Cosla

COSLA has today launched its latest budget lobbying campaign which calls on the Scottish Government to 'Invest Locally in Scotland’s Future'. The Accounts Commission has projected a local government budget gap of £392.7 million in 2025/26, rising to a cumulative gap of £780m by 202

Improved access to housing, education and health services and tackling discrimination are at the heart of a new Gypsy/Traveller Action Plan agreed between the Scottish Government and COSLA. The voices of Gypsy/Travellers have helped shape the Plan, which acknowledges improvements in many of these ar

Scotland’s new strategy to support refugees and people seeking asylum with settling into their community was celebrated with an event at the University of Glasgow. The New Scots Refugee Integration Strategy: Delivery Plan 2024-2026 - which is the most comprehensive of its kind worldwide - seek

Scotland’s councils faced a collective gap of up to £585 million between the money needed to deliver services and the money available when setting their budgets this year, the Accounts Commission has warned.

New powers enabling councils to charge up to double the full rate of council tax on second homes came into force this week.

Local government associations from across the UK have united to write a letter to the Chancellor of the Exchequer outlining the real and significant risks facing councils if additional funding is not provided in the UK Spring Budget on the 6th of March. The unprecedented step to move away from lobby

The passing of the Scottish Budget 2024/25 at Holyrood yesterday will perpetuate housing inequality across the country and limit the number of new homes coming forward across all tenures, sector body Homes for Scotland (HFS) has warned. The Budget includes more than £1.3 billion for the W

Claims by the Scottish Government that progress is being made towards ending homelessness and building social housing look like an attempt to gaslight the Scottish public, Shelter Scotland told MSPs in Parliament yesterday. The housing charity made the claim after new figures showed local government

An agreement between the Scottish Government and councils to secure a sustainable, longer-term funding arrangement is now urgent to continue to deliver local services, the Accounts Commission said today.

New powers enabling councils to charge up to double the full rate of council tax on second homes have been agreed by the Scottish Parliament.

A coalition of experts has called on local and national government to adopt a groundbreaking new tool created to measure progress being made towards ending homelessness in Scotland.

Scotland’s health and social care sector is facing significant challenges this winter with increased demand and a greater complexity of need, rising cost pressures and real challenges in recruiting and retaining staff, local authorities have warned. Ahead of its budget on December 19, COSLA sa

Councils are key to unlocking both the potential and the best outcomes for our local communities but require proper funding to do so, COSLA has said today.

Local authorities may soon have the power to levy up to double the full rate of council tax on second homes if draft regulations before the Scottish Parliament are approved.

An innovative project spearheaded by Fife Council in collaboration with Dundee City and Clackmannanshire Councils and WEA has been honoured with the Excellent People, Excellent Outcomes award at the COSLA Excellence Awards 2023.