Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973

31 Disqualifications for nomination, election and holding office as member of local authority

(1) Subject to subsections (2) and (3) below, a person shall be disqualified for being nominated as a candidate for election as, or for being elected, or for being, a member of a local authority if—

(a) he or a partner of his holds any paid office or employment (other than the office of chairman) or other place of profit in the gift or disposal—

(i) of the authority; or

(ii) of any joint committee or joint board the expenses of which are defrayed in part by the authority; or

(b) he is a person whose estate has been sequestrated by a court in Scotland or who has been adjudged bankrupt elsewhere than in Scotland ; or

(c) he has, within five years before the day of nomination, or election or since his election, as the case may be, been convicted in the United Kingdom, the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man or the Irish Republic of any offence and has had passed on him a sentence of imprisonment (whether suspended or not) for a period of not less than three months without the option of a fine; or

(d) he is disqualified for being elected or for being a member of that authority under Part III of the [1949 c. 68.] Representation of the People Act 1949.

(2) Where a person is disqualified under subsection (1) above by reason of his estate having been sequestrated, the disqualification shall cease if and when—

(a) the sequestration of his estate is recalled or reduced ; or

(b) he obtains his discharge from a court in Scotland.

(3) Where a person is disqualified under subsection (1) above by reason of having been adjudged bankrupt, then—

(a) if the bankruptcy is annulled on the ground that he ought not to have been adjudged bankrupt or on the ground that his debts have been paid in full, the disqualification shall cease on the date of the annulment;

(b) if he is discharged with a certificate that the bankruptcy was caused by misfortune without any misconduct on his part, the disqualification shall cease on the date of his discharge; and

(c) if he is discharged without such a certificate, his disqualification shall cease on the expiration of five years from the date of his discharge.

(4) A person who is for the time being a member, officer or servant of, or an officer or servant of a subsidiary (within the meaning of the [1962 c. 46.] Transport Act 1962) of, the Passenger Transport Executive for an area which falls within a region shall be disqualified for being elected or being a member of the council of that region.