Councillors will no longer have to declare gifts up to the value of fifty pounds, Bolton Council has ruled. The recommendation from the Standards Committee to increase the threshold from £25 for declaring receipt of gifts or hospitality to £50 was approved by councillors at a meeting of the full council. The motion was put forward by Cllr Karen Hon, who cited its main reason to keep “in line with the cost-of-living crisis”.
“It is a recommendation to declare any gifts that were offered to you up to the price of £50 – you don’t have to accept these; I would recommend you don’t accept gifts off members of the public. “I would think most of us don’t accept gifts, as it’s been mentioned there are rarely any declarations of acceptance.” The notion was met by opposition from Cllr David Grant who noted the parallels between the “current mood at Westminster”.
He said: “The issue comes down to transparency and whilst it’s relatively small fries and the increase is moderate, I don’t think it will open the flood gates. READ MORE: Chkn Stop Bolton receives one-star hygiene rating after inspection Turton School on banning the smartphone more than a year on “But I do think bearing in mind the current mood at Westminster, this sends the wrong message out. “Councillors increasing the value to which they need to declare any gifts I think is wholly wrong and I will be voting against this.
” Cllr John Walsh noted that the subject was “a delicate one” an.