VERY PLEASED TO SECOND AND SUPPORT THIS PROPOSAL THAT GOES BEFORE OLDHAM COUNCIL 22 MARCH 2017

 

This Council notes with alarm that there are currently no legislative provisions in place to disqualify a Councillor who is placed on the sex offenders’ register.

Section 27 (1) of the Localism Act 2011 declares that it is the job of a Council to promote and maintain high standards of conduct by members and co-opted members of the authority. Disallowing us to exclude Members who are placed on the sex offenders register compromises the Council’s duty to maintain high standards of conduct by its members.

Oldham’s definition of the role of a Councillor states that he/she should “be an active and visible community leader on behalf of the whole community”. This Council acknowledges that an individual placed on the sex offenders register cannot honestly represent a whole community when they have shown clear contempt towards members of that community.

The nature of a Council’s work makes it unsuitable for an individual on the sex offender’s register to work as a Councillor. The Council works with children, adults in need of social care and adults with disabilities. A Councillor’s role can involve working with these vulnerable groups and therefore it is unsuitable for those groups to have interaction with someone on the sex offenders register.

With this in mind, this Council resolves to:

Make representations to the Secretary of State to extend the 1972 Local Government Act to automatically disqualify any member who after conviction is placed on the sex offenders register.