Standing orders are the written rules of a local council. Standing orders are essential to regulate the proceedings of a meeting. A council may also use standing orders to confirm or refer to various internal organisational and administrative arrangements. The standing orders of a council are not the same as the policies of a council but standing orders may refer to them. 

A parish council’s “Code of Conduct” is the set of rules and ethical standards that parish councillors must follow when acting in their official role. Most parish councils adopt a version of the Local Government Association Model Councillor Code of Conduct under the Localism Act 2011. The code is designed to ensure councillors behave professionally, transparently, and in the public interest.