About Us
The Standards Commission is an independent body whose purpose is to encourage high ethical standards in public life through the promotion and enforcement of Codes of Conduct for councillors and those appointed to the boards of devolved public bodies.
News and Blog
Further Analysis of Responses to Survey of Members of Devolved Public Bodies
14th February 2019
The Standards Commission has further analysed the nearly 300 responses it received to the survey it issued to members of devolved public bodies, including national, regional, NHS boards, Health & Social Care IJBs, further education colleges and regional transport partnerships. The Standards Commission has outlined its findings in a report that can be found here. While there a...
Assisting Constituents Card
13th February 2019
We have produced a card outlining what elected members can and cannot do for their constituents. The idea is for members to be able to hand the card out at surgeries, to help them manage their constituents’ expectations and to raise awareness that agreeing to take certain actions could lead them to be in breach of the Councillors’ Code of Conduct. The card can be found
Change of Venue - Regional Roadshow
15th January 2019
Due to circumstances out with our control we have had to change the venue for our Regional Training Event on Monday, 18 February 2019. The event will now take place in Airdrie Town Hall, Stirling Street, Airdrie, ML6 0AS. The Town Hall is a 4-minute walk from Airdrie train station. Parking should be available in the public car park which is shared with the adjacent swimming pool (pool opens at 12 noon). We apologise for any inconvenience this may caus...
Standards Update December 2018
20th December 2018
Our latest Standards Update (previously known as 'professional briefings') can be found here.
Amended Guidance on the Councillors' Code of Conduct
18th December 2018
The Standards Commission has made some minor revisions to its Guidance to include additional case illustrations which are based on Hearings held during 2018. We have also expanded on the points made at paragraphs 16 and 105. The updated Guidance can be found here.
Standards Commission Member Recruitment
15th November 2018
The Scottish Parliamentary corporation is seeking to appoint, with the agreement of the Scottish Parliament, a new Standards Commission Member. With a time commitment of at least 24 days per annum the Member will be required to: review reports from the Commissioner for Ethical Standards in Public Life in Scotland and determine whether to hold a Hearing; promote the ethical standards framework through the issuing of guidance and training; and attend monthly meetings to ensure th...
Survey of Members of Devolved Public Bodies
14th November 2018
The Standards Commission issued a survey to members of devolved public bodies at the end of August 2018. The intention of the survey was to establish whether the lack of complaints about members of devolved public bodies was the result of a high level of adherence to the Codes of Conduct (based on the Model Code of Conduct) or whether poor conduct was taking place but going unreported. The Standards Commission also sought to establish the extent...
Interim Suspensions
7th November 2018
Section 21 of the Ethical Standards Act provides the Standards Commission with the power to impose an interim suspension on a councillor or member of a devolved public body on receipt of an interim report from the Commissioner for Ethical Standards in Public Life in Scotland (CESPLS) about an ongoing investigation. The Standards Commission has introduced a policy outlining how it will make any decision under Section 21 and the procedures it will follow in doing so, should any such a rep...
Sept 2018 Professional Briefing
2nd October 2018
Our latest quarterly professional briefing note can be found here.
British Sign Language (BSL) Plan
2nd October 2018
We are pleased to publish our British Sign Language (BSL) Plan. The Plan sets out the actions which the Standards Commission will take over the period 2018-2024 to improve access to information and services for BSL users. Download a copy of the plan here.
