Findings of Standards Commission Hearing - Councillor Liz Mccabe
Argyll and Bute Council · 26 November 2025
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ARGYLL AND BUTE COUNCIL COUNCIL MONITORING OFFICER 26TH NOVEMBER 2025 FINDINGS OF STANDARDS COMMISSION HEARING – COUNCILLOR LIZ MCCABE 1.0 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1.1 Section 18(2) of the Ethical Standards in Public Life etc. (Scotland) Act 2000 requires the Council to consider findings of a Hearing held by the Standards Commission for Scotland within three months of receiving the Commission’s Written Decision. 1.2 Accordingly, the Written Decision of the Hearing Panel in relation the case against Councillor Liz McCabe (Ward 8, Isle of Bute), is produced in full at Appendix 1 for the consideration of the Council. 2.0 RECOMMENDATIONS The Council is invited to: 2.1 Consider the terms of the Standards Commission’s Written Decision, attached as Appendix 1, which details the breaches of the Councillors’ Code of Conduct that were committed by Councillor Liz McCabe. 2.2 Note the Hearing Panel’s decision to impose the sanction of suspending the right of Councillor McCabe to attend all meetings of the Council and of any committee or sub-committee thereof, and of any other body on which she is a representative or nominee of the Council, for a period of one month with effect from 3rd November 2025.
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ARGYLL AND BUTE COUNCIL COUNCIL MONITORING OFFICER 26TH NOVEMBER 2025 FINDINGS OF STANDARDS COMMISSION HEARING – COUNCILLOR LIZ MCCABE 3.0 INTRODUCTION 3.1 The full Written Decision of the Standards Commission’s Hearing Panel, dated 31st October 2025, in respect of a complaint against Councillor McCabe is attached as Appendix 1. 4.0 RECOMMENDATIONS The Council is invited to: 4.1 Consider the terms of the Standards Commission’s Written Decision, attached as Appendix 1, which details the breaches of the Councillors’ Code of Conduct that were committed by Councillor Liz McCabe. 4.2 Note the Hearing Panel’s decision to impose the sanction of suspending the right of Councillor McCabe to attend all meetings of the Council and of any committee or sub-committee thereof, and of any other body on which she is a representative or nominee of the Council, for a period of one month with effect from 3rd November 2025. 5.0 DETAIL 5.1 At the conclusion of a Hearing held online on 23rd October 2025, the Standards Commission found that Councillor McCabe breached Sections 3.1 (courtesy and respect), 3.8 (publicly undermining an employee’s performance) and 3.10 (breach of Protocol for Relations Between Councillors and Employees) of the Code. 5.2 In the circumstances, the Panel concluded, on balance, that a one-month suspension was the appropriate sanction. This suspension commenced on 3rd November 2025, and shall end at midnight on 2nd December 2025. 5.3 The Standards Commission’s Suspension Guidance outlines those activities that a councillor subject to a suspension in terms of Section 19(1)(c) of the 2000 Act (the applicable provision in this case) generally can and cannot
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undertake during the period of suspension. This Guidance is attached as Appendix 2. 6.0 CONCLUSION 6.1 Section 18(2) of the 2000 Act requires the Council to consider the findings of a Hearing held by the Standards Commission for Scotland within three months of receiving the Commission’s Written Decision. 6.2 Appendix 1 accordingly sets out the full details of the findings before Members for their consideration. 7.0 IMPLICATIONS 7.1 Policy – General guidance about which activities a suspended councillor can and cannot undertake during the period of their suspension is attached as Appendix 2. 7.2 Financial – None arising from this report. 7.3 Legal – This report has been prepared in accordance with the requirements of Section 18(2) of the Ethical Standards in Public Life etc. (Scotland) Act 2000. 7.4 HR – None arising from this report. 7.5 Customer Service – None arising from this report. 7.6 Risk – None arising from this report. 7.7 Climate Change – None arising from this report. 7.8 Fairer Scotland Duty - None arising from this report. 7.9 Equalities: Protected Characteristics - None arising from this report. 7.10 Consumer Duty - None arising from this report. 7.11 Island Communities - None arising from this report. 7.12 Children’s Rights and Wellbeing – None arising from this report. DOUGLAS HENDRY Monitoring Officer 6th November 2025
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For further information contact: Graeme McMillan, Transformation Programme Manager, Graeme.mcmillan2@argyll-bute.gov.uk APPENDICES Appendix 1 – Decision of the Hearing Panel of the Standards Commission for Scotland, dated 31st October 2025 (Case Ref: LA/AB/4147) Appendix 2 – Standards Commission for Scotland, Suspension Guidance (2024)