2  Registration of interests

 

This section covers Section 4 of the Code and is intended to give members of the public confidence that decisions are being taken in their best interests and not those of you or your family, friends or personal associates. Your Register of Interests is intended to be a public record of the interests that might, by their nature, be likely to conflict with your role as a councillor.

The Ethical Standards in Public Life etc. (Scotland) Act 2000 (Register of Interests) Amendment (No. 2) Regulations 2021 require every council to maintain a Register of Interests. They further require you, as a councillor, to update your entry within one month of a new interest arising or of any change to an existing entry. You must also review your entry annually, even if nothing has changed. The Register should cover the 12 months before election and your entire term of office. If an interest ends, the entry should remain listed but should be amended to show relevant dates (for example, ‘Parliamentary researcher from 1 June 2024 until 31 December 2025’).

Your council may issue reminders but it is your personal responsibility to ensure that your entry is accurate and up to date.

Next, move onto 2.1  Amount of detail.