Scotland
Conference hears tourist tax call
The Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA) has used its annual conference to call for fiscal devolution, including a tourist tax.
Sturgeon: Council Brexit role essential
The role of councils in preparing for the ‘extremely serious consequences for communities across Scotland’ of Brexit will be essential, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has said.
Scotland to consult on tourist tax
The Scottish Government will consult on the benefits of enabling councils to charge tourist taxes.
COSLA increases pay offer to unions
A new pay offer has been put forward by councils in Scotland in a bid to avert industrial action.
Scottish council use of local suppliers halves in 10 years
The number of Scottish businesses winning council contracts has almost halved within a decade, a report has found.
Scottish councils will be more vulnerable to claims
New claims legislation likely to make defence more difficult for Scottish Local Authorities, warns Kate Donachie
'Universal Credit rollout to bring poverty and hardship'
Scotland’s social security cabinet secretary has warned that the full rollout of Universal Credit to Glasgow later this month will cause increased poverty and hardship.
Burnham: Devolution is our best hope
Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham has argued that devolution ‘offers the best hope of making Brexit work for the regions and uniting our uncertain nation’.
Scottish Government resists calls for tourist tax
The Scottish Government has dashed councils’ hopes of gaining powers to introduce a tourist tax.
Unison calls for pensions fund merger
The largest trade union representing members of the Scottish Local Government Pension Scheme (SLGPS) has called for the 11 funds to be merged.
Highland Council warns of £5.1m overspend
A Scottish council has warned of ‘harder times ahead’ as it projects an overspend of at least £5m this financial year.
Council must cut £15m from costs
Shetland Islands Council must slash costs by £15.6m over the next five years, officers have warned.
Scottish plans to bolster education by involving parents
Measures to boost education attainment through greater involvement of parents have been unveiled by the Scottish Government.
Participatory budgeting 'outstanding success'
Independent research has found Dundee City Council’s participatory budgeting (PB) was an ‘outstanding success’ that should act as an inspiration to other local authorities.
Southern England propping up rest of UK - ONS
Southern England continues to subsidise the rest of the UK by raising more in taxes than it spends on public services, according to latest analysis from the Office for National Statistics.
NAO to reinforce external auditing
The National Audit Office (NAO) is to reinforce the importance of external auditor reporting after warnings were raised but ignored by Northamptonshire CC.
Scottish minister U-turns on education bill
The controversial Scottish education bill has been put on hold after a compromise was brokered with councils.
COSLA in tourism tax call
The Convention of Scottish Local Authorities’ (COSLA) president today called for more financial power for councils, starting with the discretion to introduce a tourism tax.
Northern Irish councils' devolution call
The time is now right to extend the responsibilities of local government in Northern Ireland through greater devolution from Stormont, a new report said today.
Growth plans for Norse
Norse Group has laid out ambitious growth plans that could lead to it hitting £0.5bn turnover.