Council leaders in Scotland have welcomed the news of an early Scottish Budget to provide certainty for public services.
Finance secretary Derek Mackay said the budget date - 6 February 2020 - would allow local authorities to set their budgets and council tax before the legal deadline of 11 March.
'The UK Government’s approach to the Scottish Budget has been completely unacceptable and has shown a disregard for devolution and a lack of fiscal responsibility,' he said.
'The timing of the UK Budget made it impossible for us to publish our own budget after the UK Government’s without drastically restricting the time for parliamentary scrutiny.'
President of the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities, cllr Alison Evison said: 'I am extremely pleased the Scottish Government has listened and responded to calls from COSLA for an early Scottish Budget. I wrote last week to Mr Mackay highlighting that in these exceptional circumstances it is vital that all spheres of Government in Scotland work together to protect and support the essential services that Local Government provides every day to individuals, families and communities.'
