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
What does 'respect' look like?
16th July 2025
We’ve previously published blogs explaining why it is essential that those in public life, including councillors and members of devolved public bodies, behave with courtesy and respect. This is important not only to help ensure public confidence in them as individuals, but also in their roles and the organisations they represent. We’ve also explained why a failure to so behave can have a significant detrimental impact on both the standards of public debate and on the culture and w...
Standards Update June 2025
30th June 2025
Our latest Standards Update is now available.
Meet the Standards Commission's Members - Helen Donaldson
26th June 2025
Meet the Standards Commission Members – Helen Donaldson Q: Why did you apply to be a member of the Standards Commission? A: I applied to join the Standards Commission because I have always felt strongly about the importance of high ethical standards in those who seek to make decisions on our behalf. Having worked in various local authority roles, I wanted to make use of my experience to support the work of the Commission in upholding high standards of...
Video on the Complaint Process
16th June 2025
The Standards Commission has produced a new video in which we explain the roles of the Standards Commission and Ethical Standards Commissioner in the ethical standards framework. We also outline: what the Codes of Conduct for councillors and board members of devolved public bodies in Scotland do and do not cover; how to make a complaint that a councillor or board member has contravened their Code; and what happens when a complaint is made. The vide...
Civility in Public Life
28th May 2025
The Standards Commission’s Convener, Suzanne Vestri, is due to attend a roundtable event next week, being organised by COSLA, to discuss and raise awareness of the importance of civility in public life. Civility in public life is something that the Standards Commission has always advocated, through our work to promote the Codes of Conduct for councillors and board members of public bodies, at our traini...
Different Hats
14th May 2025
The boards of public bodies in Scotland often comprise of individuals who are appointed, elected or nominated in different ways. For example, college sector boards include members who are elected or nominated by virtue of them being a member of staff, a student or a member of a trade union. Health and Social Care Integration Joint Boards include representatives from councils, NHS boards, the voluntary sector, as well as GPs and service users. In addition, board members can also be serv...
Dispensation for Members of the Scottish Funding Council
24th April 2025
Following a request to do so, the Standards Commission has decided to grant a dispensation to allow Scottish Funding Council (SFC) Board Members who are engaged with the further and higher education institutions and other institutions or organisations the SFC funds, which are related to the further and higher education sectors, in the following ways: as Members and / or Chairs of university and co...
Standards Update March 2025
31st March 2025
Our latest Standards Update is now available.
Role of a Public Body Chair in the Ethical Standards Framework
31st March 2025
Chairs of public bodies in Scotland have a key role to play in the ethical standards framework by ensuring the culture of their public body is constructive and respectful, and one where all board members are encouraged actively to participate and express views. What is the Chair’s role in terms of the ethical standards framework? Each individual board member is responsible for ensuring they are aware of, and comply with, the Code of Conduct for their public body’s...
Changes to Guidance and Advice Notes
28th March 2025
The Standards Commission has made the following changes to its Guidance on the Councillors' Code of Conduct, its Guidance on the Model Code of Conduct and some of its Advice Notes for councillors and members of devolved public bodies. The changes are outlined below, and the revised versions are all on the website, under either the 'Guidance' page or the '
