Scotland
No council tax for care leavers
A charity has backed the Scottish Government’s decision to exempt care leavers from council tax.
Scottish councils given warning of further local cuts
Scottish Labour’s deputy leader has warned councils they face £800m more cuts to local services by 2021.
Care across the border: embracing the shared challenges
Dr Stephen Moir looks at the social care approaches across England and Scotland and argues there are shared challenges to tackle that both countries can learn from.
We can be the solution, not the problem
As the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities’ meets for its Annual Conference in Crieff this week, Les Sharp and Archie Dryburgh identify the three biggest challenges facing local authorities in Scotland and consider how to adapt for the future.
Warning for councils after wall collapse
Local authorities have been warned they must not ‘contract out’ the safety of new public buildings in a new report from the Scottish Parliament.
Ministers hand councils new education role
Scottish ministers have watered down plans to reduce council influence over schools.
Government to press ahead with Universal Credit despite growing criticism
Work and pensions secretary, David Gauke, has committed to pressing ahead with Universal Credit despite growing opposition.
Councillors attack planning reforms
Scottish Government proposals to overhaul the planning system would erode the local democratic process and fail to achieve their objectives,’ Aberdeenshire councillors have said.
Scots set for new care abuse claims
Scotland’s councils have been warned to brace themselves for a wave of compensation claims from people who suffered abuse as children in local authority care.
Accountants in pension law change call
Charities should be allowed to exit the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) to stop them building up unaffordable debt, a new report has argued.
Meeting the modern leadership challenge
Jo Miller says now, more than ever, we need bold and brave leaders, willing to take risks and disrupt the status quo to deliver for residents in these straitened times.
Committee to probe council spending
A review of how local authorities in Scotland prioritise spending and assess the impact of increased charges was launched today by a parliamentary committee.
Fife wins £3.1m after successful legal challenge
Fife Council has been awarded £3.1m from insurance group RSA after it won the legal challenge it launched against a coal mining company.
Disappointment for Scottish employers as £10m fund is only for the few
Councils hoping the Scottish government’s flexible workforce development fund would boost firms will be ‘disappointed,’ according to the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB).
Auditors in equal pay warning
Councils in Scotland have spent £750m settling equal pay claims since 2004, with 27,000 claims still outstanding, a public spending watchdog has revealed.
New care legislation blamed for overspend
Dundee City Council is predicting a £4.2m overspend against its adjusted 2017/18 revenue budget, councillors will hear next week.
Scots make case for keeping business rates tax
A year-long review of business rates in Scotland has made 30 recommendations for reform but argued in favour of keeping the tax.
City council approves major management restructure
Aberdeen City Council has approved a major management restructure in a bid to ease funding pressures and bolster service delivery.
Review backs keeping business rates
A year-long review of business rates in Scotland has made 30 recommendations for reform but argued in favour of keeping the tax.
School powers transfer ‘threat to local democracy’
The Scottish Government’s plans to transfer responsibility for school improvement to new regional bodies threaten to undermine local democracy, a senior Labour councillor has claimed.