Culture of Respect in Public Bodies

6th January 2025

Culture of Respect in Public Bodies

The Model Code of Conduct for Members of Devolved Public Bodies is based on the nine key principles of public life in Scotland. These include selflessness, integrity and objectivity. They also include the principle of ‘respect’. Most public bodies in Scotland are obliged to adopt the Code, meaning their board members must adhere to its provisions. The Standards Commission can impose a sanction, which can be either censure, suspension or even disqualification, if it finds a board member has contravened their public body’s Code.

The principle of respect is reflected in a provision in the Code which states that board members must treat everyone with courtesy and respect when acting in that capacity. This means they are required to behave in a respectful manner towards their colleagues, their public body’s employees, its stakeholders, service users and any other members of the public, and to treat them with courtesy at all times when they are acting as a board member of the public body or when they could be perceived reasonably as acting as such.

But why is this a requirement? Surely forcing board members to behave in a certain way stifles debate and prevents proper scrutiny?  

Well, no. Quite the opposite is true.

Being respectful involves ensuring everyone has a voice. It means listening actively and taking the time to understand the views of others, the point they are making and their perspectives. This improves understanding and encourages diversity of thought on boards which, in turn, reduces the possibility of ‘group think’ and poor, untested decision-making.

The requirement to behave respectfully also enables effective scrutiny and good governance as it discourages personal comments and keeps the focus on the matter or issue in question. Constructive challenge reduces the possibility of tension and defensiveness, and allows for the proper testing of ideas and performance. This ‘testing’ is vital in ensuring that services provided by public bodies are robust and efficient and meet the needs of the communities and sectors they serve.

A failure to ensure there is a culture of respect leads to personal disputes and dysfunctionality within a board. These types of issue often affect not only the performance of the public body, but also how it is perceived. They also discourage others from applying to be board members, which can affect the quality and diversity of candidates. A failure by members to embody and demonstrate the key principles, especially those of leadership, accountability and stewardship, can also have an impact on employees and the organisation itself by creating a wider culture of negativity, where individuals are reluctant to take responsibility for their actions and decisions or to suggest improvements.

The public have a right to expect that Scottish public bodies will make decisions and spend public money in their best interests. A respectful culture therefore helps ensure public confidence in board members and the organisation as an entity.