Friday January 9th 2026
Scottish Borders Council headquarters
Written by Local Democracy Reporter, Paul Kelly
Six complaints were made regarding the behaviour of Scottish Borders councillors in the financial year 2024/25, it has emerged.
Three of the complaints led to detailed investigations but it was concluded that in none of the cases breaches of the elected members Code of Conduct had occurred.
A report on the issue is to be considered when members of Scottish Borders Council’s Standards committee meet on Thursday, January 15.
The report provides members with information regarding the Ethical Standards Framework.
The framework includes the Code of Conduct for councillors and the council’s processes for handling such complaints.
In Scottish Borders Council complaints about the conduct of elected members are made to the monitoring officer or to its chief executive officer.
When they are made to the chief executive they are passed to the monitoring officer for investigation and conclusion.
During the financial year 2024 to 2025, six formal complaints were made directly to the monitoring officer about the alleged conduct of elected members.
No complaints received after April 1, 2025 are included in the figures.
Five complaints were received from members of the public and one was received from an SBC employee.
The majority of complaints alleged disrespectful behaviour towards members of the public or council employees. Five complaints fell into that category.
There was also one complaint about an alleged failure to properly register an interest.
The report states: “In two of those matters the monitoring officer was able to resolve things by communicating with the elected member and providing advice.
“Three complaints required a more detailed investigation where a number of witnesses were contacted and interviewed.
“In each of these complaints the monitoring officer concluded that the complained of behaviour did not occur in the way described and there was no breach of the Code of Conduct.
“In the allegation regarding the register of interest, it was established the councillor had properly recorded their interest.
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