Role and Remit
The Standards Commission
The Standards Commission was established by the Ethical Standards in Public Life etc. Scotland Act 2000 (2000 Act). It is an independent public body, responsible for encouraging high standards in public life in Scotland. The 2000 Act provides a framework under which Ministers issue Codes of Conduct for councillors and members of devolved public bodies.
The role of the Standards Commission is to:
- Promote the Codes of Conduct covering the behaviour of councillors and those appointed to the boards of devolved public bodies;
- Issue guidance to councils and devolved public bodies on how the Codes should be interpreted; and
- Adjudicate on alleged breaches of the Codes of Conduct, and where a breach is found, to apply a sanction.
The Ethical Standards Commissioner (ESC) is a separate and distinct officeholder who is responsible for investigating complaints that councillors and members of devolved public bodies have breached their respective Codes of Conduct. The ESC sends a report to the Standards Commission on the conclusion of their investigation. The ESC also has responsibilities in respect of complaints about MSPs and in regulating and monitoring how individuals are appointed to the boards of public bodies. Further information on the ESC’s role and remit can be found on their website.
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Information on the Ethical Standards Framework
This video outlines the Standards Commission's role and remit in the promotion and enforcement of Codes of Conduct for councillors and board members of devolved public bodies.
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Introduction to the Standards Commission:
We have two key strands of work:
A proactive educational role around the ethical standards framework, including publishing Guidance and Advice Notes on the relevant Codes of Conduct, providing training, and answering queries; and
An adjudicatory role in holding public Hearings to decide on alleged breaches of the Codes of Conduct, and where a breach is found, to then determine the appropriate sanction.
Both the Councillors’ Code of Conduct and the Model Code of Conduct for board members of devolved public bodies are based on key principles. This videos introduce these key principles. -
Respect
The Codes provide that councillors and board members must treat members of the public, colleagues, council officers and public body employees with courtesy and respect at all times. This includes in person, in writing, at meetings, when they are online (including when using social media).
Councillors and board members are expected to lead by example to ensure public debate in Scotland does not fall below the minimum level the public is entitled to expect.
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BSL - What We Do
We have created a British Sign Language video explaining our role and remit. The video also explains how to make a complaint that a councillor or member of a devolved public body has breached their respective Code of Conduct.
