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 2025
17th December 2025
Our latest Standards Update is now available.
Meet the Standards Commission's Members - Morag Ferguson
17th December 2025
1. Why did you apply to be a member of the Standards Commission? I was reaching the end of a long career in Local Government legal and governance services but wasn’t ready to ‘fully retire’, so an opportunity to use my experience in a different way was really appealing to me. 2. What aspect of the role have you found the most challenging or surprising? I had been aware of the work of...
Does the Councillors’ Code prevent effective scrutiny by councillors?
27th November 2025
Does the Councillors’ Code prevent effective scrutiny by councillors? Councillors, as elected representatives, are responsible for assisting the public in scrutinising how their local authorities deliver essential services to communities, including housing, education and waste management. Given the importance of these services and the expenditure of public funds involved in their delivery, it is vital that councillors are able to undertake robust scrutiny...
Training on the Councillors' Code for the Scottish Conservative Councillors Association
20th November 2025
The Standards Commission was pleased to have been invited by the Scottish Conservative Councillors Association to provide training for its members on the Councillors' Code of Conduct. The training, which took place online on 18 November 2025, provoked a lot of discussion among attendees, and the Standards Commission hopes that they found the training as useful and informative as it did.
Joint Webinars with the Improvement Service
17th November 2025
Joint Webinars with the Improvement Service The Improvement Service and Standards Commission are hosting two webinars for elected members on the following provisions in the Councillors’ Code of Conduct: Distinguishing between strategic and operational matters on 15 January 2026 from 10:00 – 11:30...
Meet the Standards Commission's Members - Malcolm Bell
11th November 2025
1. Why did you apply to be a member of the Standards Commission? I have over 40 years in public service and I saw the Standards Commission as an opportunity to remain engaged and contribute further. I have always been committed to upholding high ethical standards in public life and believe my experience and skills can support the Commission’s valuable work. 2. How do you find being a member of a...
Fixed Term Case Manager Vacancy
31st October 2025
We are currently recruiting for a full-time, fixed-term Case Manager. The advert, job description and an application form can be found here. The salary is £56,875 and closing date is noon on 17 November 2025.
New Advice Note on the Ethical Standards Framework for Independent Councillors
21st October 2025
The Standards Commission, has produced an Advice Note on the Ethical Standards Framework for Independent Councillors. The Advice Note aims to provide guidance to independent (non-political party affiliated) councillors on their responsibilities under, and how to seek assistance with, any aspect of the ethical standards framework. While the guidance in this Advice Note is relevant to all councillors, it has been developed specifically with independent members in mind. This is because th...
Standards Update September 2025
30th September 2025
Our latest Standards Update is now available.
Collective Responsibility
17th September 2025
Model Code of Conduct The Scottish Parliament demonstrated its commitment to the promotion of high standards in public life by passing the Ethical Standards in Public Life etc. (Scotland) Act 2000 as one of its earliest statutes. The Act introduced an ethical framework which required a Model Code of Conduct to be issued for board members of the devolved public bodies listed in Schedule 3 of the Act. The Model Code of Conduct for Members of Devolved Public Bodies, which is issu...
