COSLA
Unison urges members to vote for strike
Scotland’s biggest public service trade union has advised council workers to vote for industrial action in a ballot over pay.
Unions reject Scots pay offer
Trade unions in Scotland have formally rejected employers’ pay offer of an £800 lower-rate pay rise for 2021, dismissing the sum as an unacceptably poor response to staff efforts during COVID-19.
Scottish pandemic recovery prospects ‘severely eroded’
The prospects for post-pandemic recovery in Scotland have been 'severely eroded' by funding constraints, councils have said
New review puts case for a National Care Service in Scotland
An independent review of adult care services in Scotland has called for urgent improvements in workforce planning, pay and conditions, and a rethink on charging policies.
Cross-party backing for European charter
The European charter of local self-government took a step closer to being incorporated into Scots law after a Bill received cross-party support at stage one.
Scottish Budget 'falls short'
The Scottish Government’s £11.6bn budget ‘falls short of the fair funding local government requires,’ councils have said.
Scottish councils' cost call
Scottish local authorities have called for the costs of COVID-19 to be met by the Government north of the border.
Scottish councils call for fair funding to avoid 'damaging consequences'
Council leaders in Scotland have called for an end to small ring-fenced pots of funding and no cap on council tax in this year’s Budget.
Devolution boost for Scots councils as Bill is backed
Devolution to councils in Scotland has taken a step forward after the Scottish Government announced its support today for a private members Bill.
Scots union calls for urgent meeting to address funding
Unison Scotland has called for an urgent meeting with Scottish finance secretary Kate Forbes in a bit to address the growing finance crisis.
Two Scots councils set for level four
Two Scottish local authority areas are in line for a new severe level four lockdown according to a letter from the Scottish government to the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities.
A Programme of change for Scotland
Scotland’s new Programme for Government offered Indyref 2 as the showstopper, but for local government across the UK the focus will be on the findings of a review to consider the move to a National Care Service. Heather Jameson reports.
Scottish councils release blueprint for change
A local government blueprint laying out the changes required to unlock councils’ full potential has been published by the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA) today.
Scots councils to get COVID cash top up
The Scottish Parliament has agreed to top up its funding to councils to deal with the coronavirus crisis.
Councils in fresh Brexit warning
Scotland’s council leaders today warned that the lack of progress on Brexit talks posed a ‘significant risk’ to local government services.
Scots councils call for coronavirus cash
Scottish councils have demanded the UK Government cash to deal with coronavirus must be handed down to local government.
Call for lifting of immigration rules
Council leaders in England, Scotland and Wales have called for a temporary lifting of the immigration rules that stop some migrants accessing public funds.
Scots care staff to get pay hike
Scottish social care staff are to receive an immediate 3.3% pay increase backdated from 1 April after an agreement between the Scottish Government and the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities.
Scottish ministers hit out at UK austerity
Scottish ministers have blamed UK austerity measures for the financial difficulties facing councils north of the border.
Scottish councils’ improvements ‘stalling’
Spending on culture and leisure, economic development, and roads all fell by around a quarter last year, according to a study.
