Section 65 Publication of addresses of members etc in authority registersI1

In section 100G (principal councils to publish additional information) of LGA 1972, in subsection (5), omit “, in relation to a principal council in Wales,”.

The Localism Act 2011 is amended as follows.

In section 29 (register of interests), in subsection (8), for “section 32(2)” substitute “sections 32(2) and 32A”.

In section 31 (pecuniary interests in matters considered at meetings or by a single member), in subsection (2), for “section 32(3)” substitute “sections 32(3) and 32A(9)”.

After section 32 (sensitive interests) insert—

“Residential addresses

32A

(1)

This section applies where a member or co-opted member of a relevant authority notifies the authority’s monitoring officer of a disclosable pecuniary interest that includes their usual residential address.

(2)

Subject to subsections (3) to (7), the relevant authority’s public register must not include that address.

(3)

The member or co-opted member may request that their usual residential address be included in that public register.

(4)

The member or co-opted member may withdraw a request made under subsection (3).

(5)

A request under subsection (3) or a withdrawal of a request under subsection (4) must be made by written notice to the relevant authority’s monitoring officer.

(6)

Where the member or co-opted member withdraws a request under subsection (4), the monitoring officer must remove the member or co-opted member’s usual residential address from the public register.

(7)

Withdrawal of a request under subsection (4) does not affect the power of the member or co-opted member to make another request under subsection (3).

(8)

Where a member or co-opted member’s usual residential address is excluded from a public register under this section, that public register must state that the member or co-opted member has an interest the address of which is withheld under this section.

(9)

If section 31(2) applies in relation to the interest, that provision is to be read as requiring the member or co-opted member to disclose not the interest but merely the fact that the member or co-opted member has a disclosable pecuniary interest in the matter concerned.

(10)

For the purposes of this section, a person has no more than one usual residential address.

(11)

In this section “public register”, in relation to a relevant authority, means—

(a)

a copy of its register that is made available for inspection, and

(b)

any published version of its register.”