1Code of conduct for councillors
(1)The Scottish Ministers (“Ministers”) shall issue a code of conduct for councillors (the “councillors' code”).
(2)There shall be set out in the councillors' code principles and rules governing the conduct of councillors.
(3)These principles and rules shall include provision about the registration and declaration of the interests of councillors and their ineligibility to discuss or vote upon council business affecting these interests.
(4)Ministers may, in order to assist themselves in carrying out their duty under subsection (1) above, invite such association of councils as seems appropriate to them to draw up and send them a suggested councillors' code.
(5)Ministers shall issue a councillors' code only after it has been laid before and approved by a resolution of the Scottish Parliament.
(6)The councillors' code shall have effect as from such date (not earlier than its issue) as Ministers fix.
(7)Ministers may revise or re-issue the councillors' code; and subsections (4) to (6) above apply to any revisal or re-issue of the councillors' code as they apply to its issue.
(8)In subsection (3) above—
“interests” means pecuniary and non-pecuniary interests;
“council business” includes matters under consideration by any body on which a councillor is a representative or nominee of a council.