Seventy per cent of councils in Scotland warn they may be unable to pass balanced budgets

New research from Local Government Information Unit (LGIU) Scotland reveals that 70% of all councils believe they will be unable to pass a balanced budget within the next five years without immediate changes.

The second annual State of Local Government Finance in Scotland, found councils are taking every measure available to balance their budgets including raising council tax, reducing expenditure and increasing fees and charges, sharing services and engaging in commercial activity. However, many councils believe this will still not be enough to prevent the risk of an unbalanced budget.

Nearly every respondent said they believe cuts to services will have a negative impact on quality of life in their council, and over 90% that cuts will increase the risks to vulnerable people. 

The report found satisfaction with the Scottish Government is alarmingly poor across the sector. Not a single respondent said they were happy with the Scottish Government’s performance on delivering a sustainable funding system or considering local government in wider policy decisions.

Respondents representing 84% of Scottish councils, made up of council leaders, CEOs and CFOs said times are increasingly hard for local authorities, with ongoing pressure from the cost of living crisis and inflation adding new burdens on top of long-term challenges: demographic change, financing of Scottish Government priorities, and pressures with recruitment and retention of staff.

With councils’ confidence in the sustainability of council finances critically low, the sector is in favour of widespread reform, including multi-year financial settlements, ending ring-fencing, and reform of council tax.

Councils are optimistic about the role that local government, sufficiently funded and empowered, could have to advance the prevention agenda, tackle local and national shared priorities, deliver services and empower communities.

The report recommends an agreed national convention between Scottish Government and local government to cover procedures and actions that would then be needed to set a balanced budget; enshrining in legislation the principles of the Verity House Agreement, and committing to an annual review by Scottish Parliament covering the key principles.

Some of the medium to long-term recommendations include reconsidering a whole-system approach to funding wider public finances including a review of council tax, the funding formula and increasing the range of revenue-raising options available for councils.

Jonathan Carr-West, Chief Executive, LGIU Scotland, said: “This year’s results make for grim reading about the state of local government finances in Scotland. The message from our second annual State of Local Government Finance in Scotland  builds on last year: we are nearing the point of no return. The report paints a picture of a system under continual and significant strain, with the scale of financial pressures increasing from 2023.

“Local government finances in Scotland are hanging by a thread. However, the thread has not yet broken. Today’s report delivers a stark warning that councils are in a precarious financial position and there is not much time until the sector starts to see potentially catastrophic consequences.

“Change is urgently needed. Councils will soon be unable to balance their budgets, meet their statutory duties, or provide for their communities. We need to change course now before it is too late.

“The challenge now is how do we move from the situation we are in now, to one where councils are able to deliver the transformative impact they are confident that they could deliver.

“Reform is necessary, empowerment will be essential, and trust between Scottish Government and local government – in a critically poor state – must be restored.”

The LGIU asked Scotland’s Council Leaders, Chief Executives and Chief Finance Officers about their experiences trying to run councils in the last financial year, and their views on how councils’ financial sustainability could be assured.

The report highlights concerns COSLA has continually emphasised, most recently through our Invest Locally In Scotland’s Future budget campaign.

COSLA Resources Spokesperson, Councillor Katie Hagmann, commented: “The publication of today’s report by the LGIU highlights the sheer scale of the financial challenges facing our councils. 

“The fact that 70% of councils in Scotland may be unable to balance budgets in the near future should serve as a warning to all. Additionally, it emphasises the need for the Scottish Government to provide Local Government with an increased funding settlement which is both fair and flexible in 2025/26.

“COSLA also welcomes the LGIU’s call for a whole system approach to Local Government finance. 

“This echoes our asks in our ‘Invest Locally in Scotland’s Future’ budget lobbying campaign. Without a clear focus on prevention and upstream investment, along with local flexibility, our councils will be unable to tackle higher demand, in key areas such as homelessness prevention and social care.

“COSLA is calling for the Scottish Government to provide at least £14.5bn in revenue funding and £872m in capital funding in the 2025/26 Budget. 

Meeting this demand would not make up for the cuts councils have faced and felt by our communities in recent years, however it would be a positive step forward in providing fair and flexible funding to meet the challenges outlined in the LGIU report.”

Read about Invest Locally In Scotland’s Future, COSLA’s budget campaign.

Read the full report from LGIU.

Loyalty pricing: what shoppers and supermarkets need to know

COMPETITION & MARKETS AUTHORITY INVESTIGATION

Are you a member of a supermarket loyalty scheme?  

If so, do you trust that the loyalty discounts are as good as they seem, and that you are getting a good deal? 

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is working to make sure people get a fair deal as they continue to face cost of living pressures. As part of our work in the groceries sector, we’ve been investigating supermarket loyalty pricing and have today published the final report of our investigation.  

As part of our investigation, we wanted to check: 

  • whether promotions can be trusted 
  • how promotions compare to prices available at other supermarkets  
  • how accessible these promotions are  
  • whether consumers are being treated fairly 

We asked shoppers how they really feel about loyalty pricing, and found that:  

  • 68% think that loyalty prices offer good savings for members 
  • 26% said that loyalty pricing would make them more likely to shop at a particular supermarket 
  • 40% do not trust that the loyalty price is a genuine saving on the usual price for that product 
  • 55% said they think that non-member prices during a loyalty price promotion are generally higher than the price usually charged for the product 

We analysed around 50,000 grocery products on loyalty price promotions and found very little evidence of supermarkets inflating their usual prices to make loyalty promotions seem like a better deal. 

Our messages to shoppers: 

Loyalty prices offer genuine savings 

Our findings reveal shoppers can make an average saving of 17 to 25% compared to the usual price when buying loyalty priced products at the 5 supermarkets examined (Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Waitrose, Co-op and Morrisons). 

Shop around for the best deal 

Are you a bargain hunter? We found loyalty prices typically beat other supermarkets’ regular prices and are often similar to other promotional prices. But we also saw examples of other promotions and regular prices being cheaper for some products so shop around to find the best deals. 

Our messages to supermarkets

Supermarkets should:  

  • read our advice on how to help them stay on the right side of the law 
  • make sure none of their loyalty price promotions have the potential to mislead shoppers  
  • consider whether they could do more to make sure that those under 18, customers without smartphones, and people without fixed addresses are not prevented from joining loyalty schemes and accessing cheaper loyalty prices 

Find out more 

You can read more about the investigation on our loyalty pricing case page.  

You can also find out more about what we’re doing to help people get a fair deal as they face the rising cost of living. This update covers our recent work on road fuel prices, groceries, infant formula, vet services, online shopping and housing. 

New multi million pound National Lottery programmes set to power up Scotland’s communities

The National Lottery Community Fund has opened a new £166 million funding stream that will give Scotland’s communities a much needed boost over the next five years.

With a focus on building the strengths of people and communities in greatest need, community groups across the country can now apply to share these life changing funds.

The two new programmes, Community Action and Fairer Life Chances, are aimed at helping communities to tackle poverty, disadvantage, and discrimination, three of the biggest barriers to people and communities finding their power and agency.

They will award bigger and longer grants than previous funds giving community groups more security over a longer term, and they will fund organisations of different sizes and levels of experience.

Both programmes will help The Fund to deliver its UK wide strategy ‘It starts with community‘ by focusing on four mission areas.

Community Action will support projects that help communities of all shapes and sizes, including those who are geographically dispersed, to come together around activities that matters to them, or which help communities to be environmentally sustainable.

Fairer Life Chances is for projects providing services that support children, young people and families, or that help people to be healthier or have better access to support.

Organisations applying to the new programmes will be expected to show how their project fills a gap, how it will reach and support people and communities experiencing poverty, disadvantage, and discrimination and how it will involve their voices and makes use of their skills and experience.

They must also show how their project makes a difference and how they will measure that impact.

Announcing the news yesterday, Kate Still, Scotland Chair of The National Lottery Community Fund, said: “We’re delighted to open these new funding programmes which were developed with and for Scotland’s essential community and voluntary sector. Over the next five years we want to support activity that inspires community action and leads to fairer life chances for those most vulnerable in our society.

“That’s why our new programmes will invest most where the need is greatest, reaching people and communities across Scotland that are experiencing poverty, discrimination and disadvantage. We’ll do this by funding projects that build on the strengths within communities and which give people more agency and control over their lives and the activities and services that support them.

“None of this would be possible without National Lottery players who can take pride in knowing that their contribution will make a huge difference to the lives of people up and down the country.”

This year marks 30 years since the first National Lottery draw in 1994. Thanks to National Lottery players, The National Lottery Community Fund has awarded £1.9 billion to over 46,000 charities and community groups in Scotland during that time.

Jack preparing soup at The Usual Place

One project already empowering young people with additional support needs is The Usual Place in Dumfries, which is using its National Lottery grant of £199,852 to run accredited training programmes in food, drink and hospitality.

Craig McEwen, Chief Executive of The Usual Place said: “We welcome these new funding programmes from The National Lottery Community Fund, which represent a transformative step toward sustainable support for third sector organisations.

“In today’s rapidly changing funding landscape, we are crying out for multi-year, equity-based funding to provide essential stability for organisations like ours. It would allow us to plan with confidence, reach more young people with additional support needs and make long-term investments in meaningful solutions for those facing poverty, disadvantage, and discrimination.

“This approach goes beyond financial security; it reflects the value of lived experience and the importance of amplifying community voices in shaping impactful, responsive services.

“We’re excited to see how they this new funding will empower organisations like ours to deepen our work, build on our strengths, ensure that every individual we serve has a voice in shaping their own future and help create a fairer future for all.”

Community Action and Fairer Life Chances opened to applications yesterday – Wednesday 27 November.

Groups with ideas for funding are encouraged to get in touch to discuss their idea by email at advicescotland@tnlcommunityfund.org.uk, or by phone on 0300 123 7110 (open from 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday).

For more information on all funding available from The National Lottery Community Fund visit https://www.tnlcommunityfund.org.uk/funding/scotland

First-ever Christmas Drive In Movie Night at The Centre for CHAS

The Centre, Livingston, one of Scotland’s largest shopping centres, has announced its Christmas events plan to raise funds and awareness for the children’s charity, Children’s Hospices Across Scotland, (CHAS), which includes its first-ever Christmas ‘Movie Under the Stars Drive-In’ and free festive workshops.

This is the third year the shopping centre has partnered with CHAS, which provides the only hospice services in Scotland for children and young people with life-shortening conditions. Various events over the years have included an Elf Walk and Breakfast with Santa.

This year on the 6th December, The Centre, Livingston is hosting its first-ever Christmas ‘Movies Under The Stars Drive-In’ on the 3rd floor of Car Park 1, featuring the family-favourite film, Elf at 6pm, and the classic romantic comedy, Love Actually at 9pm.

Tickets are £20 per car, plus £1.50 booking fee, and can be purchased at https://thelittleboxoffice.com/skylightcinema/event/view/204923 for Elf and https://thelittleboxoffice.com/skylightcinema/event/view/204925 for Love Actually.

All proceeds will be going to CHAS. Terms & Conditions are on the website, www.thecentrelivingston.com.

Kids will also get the chance to decorate a special bauble, with help from Santa’s Elves, and hang them on the Christmas trees at festive arts and crafts workshops, located near the Post Office. These will run on weekends in the run up to Christmas; 30th November – 1st December, 7th – 8th December and 14th – 15th December, between 11am-4pm.

As part of the charity partnership, CHAS will also be hosting a pop up in the shopping centre on Saturday, 30th November and Sunday, 1st December to raise funds and awareness about the services they offer.

Throughout the festive period shoppers will also be able to make donations at two CHAS contactless pods, located opposite the Post Office and next to the washroom facilities adjacent to Hotel Chocolat, which will be in situ until the end of the year.

Tess Sundberg, Marketing Manager at The Centre, Livingston, said: “We are very excited to launch our Christmas events plan this year, which includes our first Christmas Drive-In Movie Night and free festive arts and crafts, to help raise money for CHAS again.

“This is a charity which is very close to our hearts which is why we like to partner with them at this time of year to help raise funds and even more awareness of the incredible work they are doing. We look forward to welcoming them at their pop up on the last weekend of November.”

Alison Rennie, Community Fundraiser at CHAS, said: “We are very excited to partner with The Centre, Livingston for another magical Christmas season. 

“Their incredible support helps us bring joy, comfort and unforgettable moments to children with life-limiting conditions and their families during the most precious time of the year. Together, we can make a real difference this Christmas, creating memories that will last a lifetime.

“We are really looking forward to hosting our pop up in the shopping centre on Saturday, 30th November and Sunday, 1st December. Visitors can meet our team and learn more about the vital care we provide. We’ll also be selling a range of festive CHAS Christmas merchandise, perfect for gifts, and some of your favourite characters will be there to add to the holiday magic.

“We’ll also be joined by the wonderful Linlithgow Male Choir, who will be entertaining shoppers with carol singing on Saturday, adding to the festive cheer.”

Other activities taking place at The Centre, Livingston include an ‘Advent Calendar Spin the Wheel’, located near Waterstones, where shoppers will get the chance to win various prizes every day from the 1st – 24th December.  

These include a luxury Velvetiser hot chocolate machine from Hotel Chocolat, worth £99.95, a Rituals Gift Set worth £43.90, JBL Headphones from Vodaphone worth £50, a meal for two at wagamama and lots more. Daily updates can be found on The Centre, Livingston social media channels.

www.instagram.com/thecentrelivingston https://www.facebook.com/shopthecentre

Edinburgh primary pupils boosted by Amazon donation

Gilmerton Primary School on Moredun Dykes Road, has received a donation of £1,000 worth of equipment from Amazon in Edinburgh.

The donation from Amazon went towards updating the school’s library to promote reading to pupils. The donation included bookshelves, beanbags and technology, and followed a £500 donation of books made to the school by Amazon earlier in the year.

To mark the donation of equipment, the team from Amazon in Edinburgh visited staff at Gilmerton Primary School to donate the items.

Megan Malone from Amazon in Edinburgh said: “I’m so pleased Amazon is supporting pupils at Gilmerton Primary School with this donation.

“It was great to see how far the library has come along from being just an empty classroom and getting to meet members of staff at the school to help them develop this, and I hope this donation inspires pupils to read more and spend time in the library.”

Catriona Webster at Gilmerton Primary School, added: “Thank you to Megan and the team at Amazon for this donation.

“This equipment means a lot to our pupils and will have such a positive impact on their learning. We look forward to making use of our updated library!”

Community donations and employee volunteering are just two of the ways Amazon supports the communities where it operates.

Amazon co-founded The Big House Multibank in Fife with former UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown to support to families in need. The Multibank network has now donated more than 5 million surplus goods to over 500,000 families across Scotland, Wales, Greater Manchester, London, and Tees Valley.

Amazon has supported more than one million students across the UK with free STEM education programmes through Amazon Future Engineer and helps community organisations transport meals and other essentials to families in need through its pro bono logistics programme, Amazon Local Good.

Amazon partners with Comic Relief and is the official home of the charity’s iconic Red Nose. Together with its employees, customers, and partners, Amazon has raised over £4.8 million to fund projects that support people across the UK, and around the world.

Soundhouse Winter Festival kicks off tomorrow

Dates: Thursday 28 November to Monday 2 December 2024

www.soundhousewinterfest.com

There is just one day to go before the brand new Soundhouse Winter Festival kicks off in Edinburgh, thanks to support from The National Lottery through Creative Scotland.

The programme is packed with big names and up and coming bands from across Scotland including award winning feminist rock goddess Megan Back, who hasrecently returned from gigs in California, performing tracks from her new album out next year; and impulsive punk/rock n’ roll multi-instrumentalist Callum Easter performing with his full band the Roulettes and special guest indie/folk soloist Iona Zajac. 

They will be headliningalongside some of Scotland’s finest jazz and trad musicians including Fergus McCreadie, Su-a-Lee, Duncan Chisholm, Hamish Napier, and Donald Shaw; a screening of silent film The Rugged Island: A Shetland Lyric accompanied by music composed by multi-instrumentalist Inge Thomson and fiddle player Catriona Macdonald; and live performance poetry with Edinburgh’s previous Makar Hannah Lavery accompanied by music from Kate Young.

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Callum Easter & The Roulettes who play the Queen’s Hall, Edinburgh on Monday, 2 December with special guest Iona Zajac

The festival’s programme also includes early evening concerts at the Traverse with Nicole Smit performing some cool jazzy numbers with her Quintet (Vid Gobac on drums, Cameron Bradley on piano, Dave Toule guitar, and Kassandra E’Silva on saxophone); Gaelic singer-songwriter Rachel Walker performing with one of the country’s foremost folksingers and accompanists Aaron Jones; Edinburgh-based poetic psychedelic supergroup Acolyte (Ruairidh Morrison on bass, Gloria Black on synth and backing vocals, Daniel Hill on percussion and led by award-winning poet and spoken word artist Iona Lee); and acclaimed singer songwriter Victoria Hume, joined by long-term collaborator Chris Letcher.

Plus, there will be a showcase of emerging new jazz musicians including the Rosalind Orr Trio, TAO and C.A.L.I.E; a masterclass with jazz pianist Fergus McCreadie; and two workshops -Gaelic lullabies with Rachel Walker, and jazz saxophone with one of Scotland’s leading jazz instrumentalists Helena Kay.

Jane Ann Purdy and Douglas Robertson, producers of the Soundhouse Winter Festival said: “We are thrilled to be presenting a five-day festival of live ‘music from Scotland’ at this time of year.

“There are so many world class musicians working here right now that we were literally spoilt for choice. We hope the Soundhouse Winter Festival will not only be a chance for music lovers to hear some of their favourite live bands, but also a chance to hear some of the best up and coming artists of the moment.”

Booking link for tickets: – soundhousewinterfest.com

Spread joy this season by donating decorations and messages of hope

The Leith Collective launches annual Christmas tree exchange
with an extra personal touch this year

A shocking 14% of people said they would throw away their artificial Christmas tree rather than reuse it next year*. With the planet facing an environmental emergency and people facing a continuing cost of living crisis, one local Community Interest Company is determined to put an end to this mindless waste and send a message of hope to those in need in the process.

Sunday 1st December will see The Leith Collective launch its annual Christmas tree exchange across its four Scottish stores, and this year it’s adding an extra personal touch. Locals are being urged to search their homes for any unwanted Christmas trees and decorations that may be languishing in cupboards and attics. Instead of sending them to landfill, they can drop them off at The Leith Collective stores where they will be passed on to those in need.

The Leith Collective is also calling on Christmas shoppers to take time out of their present hunting to stop and think of others by writing messages of hope on decorations which will be hung on these pre-loved Christmas trees to lift spirits and spread joy this season. 

Last year, The Leith Collective re-homed almost 500 Christmas trees and demand is expected to be just as high this year.

Speaking ahead of the Christmas tree exchange launch, The Leith Collective founder, Sara Thomson, said; “We want people to stop and think of others this Christmas. Passing on trees and Christmas decorations is not only good for the planet, but it’s also a lovely way of adding a little festive joy to the lives of those less fortunate.

!And by taking the time to write a thoughtful message to accompany each tree, we hope it will help people to connect with others. To those receiving these trees and personalised decorations, we hope it offers them comfort to know people are thinking of them this Christmas.” 

Christmas trees and decorations will be available for anyone to collect at Edinburgh’s Fort Kinnaird, Ocean Terminal and Waverley Market stores, as well as Dundee’s Overgate store, during opening hours completely free of charge. No stigma, no judgement, no questions asked. 

*2017 survey, quoted by PHS Wastekit

Deputy First Minister outlines steps towards financing a green future

A range of measures to transform how Scotland attracts and supports capital investment into the country have been unveiled

Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes will take on a cross-government leadership role as the Scottish Government’s ‘Investment Champion’ to deliver a national pipeline of strategic investment opportunities and a seamless, co-ordinated approach to building relationships with investors and developers.

Practical steps being delivered include an Investment Unit to identify and tackle barriers to investment; the creation of a single portal for investment inquiries and another detailing investment opportunities; and a new Cabinet sub-committee to co-ordinate activity.

The Scottish Government will also explore new financing models including how public sector guarantees could be used, a potential Scottish Bond, and public-private partnerships.

Addressing the Investment Association Conference in Edinburgh Ms Forbes said: “Increasing the level of private investment into Scotland’s economy is essential to our ambitions – for growth, for jobs, for reaching net-zero, and for improving our public services. Without investment and the growth it can catalyse, we can achieve none of those goals. 

“I will be working to tackle barriers and blockers; and to ensure that the system as a whole works cohesively, effectively, and quickly, to support investors and to deal with issues as and when they arise. 

“Scotland has the talent, skills and resources in abundance to be a major player in the energy transition and secure a prosperous and sustainable future. We need to work better, smarter, and quicker to ensure that we can create an investor-friendly environment and seize the many opportunities which lie ahead. ”

The Deputy First Minister’s speech.

Edinburgh Achool Uniform Bank: Winter Warmers Wanted!

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Winter Warmers Wanted!

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We have had a wonderful response to our winter appeal. Thank you to everyone that’s donated so far! Many people are thinking of a charity to donate to this Christmas so why not help a local child via our winter warmers appeal?

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Please help us make sure every child has a warm coat this winter. A set of warm, dry clothes can be the difference between a child attending and engaging in school or staying away. Times are hard and families need your help more than ever.

There are a few ways you can help:

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Buy one of our winter clothing bundles via our shopping partner Give Today. There are also smaller items that can be purchased. We will ensure every donation gets to a young person in need. Anything purchased will be sent directly to us. https://givetoday.co.uk/edinburghschooluniformbank/

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Donate funds and we will purchase any items needed. £50 could provide a coat for a high school pupil and £30 could provide a coat for a primary school child. Every contribution, no matter the size, is appreciated. Donate here: https://edinburghuniform.org/donate/

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You can of course buy an item or two of winter clothing and drop it off at one of our drop off points. More information on those can be found here: https://edinburghuniform.org/donate-uniform/
We are expecting many requests for coats and warm clothing in the coming weeks, we don’t want to turn anyone away. Please share in local groups and with friends and family

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Thank you

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Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home reports highest ever demand for services

This year saw the charity deliver a staggering 495,207 meals to foodbanks

With operational costs continuing to rise and demand for services at an all-time high, Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home has launched its Winter Appeal to ensure no pet is left without care during the harsh months ahead. 

This year has seen record-breaking pressures on the charity, with nearly 400 new admissions between September 2023 and August 2024. Over the same period, the Home distributed 44,960kg of pet food, more than the weight of a Boeing 737-800 airplane, to food banks across Central and East Scotland to help keep pets with their families. 

Despite these challenges, Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home has rehomed 194 cats and dogs and served 487,352 meals to pets in need this year.

One of the many lives transformed this year is Mary’s. Found as a stray in September 2023, Mary arrived at the Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home frightened and vulnerable. During her intake, the team discovered she was also pregnant.

With the warmth and care of the Home, Mary gave birth to six healthy puppies just weeks later. Thanks to the dedicated efforts of the staff and the generosity of supporters, her puppies had the best possible start in life and have since been rehomed with loving families.

Mary’s story doesn’t end there. After months of recovery and love, she too found her forever home with a family that will ensure her days are filled with the care and affection she deserves. Mary’s journey is a testament to the vital role of the Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home in providing second chances to pets in need and highlights the importance of community support to make these happy endings possible.

“The community’s support is more vital than ever,” said Lindsay Fyffe-Jardine, CEO of Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home. “This winter, we are calling on individuals and businesses to help us continue providing life-saving services.

Every small action — from donating funds to organizing a pet food drive — contributes directly to ensuring no animal is left cold or hungry this winter.” 

The Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home aims to raise £134,500 from this year’s Winter Appeal.  Staggering operational costs mean that every penny raised will ensure that the animals of the Home are well cared for this winter and will also help to ensure more happy stories like Mary and the 281 rehomed and reunited this year. 

Over £22,000 will be spent on heating the Home over the next few months alone, and daily service costs amount to £7,000.  Donations of as little as £10 can provide essential vaccinations for a cat, while £150 could keep all the Home’s dogs warm for the day.

Founded in 1883, Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home has been a lifeline for the community for over 140 years, relying entirely on public donations to sustain its vital work. 

To support the Winter Appeal, visit www.edch.org.uk/winterappeal or text WARMHEARTS to 70085 to donate £10.