Title

FINANCE

Scottish councils need extra £1bn to 'survive'

Councils in Scotland need more than an extra £1bn a year just to survive, a new briefing has warned.

Councils in Scotland need more than an extra £1bn a year just to survive, a new briefing has warned.

The Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA) briefing called for urgent action to reverse the real terms cuts to councils' budgets in recent years.

In 2021-22, the revenue settlement for local government was just over £11bn.

However, COSLA claimed that to survive councils needed £12.07bn and it argued that to thrive councils should receive a settlement of £12.66bn.

COSLA's resources spokesperson, Cllr Gail Macgregor, said: 'Local government has been the poor relation of recent Budgets, and our local knowledge and links need to be used fully before we are past the point of no return.

'Our communities are starting to show the neglect of an under-funded local government.

'Quite simply, what we need from this Budget is proper funding to provide the everyday services our communities need and deserve.'

FINANCE

Councils can act local, but government must think global

By Heather Jameson | 11 March 2026

Central government needs to do more than just define anti-Muslim hate and protect free speech, says Heather Jameson. 'In a country where you can work hard, g...

FINANCE

How to tackle the challenges of 2026

By Paul Marinko | 11 March 2026

Local government has entered a time of unprecedented change despite continuing to face particular financial and service strain. Nonetheless, this round table...

FINANCE

Councils are holding care together

By Baroness Louise Casey | 11 March 2026

In the week of her appearance at The MJ Future Forum, Baroness Louise Casey sets out a frank overview of the reform challenge facing adult social care.

FINANCE

Council backlash over asylum reforms

By Martin Ford | 11 March 2026

The Government was this week accused of shifting the burden of supporting asylum seekers to councils.

Popular articles by Laura Sharman