Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee
Meeting Minutes
4th Meeting, 2021
- Date: Thursday, October 7, 2021
- Session: 6
- Location: TG.60-CR3 The Fleming Room
- Meeting opened at: 09:00
- Meeting closed at: 10:41
- Published: Thursday, October 7, 2021 03:36pm
Committee Members Attendees
- Martin Whitfield (Convener)
- Bob Doris (Deputy Convener)
- Paul McLennan (Member)
- Edward Mountain (Member)
- Tess White (Member)
1 Declaration of interests:
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.
2 Decision on taking business in private:
The Committee agreed to take items 7, 8, 9 and 10 in private.
3 Subordinate legislation:
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 .
4 Subordinate legislation:
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).
5 Cross-Party Groups:
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.
6 Cross-Party Group - approval:
The Committee agreed to accord recognition to the proposed Cross-Party Group on Circular Economy and the proposed Cross-Party Group on Medicinal Cannabis.
7 Guidance on the Code of Conduct (in private):
The Committee agreed an update to the guidance on the Code of Conduct to take effect from 21 October 2021.
8 Work programme (in private):
The Committee agreed its work programme.
9 Cross-Party Group (in private):
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.
10 Elections Bill (UK Parliament legislation) (in private):
The Committee agreed its approach to the legislative consent memorandum on the Elections Bill.