Conflict of Interest Policy
All members of the PCC of St Mary’s Ely will declare any conflict of interest between the interests of the church on the one hand, and personal, professional and business interests on the other. This includes declaring actual conflicts of interest as well as the perception of conflicts of interest.
As legal trustees of the charity ‘The Parochial Church Council of the Ecclesiastical Parish Of St Mary’s Ely’, members of the PCC are under a legal obligation to act in the best interests of the charity at all times. It also follows that they need to avoid putting themselves in a position in which their duty to act only in the best interests of the charity could conflict with any personal interest they may have.
The church and its members form an integral part of the life of the community and this may, at times, give rise to conflicts of interest for individual members of the PCC. This policy is designed to ensure that the discussions and decisions of the PCC are not influenced by any other interests. Its purpose is to make sure that everything that may affect an individual charity trustee’s contribution to a decision is identified, dealt with appropriately and recorded.
1. This policy applies to all members of the PCC, the Standing Committee and any other committees or working parties set up by the PCC.
2. A conflict of interest is any situation in which a member’s personal interests or loyalties could prevent, or could be seen to prevent, the member from making a decision only in the best interests of the PCC. Such a situation may arise either:
a) where there is a potential financial benefit to a member, whether directly or indirectly through a connected
person (such as a close family member or business partner); or
b) where a member’s duty to the PCC may compete with a duty of loyalty he or she owes to another
organization or person (e.g. by virtue of being a trustee or committee member of a body which has an
interest in the matter).
3. All members of the PCC must complete and sign a Declaration of Interests form (see Appendix) on
appointment and thereafter whenever any changes occur. These will be reviewed annually and will form the
basis of a Register of Interests held by the Secretary on behalf of the PCC.
4. In addition, any conflicts of interest relating to specific matters are to be declared to the Chair of the meeting as soon as the agenda is circulated. They must also be declared at the meeting when the relevant agenda item is reached.
5. Subject to paragraph 7, where a conflict of interest arises in connection with a personal benefit, the member concerned must withdraw from the meeting and not take part in any discussions relating to it.
6. Subject to paragraph 7, where a conflict of loyalty arises, the PCC will consider what level of participation, if any, is acceptable on the part of the conflicted member, having regard to the duty to act in the best interests of the PCC. However, the normal expectation will be that the conflicted member should withdraw from the meeting during discussion of the item of business in question.
7. A member need not withdraw from a meeting if his or her interest (whether financial or non-financial) is
common to a group of PCC members and is neither (i) significant nor (ii) substantially greater than the interests of other members of that group.
8. The existence of a conflict of interest must be recorded in the minutes, together with the decision as to how it was dealt with.
This policy was agreed at the Parochial Church Council (PCC) meeting on 23 May 2022 and will be reviewed annually.
Signed
All members of the PCC of St Mary’s Ely will declare any conflict of interest between the interests of the church on the one hand, and personal, professional and business interests on the other. This includes declaring actual conflicts of interest as well as the perception of conflicts of interest.
As legal trustees of the charity ‘The Parochial Church Council of the Ecclesiastical Parish Of St Mary’s Ely’, members of the PCC are under a legal obligation to act in the best interests of the charity at all times. It also follows that they need to avoid putting themselves in a position in which their duty to act only in the best interests of the charity could conflict with any personal interest they may have.
The church and its members form an integral part of the life of the community and this may, at times, give rise to conflicts of interest for individual members of the PCC. This policy is designed to ensure that the discussions and decisions of the PCC are not influenced by any other interests. Its purpose is to make sure that everything that may affect an individual charity trustee’s contribution to a decision is identified, dealt with appropriately and recorded.
1. This policy applies to all members of the PCC, the Standing Committee and any other committees or working parties set up by the PCC.
2. A conflict of interest is any situation in which a member’s personal interests or loyalties could prevent, or could be seen to prevent, the member from making a decision only in the best interests of the PCC. Such a situation may arise either:
a) where there is a potential financial benefit to a member, whether directly or indirectly through a connected
person (such as a close family member or business partner); or
b) where a member’s duty to the PCC may compete with a duty of loyalty he or she owes to another
organization or person (e.g. by virtue of being a trustee or committee member of a body which has an
interest in the matter).
3. All members of the PCC must complete and sign a Declaration of Interests form (see Appendix) on
appointment and thereafter whenever any changes occur. These will be reviewed annually and will form the
basis of a Register of Interests held by the Secretary on behalf of the PCC.
4. In addition, any conflicts of interest relating to specific matters are to be declared to the Chair of the meeting as soon as the agenda is circulated. They must also be declared at the meeting when the relevant agenda item is reached.
5. Subject to paragraph 7, where a conflict of interest arises in connection with a personal benefit, the member concerned must withdraw from the meeting and not take part in any discussions relating to it.
6. Subject to paragraph 7, where a conflict of loyalty arises, the PCC will consider what level of participation, if any, is acceptable on the part of the conflicted member, having regard to the duty to act in the best interests of the PCC. However, the normal expectation will be that the conflicted member should withdraw from the meeting during discussion of the item of business in question.
7. A member need not withdraw from a meeting if his or her interest (whether financial or non-financial) is
common to a group of PCC members and is neither (i) significant nor (ii) substantially greater than the interests of other members of that group.
8. The existence of a conflict of interest must be recorded in the minutes, together with the decision as to how it was dealt with.
This policy was agreed at the Parochial Church Council (PCC) meeting on 23 May 2022 and will be reviewed annually.
Signed
Rev Chris Hill
Rector and Chair of St Mary’s Ely PCC
Rector and Chair of St Mary’s Ely PCC