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Meet the Standards Commission's Members - Lezley Stewart
1. Why did you apply to be a member of the Standards Commission? At the time I saw the vacancy advertised, I had recently ceased working full time and was enjoying all the freedom and opportunities that brings! The vacancy sparked my interest however, as the work of the Commission connects with my values, and reflects my own career [as an Office Holder working under a Code of Conduct]. I felt I had the experience/skills that the Commissio...
New eLearning Module for Councillors on Making Quasi-Judicial and Regulatory Decisions
The Standards Commission has produced an eLearning Module for Councillors on Section 7 of the Councillors’ Code, which covers their conduct when they make decisions on quasi-judicial and regulatory matters, such as planning and licensing application. The eLearning Module can be found here.
Collective Responsibility
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...
Meet the Standards Commission's Members - Malcolm Bell
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...
Joint Webinars with the Improvement Service
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...
Training on the Councillors' Code for the Scottish Conservative Councillors Association
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.
Does the Councillors’ Code prevent effective scrutiny by councillors?
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...
Meet the Standards Commission's Members - Morag Ferguson
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...
Standard Training Presentations on the Codes of Conduct
The Standards Commission has updated its standard training presentations on both the Councillors’ Code of Conduct and the Model Code of Conduct for Members of Devolved Public Bodies. Both presentations (including the explanatory notes) can be accessed and downloaded from here.
Revised Guidance on the Councillors’ Code and Advice Notes for Councillors
Revised Guidance on the Councillors’ Code and Advice Notes for Councillors Following feedback and in light of some enquiries received by email, telephone and at training events, we’ve reviewed and updated our Guidance on the Councillors’ Code of Conduct. We’ve also updated the following Advice Notes for councillors, in order to ensure they are as clear and helpful as possible: Advice Note on Distinguishing Between their Strategic Ro...
