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
Video on when the Codes of Conduct apply and what they cover
13th April 2026
The Standards Commission has produced a short video explaining when the Codes of Conduct for councillors and members of devolved public bodies apply and what they cover. The video can be found on this page. We have also produced a Card for councillors to download and provide to constituents to explain when the Councillors’ Code of Conduct applies, in order to help manage expectatio...
Standards Update March 2026
31st March 2026
Our latest Standards Update is now available.
Card for Councillors on Health and Social Care Integration Joint Boards
23rd March 2026
The Standards Commission has produced a card for councillors who have been appointed or nominated by their Council to a Health and Social Care Integration Joint Board (IJB). The Card is intended to assist them in managing their constituents' expectations in terms of what they can and cannot do, when acting as a member of the IJB. For example, it notes that councillors can inform the IJB about the Council’s policies and priorities. However, when acting as a member of...
Councillors standing for election
23rd March 2026
With the election for the Scottish Parliament fast approaching, it seems a good time to remind any councillors who are standing for election as an MSP that they must still comply with the Councillors’ Code of Conduct while they remain in post. Councillors, as elected representatives, are responsible for making strategic decisions and for scrutinising how their local authorities deliver essential services. They are also responsible for undertaking casework on behalf of constituent...
Video for NHS Board Secretaries on the role of a Standards Officer
12th February 2026
The Standards Commission has produced a short video for NHS Board Secretaries on the role of a Standards Officer. The video can be found here and covers: the NHS context; the purpose of the role and why it is important; and the tasks NHS Board Standards Officers are expected to undertake, in terms of the ethi...
Revised Guidance on the Councillors’ Code and Advice Notes for Councillors
28th January 2026
Revised Guidance on the Councillors’ Code and Advice Notes for Councillors Following feedback and in light of some enquiries received by email, telephone and at training events, we’ve reviewed and updated our Guidance on the Councillors’ Code of Conduct. We’ve also updated the following Advice Notes for councillors, in order to ensure they are as clear and helpful as possible: Advice Note on Distinguishing Between their Strategic Ro...
Standard Training Presentations on the Codes of Conduct
5th January 2026
The Standards Commission has updated its standard training presentations on both the Councillors’ Code of Conduct and the Model Code of Conduct for Members of Devolved Public Bodies. Both presentations (including the explanatory notes) can be accessed and downloaded from here.
Standards Update December 2025
17th December 2025
Our latest Standards Update is now available.
Meet the Standards Commission's Members - Morag Ferguson
17th December 2025
1. Why did you apply to be a member of the Standards Commission? I was reaching the end of a long career in Local Government legal and governance services but wasn’t ready to ‘fully retire’, so an opportunity to use my experience in a different way was really appealing to me. 2. What aspect of the role have you found the most challenging or surprising? I had been aware of the work of...
Does the Councillors’ Code prevent effective scrutiny by councillors?
27th November 2025
Does the Councillors’ Code prevent effective scrutiny by councillors? Councillors, as elected representatives, are responsible for assisting the public in scrutinising how their local authorities deliver essential services to communities, including housing, education and waste management. Given the importance of these services and the expenditure of public funds involved in their delivery, it is vital that councillors are able to undertake robust scrutiny...
