However, to do so effectively there needs to be a bond of trust between local residents and the councillors who are elected.
Trust must be earned and be seen to be earned. There are laws and codes of conduct which councillors must observe. To build trust the public need to know what is required. They also need access to evidence that these duties are being met and that any allegations of misconduct are taken seriously.
Every local authority is required to promote and maintain high standards of conduct by its Members and co-opted members. In discharging this duty, a council must adopt a Code of Conduct.
Hillingdon's Code of Conduct (PDF, 53 KB) (opens new window) was adopted on 5 July 2012.
Register of councillor's interests
To add transparency to the democratic processes, when elected to office, councillors sign the register of interests which details their employment, business and employer details as well as details of any payments and remuneration or assets held by them.
View an individual councillor's register
The same register is also available to members of the public by visiting the Civic Centre. You can do this by contacting the Head of Democratic Services by email at democratic@hillingdon.gov.uk or your councillor.
Standards committee
Hillingdon Council has had a Standards Committee since 1999. It is required by law to have one. It sits outside of the Cabinet and it reports directly to the full Council.
The meetings of the committee take place on a regular basis but there are occasions when a special meeting needs to be called for the purpose of considering specific, urgent items of business, such as complaints against Members or co-opted members of the council.
The terms of reference of the Standards Committee can be found in the council's Constitution, the most significant of which are to promote and maintain high standards of conduct across the council and to monitor and oversee the respective Codes of Conduct which apply to both councillors and officers.
Full terms of reference can be found in the Council's Constitution (Chapter 10).