A LEVEN councillor has slammed the recently amended Councillors’ Code of Conduct as “a tool to suppress and stifle open public debate”.

This month, a crackdown on bullying and harassment in council working duties was cemented with an amendment to the code, which must be observed by all councillors across Scotland.

The Scottish Government approved a new provision to re-enforce such behaviour as a breach of the code.

The changes to the code came into effect on July 9, 2018, and have been heralded as ‘progressive’ by the convener of the Standards Commission for Scotland (SCS) – the independent ethics watchdog which is responsible for encouraging high standards of behaviour by members of all Scotland’s 32 local authorities.

However Councillor Jim Bollan of the West Dunbartonshire Community Party criticised the code, claiming its purpose is to ‘censor and control.’

Councillor Bollan told the Reporter: “The code of conduct is used by the establishment as a tool to suppress and stifle open public debate and discussion in local councils.

“It is part of the overarching control mechanism used by the system to ensure their rules and narrative are followed.

“The misnamed Code of Conduct is really about censorship and control.”

The SCS convener, Professor Kevin Dunion, has hit back at the claims, explaining the code exists to ensure even the most robust of debates remain civilised and “do not descend into insulting or disruptive behaviour.”

He said: “We consider that, at a time when there is a great deal of concern about such issues, the public have a right to expect certain standards of behaviour and to have confidence that if an elected member falls short of these then action will be taken.

“Councillors should be able to carry out their functions without fellow elected members, council employees or members of the public having to tolerate inappropriate behaviour in their dealings with them.

“That is what the strengthened code makes clear.”

A Scottish Government spokesperson added: “The code sets out, openly and clearly, the standards of conduct that must be adhered to by councillors.

“It exists to help ensure public confidence in councillors, not to stifle them.”

NOTES:

SCS full response:

“The Councillors’ Code of Conduct is intended to ensure even the most robust of debates and discussions remain civilised and do not descend into insulting or disruptive behaviour. There have already been a number of cases before the Standards Commission where it has been found that Councillors have used offensive and gratuitous language and have made comments of a misogynistic or sectarian nature, which are wholly unrelated to the matters under discussion.

“The amended Code of Conduct, which was agreed by the Scottish Parliament, is being strengthened by a new provision that prohibits bullying and harassment. We consider that, at a time when there is a great deal of concern about such issues, the public have a right to expect certain standards of behaviour and to have confidence that if an elected member falls short of these then action will be taken.

“Councillors should be able to carry out their functions without fellow elected members, Council employees or members of the public having to tolerate inappropriate behaviour in their dealings with them. That is what the strengthened Code makes clear.”

Kevin Dunion, Convener, Standards Commission for Scotland