Guidance
The Standards Commission issues Guidance to help councillors and members of devolved public bodies interpret and adhere to the provisions in the Code of Conduct and to attain the highest possible standards of conduct.
Guidance on the Codes
Guidance issued by the Standards Commission for Scotland
The Standards Commission issues Guidance to assist councillors and members of devolved public bodies to interpret the provisions of the Councillors' and Model Codes of Conduct.
The Guidance is kept under regular review to ensure it remains fit for purpose, and contains illustrations and examples of factors that councillors and members should consider when interpreting the Code. The Standards Commission hopes this will help councillors and members relate the provisions of the Code to the scenarios they face and the situations they find themselves in.
Guidance on the Councillors' Code can be downloaded from the left hand side table below.
Please note that the version of the Councillors' Code Guidance with the Code embedded, and the separate 'section-by-section' documents are in the process of being updated. This is following the publication of the latest version of the Guidance on the Councillors' Code, effective from 7 February 2024.
Guidance on the Model Code can be downloaded from the right hand side table below.
If you have any comments on the Guidance, or would like to request previous versions or a version in braille, please contact us at: enquiries@standardscommission.org.uk
Advice for members of the public
The Standards Commission has produced user-friendly Advice Notes for members of the public on both the Councillors' Code of Conduct and the Model Code for Members of Devolved Public Bodies. This advice covers:
- the different sections of the Codes and what they mean;
- what is and isn’t covered by the Codes and the complaints process;
- how to make a complaint about a breach of a Code; and
- the Hearings process.
Each Advice Note can be downloaded as a PDF from the foot of the table below.
| Guidance on the Councillors' Code | ||
|---|---|---|
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Councillors' Code of Conduct - Guidance 2024Councillors' Code of Conduct - Guidance 2024 |
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Councillors' Code of Conduct - Guidance 2022Councillors' Code of Conduct Guidance May 2022 |
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Advice Note for Members of the Public on the Councillors' Code of Conduct13th October 2023 |
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| Guidance on the Model Code | ||
|---|---|---|
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Model Code of Conduct - Guidance 2024Model Code of Conduct Guidance March 2024 |
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Combined Model Code of Conduct and Guidance 2022Model Code of Conduct with Guidance embedded June 2022 |
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Model Code of Conduct - Guidance 2022Model Code of Conduct Guidance May 2022 |
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Combined Model Code and Guidance - Section 3: General ConductSection 3 of the Model Code of Conduct with Guidance embedded |
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Combined Model Code and Guidance - Section 4: Registration of InterestsSection 4 of the Model Code of Conduct with Guidance embedded |
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Combined Model Code and Guidance - Section 5: Declaration of InterestsSection 5 of the Model Code of Conduct with Guidance embedded |
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Combined Model Code and Guidance - Section 6: Lobbying and AccessSection 6 of the Model Code of Conduct with Guidance embedded |
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Advice Note for Members of the Public on the Model Code of Conduct2nd February 2023 |
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