required to declare the nature of their interest and leave the meeting room during consideration of and decision on the item, unless they are exercising their right to address the Committee.

According to the guidance, 'improperly influencing' a decision includes any attempt by a councillor with a DPI to sway the outcome of a vote or discussion when they should be recused.

The guidance included an appendix defining a disclosable pecuniary interest, covering areas such as employment, sponsorship, contracts, land, licences, corporate tenancies, and securities. In addition to DPIs, councillors are also required to declare 'other registerable interests,' which include:

  • Any unpaid directorships
  • Any body of which you are a member or in a position of general control or management and to which you have been nominated or appointed by the Council
  • Any body exercising functions of a public nature, directed to charitable purposes, or one of whose principal purposes includes the influence of public opinion or policy (including any political party or trade union) of which they are a member or in a position of general control or management.

The Public Reports Pack contains the Monitoring Officer's note in full.

The Members' Code of Conduct is a document that sets out the standards of behaviour expected of councillors. It is designed to ensure that councillors act in the public interest and do not use their position for personal gain. Failure to comply with these standards can have serious consequences. The guidance note from the Monitoring Officer states, Failure to disclose or register a DPI (within 28 days) is a criminal offence.