Scotland
City region deal to be signed
The Stirling and Clackmannanshire city region deal will be signed by council leaders and representatives of the UK and Scottish governments today.
Uncertainty puts East Lothian procurement on hold
Uncertainty over the future of waste and recycling in Scotland has led to East Lothian Council pushing back procurement of a contract for bin collections.
Call for new audit board
An independent review has been urged to back the creation of a board to oversee the local audit system.
Short-term thinking
Ahead of the impending introduction of new licensing powers for short-term lets in Scotland, Stephen McGowan says the Scottish Government needs to give full attention to the impact the regulations will pose to already-struggling local authorities.
Rates repatriation revolt collapses
An attempt to repatriate the setting of business rates to Scottish councils has collapsed.
'Hidden cuts' in Scottish Budget
Council leaders have complained about ‘hidden cuts’ in a Scottish Budget that will deliver £11.3bn for council services in 2020/21.
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.
Watchdog concerns over sustainability and services at Highland Council
The Accounts Commission expects the council to ‘demonstrate improvement in the next 12 months’ by implementing a series of recommendations made by Audit Scotland.
Row over SNP funding of councils
Local government is ‘treated far better in Scotland than it is elsewhere in the UK,’ the Scottish National Party (SNP) has insisted.
Brown calls for 'constitutional revolution'
Gordon Brown has called for a ‘constitutional revolution,’ with a series of citizens’ assemblies and a forum for mayors and regional leaders to shape change.
Dozens of children in care sent north of border
English councils are sending children in care hundreds of miles from their homes to secure accommodation in Scotland, new research has revealed.
Scottish Government resists business rates devolution plan
Public finance minister Kate Forbes has hit out at opposition proposals to devolve control of business rates to Scottish local authorities.
Scottish councils sign £700m contract to ‘transform waste’
Five Scottish councils have signed a contract that will divert up to 190,000 tonnes of black bag waste from landfill.
Scottish City Deals ‘lack aims and objectives’
Watchdogs have questioned the transparency and oversight of Scotland’s £5.2bn City Deals.
COSLA: Invest in councils before it is too late
The Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA) has launched a campaign to persuade finance secretary Derek Mackay to invest in councils ‘before it is too late’.
March 11 Budget creates 'deep risk' for councils
The Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA) has written to the Chancellor warning of the ‘deep risk facing councils’ from delaying the Budget until March 11.
LPGS Scotland is in a 'strong financial position’
The first formal review of the 15 funds in the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) Scotland has concluded that it is in a strong position overall.
Two out of three councils eat into reserves
Two-thirds of councils have reduced their general fund reserves over the last three years, a new report by Scotland’s watchdog for local government has found.
COSLA kicks off funding formula review
A review of funding for Scottish councils has been launched following concerns around the current formula.
One third of 2017 Scottish revaluation appeals unresolved
Almost three quarters of business rates revaluation appeals in Scotland have so far resulted in no change of value, according to newly-published figures.