THE Code of Conduct for parish and town councils, which was introduced by the government this year, was brought in following the Nolan Report into government sleaze. As from May, parish councils are required to adopt the code. Councillors must sign it and declare their own personal interests and those of their extended families on a register to be kept in the district council offices.

They also must declare any shares they own, directorships, employers, all gifts over £25 and other personal details and must act as informers against those whom they know are not coming clean.

Parish councillors, who work for their communities on a purely voluntary basis, say the code is an infringement on their private lives. They have no power, only influence, they say, and now many of them are throwing in the towel.

Shaun Wheatley, formerly of Badsey Parish Council, was one of many recipients of a letter from Wychavon District Council barring him from office. He did not sign the code, which his parish council has adopted. Mr Wheatley said: "I could have signed it - I have nothing to hide - but I didn't on principle. It's an insult. I have worked hard for my community for no reward. The council was running perfectly well without this stupid code."

Broadway clerk Don Shryane explained that his council had not adopted the code because members were waiting for a reply from the government over their claim that it infringes basic human rights. He said: "Councillors already declare interests in all matters but this code goes too far.

"We had a frank exchange of views with the minister but our members have fundamental differences about the role of a parish council.

"We believe that they are there to advise. They are unpaid and mostly made up of senior citizens - experienced people who know their community and offer advice to those who request it, such as government bodies, district and county councils, the health service and the emergency services."

He said that the government was also encouraging them to enter into agreements to take on more work under the Quality Parish Council initiative but Broadway Parish Council rejected that last year. Mr Shryane said: "The proper authorities are empowered and have paid professionals with expertise to produce the services. They have hundreds of staff and lawyers and engineers. We cannot and should not attempt to do their work.

"Volunteers and bureaucracy do not go hand in hand. We could not handle the huge volumes of red tape such as farmers have to deal with - already I have a 300 page document on race relations on my desk."

Alun Michael said he was delighted to meet the parish councillors and to hear their views but said there was no chance of amending the code. He said: "I had hoped to persuade Broadway councillors to change their minds and sign it. Parish councils are absolutely crucial in rural communities. We want to improve their status and would like them to have more power.

"I said that they must not take these changes personally. The changes were brought in for the councils that were not running quite as well as Broadway. The code enhances the status in which parish councils are regarded."

Head of legal services Ian Marshall said: "Altogether we have sent 20 letters out to individual parish councillors in Wychavon who had not signed the code. They automatically disqualified themselves from their positions. Broadway is a special case. The whole of the committee, except for two councillors, have not signed. I am now intending to report the matter to the Standards Board for England who will then advise us of what action to take."

Peter Luff said: "I was very grateful to the minister for taking time out of his busy schedule to talk to members of Broadway Parish Council. The meeting won't change anything but is was useful for Mr Michael to hear first hand about small councils like Broadway and the difficulties they face.

"Hopefully extra burdens on parish councils will reduce."