Register of Gifts and Hospitality
Employees should treat any offer of a gift or hospitality if it is made to them personally with extreme caution. The overriding principle is that employees should not compromise their position as public service workers by accepting gifts or hospitality and allowing themselves to reach the position where they might be, or might be thought by others to have been, influenced in making an important decision as a consequence. Therefore employees are required to ensure that all offers of gifts or hospitality are recorded, whether or not they are accepted. However, there is no need to record receipt of promotional materials of token value, such as desk diaries or pens.
Registers are maintained in all departments and contact points are as follows:
| Chief Executive’s Department | Linda Sperry, County Solicitor’s Secretary |
| Children & Young People’s Service | Jane Yarranton, Director’s PA |
| Adults & Communities Department | Tracey Wardle, Director’s PA |
| Corporate Resources Department | Vikki Eagles, Director’s Secretary |
| Environment & Transport Department | Sandie Smith, Administrative Assistant |
Recent revisions made by the Standards Committee make it clear that hospitality in the form of a business trip cannot be accepted. Experience in the social care setting has led to an amendment relating to gifts from service users. While it is still the case that employees must never accept monetary gifts in the form of cash or cheques, vouchers may be accepted, depending on the circumstances, but should still be treated with some care. Line Managers should be consulted about gifts and hospitality.
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Page Last Updated: 19 October 2011
