Gifts and hospitality

 

With the 'Season of giving and receiving' well upon us - The expectation is that all Redland City Council staff and Service providers (Suppliers and Contractors) to Council must conduct themselves with integrity, impartiality and honesty at all times.

 

Staff and Service providers should maintain high standards of propriety and professionalism. This includes avoiding laying themselves open to suspicion of dishonesty and not putting themselves in a position of conflict between their official duty and private interest. Staff should be aware that the exchange of gifts and hospitality, offered by contractors, suppliers, service providers, might place an employee in a vulnerable position. Even when offered, and accepted, in innocence, others may misconstrue the intention behind such gifts.

 

Some members of staff necessarily spend time with other organisations, where it is normal business practice or social convention to offer gifts, hospitality or awards. Offers of this kind can place staff in a difficult position to refuse and may cause misunderstanding or offence; however to accept may give rise to questions of impropriety or conflict of interest.
In the interests of openness and integrity, all gifts and hospitality received by Council employees must be recorded in Council’s central register of gifts and hospitality. The purpose of the register is to protect individual members of staff of accusations of impropriety.

This is in accordance with the Local Government Act 2009 and the Criminal Code Act 1899, and the Code of Conduct and the Benefits and Gifts Policy. It ensures that Council and you set a standard of excellence expected by the community.