Our Code of Conduct for Members was adopted by the Council on 19th September 2012 and became effective on that date. The Code sets out the conduct expected of Members of the Council, both elected and co-opted. Underpinning the Code of Conduct are seven General Principles of public life which are set out in the preamble to the Code and in section 28(1) of the Localism Act 2011.

All members of the Council are required under the Code of Conduct to declare and register certain personal interests that they may have.
These interests include:

• Details of any employment or business carried out by them
• The name of their employer
• Details of any Directorships
• Contracts between themselves/their firm and the Council
• Interests in land in the Borough
• Interests as a result of receiving gifts and /or hospitality with a value of £100 or more

All members of the Council are also required by law to make known their disclosable pecuniary interests.
These include details of the following interests that they or their partner has:

• Any employment or business carried out by them for gain
• Sponsorship they have received in carrying out duties as a member, or towards their election expenses. 
• Contracts between themselves/their firm and the Council
• Interests in land and certain shareholdings in companies operating in the Borough

The Register is maintained by the Director of Legal and Democratic Services and is available for inspection by making an appointment to inspect the register at Trafford Council, Trafford Town Hall, Talbot Road, Stretford
M32 0TH. Appointments to inspect the register can be made by contacting us using the details at the bottom of the page. Members interests are also available on the individual councillor's webpage.

To help you decide if you should make a complaint, please see our Members Complaints Procedure.

If you want to proceed with a complaint, you can download a Member Complaints Form.

All Councillors receive an allowance in recognition of their duties and responsibilities. This is similar to a wage or salary as income tax and national insurance is deducted from the payment.

The value of each allowance is recommended by an Independent Review Panel, comprising of three people who are members of the public or representatives from businesses. The Council cannot pay an allowance that is more than the level recommended by the independent panel.

Councillors are also reimbursed for expenses they incur for approved duties outside the borough. These are paid at the same rates as determined by the National Joint Council for Local Government Officers.

Trafford Council Member Allowances 2012/13

Elections are held in thirds with one seat for each ward becoming vacant annually.

You can be a candidate if you are over 18, on the electoral register, and have lived, worked or owned property in the area for at least the past 12 months.

You may be disqualified as a candidate if you work for The Council or hold a politically restricted post with another local authority. Bankruptcy or a previous criminal conviction with a three-month or more prison sentence would also disqualify you as a candidate.

Most candidates are nominated through a political party. However, individuals are welcome to stand in their own right. Before you can be accepted as a candidate you must get one person to agree to propose your nomination, another person to agree to second the proposal. A further eight people will need to sign the nomination. All of these people must be on the electoral register for the area in which the candidate is standing.