Responding to the Scottish Government Spending Review Framework Consultation, the local government body added that the value of the workforce will be maximised by ensuring staff are appropriately paid, skilled, supported, and recognised for the critical roles they do.

The COSLA submission claims the local government has borne the brunt of funding pressure for more than a decade, and stressed that the gap cannot continue to be met by local government through further efficiencies.

COSLA also stressed that the local government workforce includes many who undertake a range of front-line roles including cleaning, catering, and refuse collection.

The document states: “While we are proud to be a Living Wage employer it must be recognised that the burden of austerity has fallen most heavily on those doing vital, but less well paid, roles such as these. This is coupled with the continued downward pressure on core budgets restricting the pay awards that can be granted. This is unacceptable and leads to poorer social and economic outcomes.”

The consultation is to inform how the Scottish Government will prioritise its resources for the next three years. The three priorities are - to support progress toward meeting child poverty targets; to address climate change and to secure a stronger; fairer, greener economy.

Council leaders also agreed that it is essential that there is meaningful long term, sustainable investment in local government to achieve better outcomes across these three priorities.

It is also COSLA’s view that a further priority is required to reflect on the importance of improving the wellbeing of individuals and communities – “to ensure that everyone can live well locally”.