Scotland
Scottish Council leaders call for people’s vote
Council leaders in Scotland have backed the call for a second Brexit referendum.
West Dunbarton Council considers cuts
West Dunbarton Council is mulling over staff job cuts as part of new cost-saving plans, in an attempt to close a growing yearly funding gap totalling more than £54m over the next decade to 2028/29.
Business backs Edinburgh tourism tax
Seven out of 10 Edinburgh businesses back plans for a tourism tax in the city, a survey has found.
'Significant improvements but hard choices to come'
Dumfries & Galloway Council has a clear strategic direction, more effective leadership, and better systems for planning, monitoring and continuous improvement, the Accounts Commission has found.
Fresh funding plea amid union pressure
Council leaders have refreshed their appeal for extra resources from the Scottish Government under pressure from unions over pay.
Yotta to deliver asset management to Glasgow
Technology firm Yotta has won a seven-year contract with IT and business process service firm CGI to deliver asset management to Scotland’s largest local authority.
Tax experts dismiss local VAT call
Tax experts have dismissed the idea of local VAT despite calls from MPs and the London Finance Commission.
COSLA calls for more cash from Scottish Government
Councils in Scotland have called for a 2.5% increase in funding.
Council has 'come a long way since 2007'
East Lothian Council has made significant improvements but still faces big challenges due to its rising population, Scotland’s local authority watchdog has said.
EXCLUSIVE: Councillors silenced on secret fiscal devolution report
Senior councillors have been warned not to talk about a secret Local Government Association (LGA) report that models what fiscal devolution might look like, The MJ has been told.
EXCLUSIVE: Cross-party councillors call to end funding uncertainty
Councillors from across the political spectrum have demanded the Government provide funding certainty ahead of the Budget next week.
Dawes invites tourism tax call
Marsham Street has given its clearest indication yet that it could be open to considering council calls for a tourism tax.
Reform council tax or lose our support, Greens tell SNP
Without any progress on council tax reform the Greens will vote down the upcoming Scottish budget, the party’s co-convener has warned.
SOLACE Summit: Dawes rejects NHS cash grab idea
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government’s (MHCLG) top civil servant has encouraged council chief executives to be bold in their asks from Whitehall.
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