Bradford Council's proposed adoption of a new rule in its code of conduct which requires members to declare gifts and hospitality received as they carry out their duties is to be welcomed.

The public will be reassured to know that their elected representatives are protected by institutional safeguards from temptation offered by people who might try to influence their decisions. And there could even be occasions when local politicians, too, find themselves grateful for a system which shields them from potential challenges to their integrity.

The best way of doing this surely is through the sort of openness the Government had in mind when it drew up its model code which says that councils should be more transparent.

The present voluntary code, under which councillors are encouraged to enter items in a register at City Hall which can be inspected by the public, is rather unsatisfactory. Voluntary codes are not always treated as seriously as they could be.

The fact that there were only 21 entries in the register in all of last year and only seven this year since January might indeed be an accurate reflection of the "freebies" situation. On the other hand, it could mean that not all councillors who had received gifts or hospitality considered them to be significant enough to declare.

However, if declaration becomes compulsory for anyone receiving anything worth £25 or more on pain of penalties up to and including disqualification, then our elected representatives and the people who voted them into office and pay their allowances will be in no doubt where we all stand.