Definitions

The following are definitions which apply for the purposes of this Code of Conduct.

1. Bullying is offensive, intimidating, malicious or insulting behaviour, an abuse or misuse of power through means that undermine, humiliate, denigrate, or injure the recipient.
2. “Close associate” means someone with whom you are in close regular contact over a period of time who is more than an acquaintance. It may be a friend, a colleague, a business associate or someone you know through general social contacts.  It is someone a reasonable member of the public would think you might be prepared to favour/disadvantage (“close association” shall be construed accordingly).
3. “Harassment” is conduct, on at least two occasions, that causes alarm or distress or puts people in fear of violence
4. “Meeting” is a meeting of the Council, or any Committee, Sub-Committee,
   Joint Committee or Joint Sub-Committee of the Council.
5. “Member” is an elected Member or a Co-opted Member of the Council.
   “Co-opted Member” is a person who is not a Member of the Council but who is either a Member of any Committee or Sub-Committee of the Council, or a Member of, and represents the Council on, any Joint Committee or Joint Sub-Committee of the Council, and who is entitled to vote on any question that falls to be decided at any meeting of that Committee or Sub-Committee.
6. “Member of your family” means:

• Partner (spouse/civil partner/someone you live with as if a spouse or civil partner);
• A parent/parent-in-law, son/daughter, step-son/step-daughter, child of partner; or the partners of any of these persons;
• A brother/sister, grandparent/grandchild, uncle/aunt, nephew/niece; or the partners of any of these persons.

7. “Monitoring Officer” is the Monitoring Officer to Gloucestershire County Council.
8. “Pending notification” is an interest which has been notified to the Monitoring Officer but which has not been entered in the Council’s Register in consequence of that notification.
9. Respect means politeness and courtesy in behaviour, speech, and in the written word.
10. “The Act” is the Localism Act 2011.
11. “The Council” is Gloucestershire County Council.
12. “Unlawful discrimination” is where someone is treated unfairly because of a protected characteristic. Protected characteristics are specific aspects of a person's identity defined by the Equality Act 2010. They are age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation
13. “Well-being” means general sense of contentment and quality of life.
14. “Excepted functions” are functions of the Council in respect of

(i)    housing, where the Member is a tenant of the Council provided that those functions do not relate particularly to the Member’s tenancy or lease;
(ii)   an allowance, payment or indemnity given to Members;
(iii)  any ceremonial honour given to Members; and
(iv)     setting Council tax or a precept under the Local Government Finance Act 1992.