Committee Member Code of Conduct/Proposed
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This is a draft of a proposed new Committee Member Code of Conduct. |
This code of conduct applies to non-trustee members of Wikimedia UK (WMUK) board committees with delegated powers.
All non-trustee WMUK board committee members must, on taking office, confirm in writing their acceptance of this code.
Nolan Principles
I accept and will comply with the seven general Nolan Principles of Public Life, as set out below.
Selflessness
Holders of public office should act solely in terms of the public interest.
Integrity
Holders of public office must avoid placing themselves under any obligation to people or organisations that might try inappropriately to influence them in their work. They should not act or take decisions in order to gain financial or other material benefits for themselves, their family, or their friends. They must declare and resolve any interests and relationships.
Objectivity
Holders of public office must act and take decisions impartially, fairly and on merit, using the best evidence and without discrimination or bias.
Accountability
Holders of public office are accountable to the public for their decisions and actions and must submit themselves to the scrutiny necessary to ensure this.
Openness
Holders of public office should act and take decisions in an open and transparent manner. Information should not be withheld from the public unless there are clear and lawful reasons for so doing.
Honesty
Holders of public office should be truthful.
Leadership
Holders of public office should exhibit these principles in their own behaviour. They should actively promote and robustly support the principles and be willing to challenge poor behaviour wherever it occurs.
Additional WMUK-specific requirements
Committee member engagement
I will be an active committee member, making my skills, experience and knowledge available to WMUK.
To the extent needed for me to discharge my role effectively I will develop and maintain a sound and up-to-date knowledge of WMUK, its constitution and relevant policies and procedures.
I will attend all appropriate committee meetings or give apologies. If I find that I cannot deal with business on a regular basis, or will be unavailable to attend meetings for a period of six months or more, I will stand down from the committee.
I will do my utmost to prepare fully for all meetings, including reading papers, querying anything I do not understand, thinking through issues before meetings and completing any tasks assigned to me in the agreed time.
I will actively engage in discussion, debate and voting in meetings. I will contribute in a considered and constructive way, listen carefully, challenge sensitively, and seek to avoid conflict.
I will participate in collective decision making, will accept majority decisions of the committee and board, and will not act individually unless specifically authorised to do so.
While I am a committee member I will keep my membership of WMUK up to date.
Relations with others
I will endeavour to work considerately and respectfully with all those I come into contact with at WMUK, and will seek to avoid giving offence. I will seek to provide support and encouragement. I will respect and encourage diversity.
Where I also volunteer with the organisation I will maintain a clear and public separation between my role as committee member and my role as volunteer.
Any public comments I make about WMUK will be considered and in line with organisational policy, whether I make them as an individual or as a committee member.
Eligibility
I confirm that I comply with the following eligibility criteria for committee membership:
- I am not disqualified to act as a company director
- I do not have an unspent conviction for an offence involving dishonesty or deception (such as fraud)
- I am not an undischarged bankrupt (or subject to sequestration in Scotland), nor do I have a current composition or arrangement including an individual voluntary arrangement (IVA) with my creditors
- I have not been removed as a company director or charity trustee because of misconduct or mismanagement.
If I become ineligible after appointment, or there is a real possibility that I may become so, I will immediately inform the chair and if requested will promptly stand down as a committee member.
Breaches of this code
I understand that any significant breach of this code may result in my being asked to resign from the committee or being ejected. In the event that the board resolves by majority decision to seek my resignation, I will offer it forthwith. In the event that the board resolves by majority decision to eject me, I will accept its decision without question.
I understand that in any such event the board will, where it is in the interests of WMUK to do so, seek to provide advance notice of any resolution to ask for my resignation or to eject me, and that I will have a right to be heard. In the event that it is not possible to provide advance notice, or where advance notice would not be in the interests of WMUK, I understand that I will have a right to be heard retrospectively and to argue that any decision should be rescinded.
Departure from the committee
I confirm that after I have left the committee, for whatever reason, I will continue to respect organisational, committee and individual confidences that I acquired during my committee membership. I understand that the terms of this agreement that relate to confidentiality will continue to remain in effect even after I cease to be an active signatory.
If I wish to cease being a committee member at any time, I will inform the committee's chair in advance in writing, stating my reasons.
Signatures
Committee members are asked to digitally sign the code, below. Alternatively committee members can physically sign a printed version of the code that will be stored at the Office.