The Chorlton Community Land Trust Board recognise the importance of ensuring financial and moral probity in all aspects of its work. Board members, co-optees and committee members must not use their involvement in other organisations to influence (positively or negatively) CCLT decisions. Board members must act in the best interests of CCLT at all times.

1) What is a conflict of interest?

A conflict of interest is a set of circumstances that creates a risk that an individual’s ability to apply judgement or act in one role is, or could be, impaired or influenced by a secondary interest.

Examples of potential conflicts of interest include:

• a director, officer or member of a company which trades with, or intends to trade with, the CCLT
• an official or elected member of any organisation which may be involved with decisions that impact on the CLT
• a person paid for any services/transactions unless expressly permitted by the CCLT under its rules

2) How are interests declared?

Every Board Member, co-optee and member of a committee ensures that the Secretary at all times has a list of:

• organisations in which they have an interest as a director or officer or a member
• statutory bodies of which they are an official or elected member
• companies which they owner or control more than two per cent of the shares if publicly quoted or ten per cent of any other company
• any property owned or managed by the CLT which they occupy
• or any other significant or material interest

The Secretary maintains an up to date Register of Interests which is updated

• when any new interests arise
• and on an annual basis

The Chair will remind CCLT Board members about their obligations in respect of potential conflicts of interest at the start of each CCLT meeting. It is the responsibility of individual Board members to make a judgement about whether a connection elsewhere creates a conflict of interest with any given issue on a CCLT agenda, and to openly declare the potential conflict of interest.

3) What happens if there is a conflict?

Any Board member, co-optee or member of a committee, having an interest in any arrangement between the CLT and someone else shall disclose their interest before the matter is discussed by the Board or any committee. Unless it is expressly permitted by these rules, they shall

• not have any vote on the matter in question
• and shall not remain present (unless requested to do so by the Board or committee), while the matter is discussed

4) What happens if a conflict is not declared?

A Board Member, co-optee or member of a committee failing to disclose an interest shall vacate their office either permanently or for a period of time as the Board directs. This process is triggered by a request by a majority of the Board or members of a committee at a meeting convened specially for the purpose.

5) How do members find out about Declaration and Conflicts?

Members with a concern about a Board Member, co-optee or member of a committee having a Conflict of Interest must write to the Chair or Deputy Chair who will:

• Discuss the matter with the person in question
• Add the matter for discussion at the next Board meeting or convene a special meeting if, in their view, this is an urgent matter
• Write back to the person raising the concern as soon as the matter is resolved

The Register of Interests will be made available for inspection at all Members meetings.