The Scottish budget is a ‘missed opportunity’ for delivering on public service reform, local authority leaders in Scotland have told Holyrood.
The Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA) today warned the Scottish Government’s Draft Budget ‘leaves not a single penny’ for Public Service Reform.
They also said that there was little focus on prevention and tackling poverty and warned that it was a ‘missed opportunity’ for reaching net zero.
‘The Budget as it stands leaves not a single penny for transformational Public Service Reform - there is very limited scope for a focus on “Spend to Save”,’ said a COSLA spokesperson.
‘The 2024/25 Budget shows a clear difference between the treatment of local government and other public bodies, with local government disproportionately impacted by cuts to capital funding.’
The Scottish Government has increased capital funding to prison (+72%), fire (+31%), courts (+28%), police (+13%), and NHS (+11%). However, according to COSLA’s analysis, it has decreased it to local government (-21%).
‘COSLA’s President, Vice President and political Group Leaders from all parties have written to the Deputy First Minister and are seeking an urgent meeting,’ the spokesperson continued.
‘Council leaders will not let this lie, they simply cannot afford to because it will have such a detrimental impact on the communities they represent.’
