Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee
4th Meeting, 2021
Tess White was invited to declare any relevant interests. Tess White confirmed she had no relevant interests to declare. Paul McLennan declared an interest that he is a serving Councillor.
The Committee agreed to take items 7, 8, 9 and 10 in private.
The Committee took evidence on the Model Code of Conduct for Members of Devolved Public Bodies from—
Tom Arthur, Minister for Public Finance, Planning and Community Wealth, John St Clair,Senior Principle Legal Officer and Ian Thomson,Team Leader - Public Bodies Unit, Scottish Government .
Tom Arthur (Minister for Public Finance, Planning and Community Wealth) moved—S6M-01125—That the Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee recommends that the Model Code of Conduct for Members of Devolved Public Bodies be approved.
After debate, the motion was agreed to (by division: For 3, Against 0, Abstentions 2).
The Committee considered applications for recognition from two Cross-Party Groups, and took evidence from—
Maurice Golden, Convener of the proposed CPG on Circular Economy, Scottish Parliament;
and then from—
Pauline McNeill, Convener of the proposed CPG on Medicinal Cannabis, Scottish Parliament.
The Committee agreed to accord recognition to the proposed Cross-Party Group on Circular Economy and the proposed Cross-Party Group on Medicinal Cannabis.
The Committee agreed an update to the guidance on the Code of Conduct to take effect from 21 October 2021.
The Committee agreed its work programme.
The Committee agreed to waive Rule 6.10 of the Code of Conduct on a temporary basis, and to accord recognition to, the CPG on Commercial Sexual Exploitation.
The Committee agreed its approach to the legislative consent memorandum on the Elections Bill.