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
Standards Update December 2018
20th December 2018
Our latest Standards Update (previously known as 'professional briefings') can be found here.
Amended Guidance on the Councillors' Code of Conduct
18th December 2018
The Standards Commission has made some minor revisions to its Guidance to include additional case illustrations which are based on Hearings held during 2018. We have also expanded on the points made at paragraphs 16 and 105. The updated Guidance can be found here.
Standards Commission Member Recruitment
15th November 2018
The Scottish Parliamentary corporation is seeking to appoint, with the agreement of the Scottish Parliament, a new Standards Commission Member. With a time commitment of at least 24 days per annum the Member will be required to: review reports from the Commissioner for Ethical Standards in Public Life in Scotland and determine whether to hold a Hearing; promote the ethical standards framework through the issuing of guidance and training; and attend monthly meetings to ensure th...
Survey of Members of Devolved Public Bodies
14th November 2018
The Standards Commission issued a survey to members of devolved public bodies at the end of August 2018. The intention of the survey was to establish whether the lack of complaints about members of devolved public bodies was the result of a high level of adherence to the Codes of Conduct (based on the Model Code of Conduct) or whether poor conduct was taking place but going unreported. The Standards Commission also sought to establish the extent...
Interim Suspensions
7th November 2018
Section 21 of the Ethical Standards Act provides the Standards Commission with the power to impose an interim suspension on a councillor or member of a devolved public body on receipt of an interim report from the Commissioner for Ethical Standards in Public Life in Scotland (CESPLS) about an ongoing investigation. The Standards Commission has introduced a policy outlining how it will make any decision under Section 21 and the procedures it will follow in doing so, should any such a rep...
Sept 2018 Professional Briefing
2nd October 2018
Our latest quarterly professional briefing note can be found here.
British Sign Language (BSL) Plan
2nd October 2018
We are pleased to publish our British Sign Language (BSL) Plan. The Plan sets out the actions which the Standards Commission will take over the period 2018-2024 to improve access to information and services for BSL users. Download a copy of the plan here.
Standards Commission - Role and Remit (BSL Video)
11th September 2018
We are pleased to announce the production of a BSL video, which contains information about the role and remit of the Standards Commission. Information about how to make a complaint to the Commissioner for Ethical Standards in Public life in Scotland (CESPLS) that a councillor or member of a devolved public body has breached their respective Code of Conduct is included, along with the CESPLS contact details. An explanation that the CESPLS will investigate any such complaint a...
Draft British Sign Language (BSL) Plan - consultation
27th August 2018
We are pleased to publish the draft of our British Sign Language (BSL) Plan. The plan sets out the actions which the Standards Commission will take over the period 2018-2024 to improve access to information and services for BSL users. The draft plan is available on our Facebook page as a BSL video. We will accept comments on this draft plan unti...
Regional Roadshows on the Councillors' Code of Conduct
24th August 2018
We are holding regional training events for elected members on the Councillors' Code of Conduct on the following dates: 14 November 2018 at Perth and Kinross Council, 2 High Street, Perth, PH1 5PH 18 February 2019 at North Lanarkshire Council, Civic Centre, Windmillhill Street, Motherwell, ML1 1AB. The training will include interactive sessions where the provisions of the Code and how they should be interpreted can be discussed. I...
