How to Complain 3

WHAT CAN YOU COMPLAIN ABOUT?

All Councillors and Members of Devolved Public Bodies are expected to follow a Code of Conduct. There is a single Code of Conduct for Councillors and separate Codes of Conduct for each of the Devolved Public Bodies. If you would like a copy of the relevant Code then please contact us.

If you think that a Councillor or Member of a Devolved Public Body has not followed the relevant Code, you may make a complaint to the Standards Commission.

The following are examples of misconduct that would breach the relevant Codes of Conduct:

Failure to declare that the Councillor or Member has a personal interest
Failure to register an interest
Financial misconduct (for example matters relating to allowances, gifts, hospitality, and misuse of Council and Public Body facilities)
Disrespect toward employees
Disrespect toward other Councillors or Members
Breach of confidentiality
Misconduct relating to lobbying
Misconduct by a Councillor relating to decisions on individual applications (for example planning and licensing applications)

THE STANDARDS COMMISSION CANNOT LOOK INTO

Complaints about misconduct by employees of Local Authorities and Devolved Public Bodies
Complaints where the alleged misconduct took place before 1st May 2003
Complaints which are not about a breach of the Codes of Conduct.

If you wish to complain about maladministration you should write to :

The Scottish Public Services Ombudsman
4 Melville Street
Edinburgh
EH3 7NS

www.scottishombudsman.org.uk

If your complaint is about the audit of the accounts of a Council or Devolved Public Body you should write to

The Accounts Commission or the Auditor General
110 George Street
Edinburgh
EH2 4LH

www.accounts-commission.gov.uk

If your complaint is about a Councillor or a Member of a Devolved Public Body, after 1st May 2003, the Standards Commission for Scotland can help.

If you would like help to decide which is the right organisation to deal with your complaint, please get in touch with us.

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