Register of Interest (ROI)

Information and guidance on the administration of the process for Clerks and supporting resources for councillors. If you are a new Clerk - this is essential reading for when you appoint new councillors either on election day, via a by-election or through co-option. For existing Clerks - this might just be a good refresher of a key process you are an important part of.

Background:

In the Dorset Council area councillors at both unitary and parish/town councils use an e-form to submit their interests for publication. Once submitted, they are automatically displayed on the Dorset Council directory (see link below). When completing the e-form there is an option (in exceptional circumstances) for the councillor's address not to be disclosed. If a councillor selects this option their ROI submission is held pending approval by the Monitoring Officer. It will therefore, remain unpublished until an outcome of the request is known. The only other exceptions where interests are witheld, are those of a sensitive nature and they must be notified to the Monitoring Officer for consideration. This can be done by email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

The directory can be viewed using this link: Dorset Council A to Z of parish and Town Councils

IMPORTANT FOR CLERKS: Clerk's Video

Clerks or members of their team are responsible for ensuring all councillors have been issued with a link to complete the e-form and that they provide the resouces to guide and support new and returning councillors. Clerks should also remind councillors periodically (every 3 or 4 months) to make sure their ROI is current and up to date - if it is not, clerks will need to issue councillors another e-form.

Clerks should not complete an ROI for councillors. The only circumstance in which this is permitted is if a councillor is without internet or access to a suitable device. Clerks should sit alongside the counillor to help them complete it.

Watch a video on the steps required USING THIS LINK (video plays on Vimeo).

The clerk's role in ROI:

Visit Dorset Council's ACHIEVE LOGIN PAGE
Login or make an account
Request an ROI for the relevant councillor
Once the councillor's ROI has been updated on Dorset Council's A to Z directory, copy the address of the webpage and use it as an ROI link on your councillor's profile on your council website

IMPORTANT FOR COUNCILLORS:

It is the sole responsibility of councillors to create and update a register of interest as only they truthfully know the extent of any interests they hold. It is an offence without reasonable excuse:

To fail to register a disclosable pecuniary interest, or fail to declare an unregistered interest at a meeting, or fail to register an unregistered interest within 28 days after its declaration;
To speak or vote in relation to a declared pecuniary interest;
Take any steps in realtion to a matter in which they have declared an interest.

Watch a video on what is required USING THIS LINK (video plays on Vimeo).

REALLY IMPORTANT | Clerks and Councillors Note:

All councillors, whether new or returning, need to complete a ROI e-form:

New councillors to establish their Register of Interests for the first time
Returning councillors to review, update and re-submit their record with a date after 7 May 2024 to prove their record is current.