Cosla

Extra funding of a billion pounds over the next three years is needed to address the gap of funding that exists in social care in Scotland today, MSPs heard this week. Scottish Care told the Scottish Parliament’s health and sport committee inquiry into care home sustainability that care homes are

Communities secretary Angela Constance and COSLA President Councillor Alison Evison visit Leith Theatre to launch the Local Governance Review A Local Governance Review has been launched to allow communities to have their say on how more decisions can be taken at a local level.

Councils are showing increasing signs of financial stress and could see their cash reserves run out in two to three years, the local authority watchdog has warned. In its annual financial overview published today the Accounts Commission said funding has reduced while costs and demands have increased

Councillor Kelly Parry As Midlothian councillor Kelly Parry settles into her post as spokesperson for community wellbeing at the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA), Scottish Housing News asks about the housing elements of her wide-ranging role.

National charity for homeless people Crisis is running a major consultation as part of its 50th anniversary year to develop a plan to end homelessness. The plan will be informed by gathering the evidence and opinions of those who know homelessness and related issues best – the people who have expe

David Gauke MP The roll out of the devolution of welfare powers to Scotland and concerns over Universal Credit will be raised by the Scottish Parliament’s social security committee when it takes evidence from secretary of state for work and pensions David Gauke MP.

An alliance of ten organisations from the planning and placemaking sector in Scotland has launched a new campaign to help influence new planning guidelines ahead of the upcoming Planning Bill. The Scottish Alliance for People and Places, which includes COSLA and the Scottish Federation of Housing As

Jeane Freeman Social security minister Jeane Freeman has outlined more details on Scotland’s new social security agency and provided an update on the Scottish Government’s progress to abolish the ‘bedroom tax’ at source and in delivering choice in Universal Credit.

Jeane Freeman Social security minister Jeane Freeman met local councils yesterday to discuss the practical steps needed to encourage more people to claim the financial support they are entitled to.

Aberdeen City Council has agreed to rejoin the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA) after a two year absence. Councillors made the decision at a meeting of the full council yesterday as the local authority installed co-leaders for the first time in its history.

An integrated, whole-system approach which addresses social inequalities and goes beyond housing is required to prevent and respond to homelessness in Scotland, according to the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA). In its submission to a Parliamentary inquiry into homelessness, COSLA hi

Finance Secretary Derek Mackay The Scottish Government has reaffirmed its target to build 50,000 affordable homes and pledged more funding to offset the ‘bedroom tax’ though campaigners have criticised the Draft Budget for failing to provide the ambition required to crack the problem of Scotland

Harry McGuigan Scotland local authorities have warned that severe cuts to local government will threaten to undo the great efforts councils have made to tackle homelessness.

COSLA president David O’Neill Up to 7,000 jobs have gone in local authorities over the past year with thousands more at risk if there are any further cuts to local government funding, Scotland’s councils have warned.

Scotland’s councils are spending more than half of the money they bring in from Council Tax simply to pay interest on debts, according to the Scottish Greens. A report by the party found that the long-term debt being held by Scotland's 32 local authorities totals £11.5 billion including loans fro