Contact
Corporate Procurement
Civic Centre
Rainham Road North
Dagenham
RM10 7BN
Tel: 020 8227 5234
Fax: 020 8227 5261
Email: corporate.procurement@lbbd.gov.uk|
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The giving and receiving of hospitality is an accepted courtesy of a business relationship.
However, the provider or receiver of hospitality should never allow him or herself to be placed in a position where he or she might be deemed by others to be attempting to influence or be influenced in making a business decision as a consequence of providing or accepting such hospitality.
The Employees Code of Conduct section 10, Gifts and Hospitality, states the following:
10.1 Employees must treat with extreme caution any offer or gift, favour or hospitality that is made to them personally, as the organisation or person making the offer may be doing or seeking to do business with the council, or may be applying to the council for planning permission or some other kind of decision.
10.2 Employees must not accept significant personal gifts from contractors and outside suppliers, but may keep insignificant items of token value such as pens and diaries.
10.3 Employees must only accept offers of hospitality if there is a genuine need to impart information or represent the council in the community. Offers to attend purely social or sporting functions should be accepted only when these are part of the life of the community or where the council should be seen to be represented, and must always be properly authorised and recorded.
10.4 Acceptance by employees of hospitality through attendance at relevant conferences and courses is acceptable where it is clear the hospitality is corporate rather than personal, where the council gives consent in advance and where the council is satisfied that any purchasing decisions are not compromised.
Where visits to inspect equipment are required, employees should ensure that authorities meet the cost of such visits to avoid jeopardising the integrity of subsequent purchasing decisions.
10.5 When receiving authorised hospitality employees should be particularly sensitive as to its timing in relation to decisions which the council may be taking affecting those providing the hospitality.
10.6 When hospitality has to be declined, those making the offer should be courteously but firmly informed of the procedures and standards operating within the council.
Please note: Where there is any doubt about the significance of gifts or hospitality or about the intentions of contractors and outside suppliers who make such offers, these should always be refused and the matter discussed with the appropriate level of management.
In line with the Code, employees have a duty to disclose any interest, financial or otherwise, which may conflict with those of the council.
These interests will be recorded in a Council Register of Employees' Interests, which is confidential and not open to members of the public.
It is a serious criminal offence for employees corruptly to receive or give any gift, loan, fee, reward or advantage for doing, or not doing, anything or showing favour, or disfavour, to any person in their official capacity.
If such an allegation is made it is for the employee to demonstrate that any such rewards have not been corruptly obtained.
Corporate Procurement
Civic Centre
Rainham Road North
Dagenham
RM10 7BN
Tel: 020 8227 5234
Fax: 020 8227 5261
Email: corporate.procurement@lbbd.gov.uk|
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© 2008 London Borough of Barking and Dagenham
Civic Centre
Rainham Road North, Dagenham, RM10 7BN
Telephone: 020 8215 3000
Fax: 020 8227 5184
Textphone: 020 8227 5755
Email: enquiries@lbbd.gov.uk|
Telephone: 020 8594 8356
Fax: 020 8227 3470