Would it be in the best interest of a parish council to co-opt a third family member on to the council.

Question

Husband and wife voted on at the election. Now a vacancy as one Cllr left. Son applies to be co-opted...... Thinking of the Nolan Principle

Answer 1

I was once clerk to a council where we had 4 family members out of 18 councillors.  It worked fine because they were of independent mind and voted with their conscience, not their relationship.  I never felt that they voted as a family.

Answer 2

I don't understand your rerference to the Nolan Principles. Everyone should be following them, family or not. Can you expand on your concern regarding those?

Answer 3

If the son is not the only candidate who applies for co option, yes -  as long as he is judged to meet all necessary legislative requirements and deemed to be competent and willing to be a public servant.

If there is more than one candidate, it would not be in the interests of the PC to covertly appoint him in preference to the other (s).  All should be evaluated and the best candidate should be appointed. If that one is not a relative of exisitng councillors, then the relative should not be appointed.

Answer 4

This isn't adivsable, though it has happened in our council, whilst there is possibly no rule against it, take for example if one of the family was to be nominated for postion of chairperson, it wouldn't be appropriate for a family member to nominate or to take part in a vote relating to anyone in their family, this however has happened in some charities where family members have taken part in votes, of course in a council meeting they have to record the votes so they would know who takes part in it. I would say it's inappropriate as they need to be impartial.