Sutherland councillor faces Standards Commission hearing over conduct
A Sutherland councillor is to face a hearing of the Standards Commission for Scotland over allegations he breached the Councillors’ Code of Conduct.
Lib-Dem member Michael Baird, who represents the North, West and Central Sutherland ward on the Highland Council, is accused of contravening the Code of Conduct on issues of “respect and courtesy, and bullying and harassment”.
He will appear before a public hearing at Highland Council headquarters at Glenurquhart Road, Inverness, tomorrow, Tuesday, April 15.
Cllr Baird, from Bonar Bridge, joined the council for a first term in the May 2022 elections when he received 773 first preference votes. He took up the seat vacated by long serving fellow Lib-Dem Linda Munro.
The hearing comes after a complaint was made last year to the Ethical Standards Commissioner who is responsible for investigating complaints that councillors and members of devolved public bodies have breached their respective Codes of Conduct.
The ESC sends a report to the Standards Commission for Scotland who can choose to direct the ESC to carry out further investigations, take no further action, or hold a hearing. The ESC will present evidence before a hearing panel comprising three members of the Standards Commission about why they consider the code to have been contravened and Cllr Baird or his representative can also present evidence and make submissions.
If it is determined that there has been a breach of the Code of Conduct, sanctions that can be imposed include censure - a formal record of the Standard Commission’s disapproval, full or partial suspension for up to a year, or disqualification from holding office.
