THE government's compulsory code of conduct for parish councillors has claimed another New Forest scalp.

Lyndhurst councillor Tony Herbert has resigned after revealing that the majority of his fellow councillors had failed to declare all their local interests - as they are now legally obliged to do.

Cllr Herbert said he was unwilling to "shop" his colleagues, and his only alternative was to step down from the seat he has held for seven years.

Cllr Herbert had checked the declarations of the other 11 members of the council and discovered that eight had not admitted to being members of the New Forest Nondescripts - a social club in Church Lane, Lyndhurst.

"The Nondescripts is a club of beneficial interest. Also only one of you has noted membership of the local community association, and I know I have collected subs from two of you," said Cllr Herbert.

"So, as I understand it, nearly all of you have made false declarations. I must refer your omissions to be dealt with at the very top.

"But my preferred option is to tender my resignation from the close of this meeting. I am not prepared to sign up to this system. Having stepped down, I am not obliged to 'shop' you," he said.

Cllr Herbert reminded other members that, according to the new rules, they still faced the obligation to inform against each other.

But Cllr Pat Wyeth - a Nondescripts Club member - said it was just a trivial oversight.

"We are all honest people and this was not a deliberate act. By the time I had listed all the clubs and associations I belong to in Lyndhurst, I had no space left on the form.

"Anyone who has slipped up and not added the Nondescripts or the community centre can just go to the district council and ask it to add to their declaration. It's simple."

Cllr Mark Abbot said: "I don't know why Tony had to do it this way. He could have had a quiet word and we would have sorted it."

Chairman Jim Wilding tried to persuade Cllr Herbert to stay.

"You've been a good hands-on councillor. Surely now we have solved the problem you don't have to resign."

But Cllr Herbert said there was no way back.

"This draconian code of conduct has been thrust on us from government. I am not inconsiderably offended at being told how to behave by the current government.

"It would have been simple to walk away, but I preferred to show how impractical the requirements of the code are."

Cllr Herbert joins Forest councillors from Boldre, Brockenhurst and Fawley in refusing to sign up to the code of conduct, which becomes compulsory from the end of the month.

The vacancy at Lyndhurst parish council will be advertised this week.