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Councillors' Interests

Asked by Jim McMahonLabour (Co-op)Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled Answered 18 November 2025UIN 90778

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether councillors in England are required to register unredacted (a) business and (b) commercial interests held (i) directly or (ii) through limited companies on their register of interests.

Answered by Alison McGovern

Under the Localism Act 2011, councillors must declare certain business and wider financial interests they might have, including all employment and any beneficial interest in companies if the interest is within the local authority area or if it exceeds a specified value.

These details are published in full on the local authority’s register of interests unless the councillor and monitoring officer agree disclosure could expose the councillor or a connected person to violence or intimidation and class it is a ‘sensitive interest’.

Government guidance on councillor interests is published online.

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