Scottish councils have urged all political parties to give local government ‘the place and respect it deserves’ in their manifestos.

COSLA is calling on all political parties to reference its Local Government Blueprint in their manifestos ahead of this year’s Scottish Parliamentary elections.

Cllr Alison Evison, COSLA president, said: 'For too long now local government has been given a poor diet - and that is why we developed the Local Government Blueprint, which is our menu for change that we want to see.

’The new parliament provides the opportunity for us to reiterate our value - for too long Scottish local government has not had its rightful place at the top table.

’Our response during the pandemic has been remarkable, our communities have appreciated what we have done on their behalf and realise that only local government comprises all of the various ingredients that can truly deliver for our communities

'Therefore we call on all parties to make a commitment to the COSLA Local Government Blueprint in their forthcoming Manifestos.’