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
Standards Update - September 2026
30th September 2026
Our latest Standards Update is now available.
Freedom of Information and Subject Access Requests
28th September 2026
The Standards Commission is currently experiencing an exceptionally high volume of Freedom of Information (FOI) requests and Subject Access Requests (SARs). We are committed to ensuring that all requests are handled fairly, thoroughly and in accordance with the relevant legislative requirements. However, the significant increase in the number and complexity of requests received has placed considerable pressure on our resources. As a result, while every effort is being made to re...
Statement on the Motion regarding the Standards Commission and the Councillors’ Code of Conduct, agreed at City of Edinburgh Council on 17 August 2026
18th September 2026
Statement on the Motion regarding the Standards Commission and the Councillors’ Code of Conduct, agreed at City of Edinburgh Council on 17 August 2026 Edinburgh councillors, within their debate, quite rightly raised the importance of being able to scrutinise their organisation's performance and the actions of council officers. The Standards Commission believes that it is possible for all elected councillors to carry out their vital scrutiny role without breaching th...
The Improvement Service's Councillor Academy - OU module on the Councillors' Code
14th September 2026
The Improvement Service's Councillor Academy - OU module on the Councillors' Code The Councillor Academy is a dedicated learning portal designed to support councillors and candidates in Scottish local government. Developed in partnership with The Open University and delivered by the Improvement Service – the national improvement organisation for local government in Scotland – the Academy offers a range of bespoke learning resources tailored to the unique ne...
Statement on Judicial Review
10th September 2026
Statement on Judicial Review The Standards Commission ensures that councillors and board members of public bodies behave properly. When people take on these roles, they promise to abide by Codes of Conduct approved by the Scottish Parliament. These Codes do not stop councillors and board members from doing their jobs effectively; they simply ensure they treat others with respect and do not act purely in their own self-interest. Taxpayers and the wider public rig...
Declarations of Interest
28th August 2026
Identifying Potential Conflicts of Interest and Making Declarations of Interest Councillors and board members of public bodies in Scotland are required, in terms of their Codes of Conduct to identify any potential conflicts of interest they may have, in respect of any particular matter they are to consider in that role. What conflicts of interest are: Conflicts of interest are not about wrongdoing. They arise when a councillor or board member, or any person or...
Judicial Review Decision
21st August 2026
The Standards Commission notes the Court decision, issued today, in respect of the judicial review of its decision not to accept certain documents for consideration at a Hearing on whether Councillor Fiona Higgins of Glasgow City Council has breached the Councillors’ Code of Conduct. The Standards Commission will carefully consider the detail of the Judge’s comments and look to reschedule the Hearing to determine the complaint about Councillor Higgins. The Standards Commiss...
Online training session on the Codes of Conduct for Members of Health and Social Care Integration Joint Boards
20th August 2026
The Standards Commission is presenting an online training session on the Codes of Conduct for Members of Health and Social Care Integration Joint Boards. The aim is to raise awareness of the Code’s provisions and to answer any questions members or officers may have on how these should be interpreted. The session will be held on Teams on Wednesday, 7 October 2026 from 10:00 to 11:30. If you are interested in attending please ask your Standards Officer for t...
Advice Note for Members for College Sector Boards
20th August 2026
The Standards Commission has reviewed and revised its Advice Note for Members for College Sector Boards. In particular, it has provided more explanation in respect of: The requirement to act in the best interests of the college and what this means. It explains that this does not prevent a member from bringing forward relevant experiences or perspectives from any constituency from which they have been appointed, nominated or elected. Such input is appropriate, provided that decisi...
Advice Note and Training for Members of Health and Social Care Integrated Joint Boards
12th August 2026
To support the introduction of voting rights for lived experience members of Health and Social Care Integrated Joint Boards (IJBs), the Standards Commission has updated its Advice Note for Members of IJBs. It has also produced a
