Mark Whitehead 09 February 2016

Scotland’s councils threaten Holyrood with legal action over ‘draconian’ financial settlement

Scottish local authorities have warned they are considering legal action over sanctions threatened by the Edinburgh government over their budget-setting plans.

Inverclyde Council leader Stephen McCabe has published a formal response to the Scottish government on what he described as a ‘draconian’ financial settlement.

He said he is in discussion with other council leaders about a judicial review of the sanctions proposed by the Scottish Government.

Inverclyde Council has decided to delay the setting of its budget until 10 March due to uncertainty over the settlement from the Scottish government.

Cllr McCabe wrote to deputy first minister John Swinney: 'You should be aware that I am in discussion with colleagues in other councils about the possibility of seeking a judicial review of your draconian sanctions.

'I find it totally baffling that a government which portrays itself at every turn as being anti-austerity would support a settlement that will undoubtedly have a devastating impact on local communities, services and jobs in the years to come when it had other levers at its disposal to avoid such an outcome.'

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