Minutes:
The Member Services Manager recalled that earlier this year the Standards Board for England had advised that although it was not necessary for Freemasons to register membership of their Lodge, unless it was a Lodge directed to charitable purposes or had a charitable status, it was necessary for Freemasons to register their membership of the Grand Charity. Following discussions, the Board had been asked to issue further clarification of the matter and had advised that the position remained that most Freemasons would, by virtue of membership of the Grand Charity, be required to register an interest. However, it was permissible for an individual Freemason to opt out of membership of the Grand Charity.
The Standards Board for England in issuing this revised advice had reminded Members of the need to remember that declarations of interest operated independently of the requirement to register certain interests. As with all types of interest if a matter under discussion would affect a Member more than other people in the Council’s area because the Member was a Freemason, then the Member would need to declare the existence and nature of that interest, such as membership of the Order or an individual Lodge, before the matter was discussed. The Member would need to consider whether the interest was also prejudicial.
The Committee was advised that details of this revised advice would be made known to all elected and co-opted Members of the Council through the Members’ Weekly Information Bulletin.
Resolved - That this information report be noted.