Tag: COSLA

Scotland’s Care system in state of emergency due to acute placement shortage, warn social work leaders

Scotland’s 32 chief social work officers issue rare joint statement urging action from political leaders to tackle ‘crisis’ in care system they say has led some social workers to take children home with them because of the shortage of placements

Scotland’s care system is in a state of emergency due to an acute placement shortage that has, in some cases, led to social workers taking children home with them.

That was the stark warning from the country’s 32 chief social work officers in a rare joint statement to highlight the issue to Scottish Government and council leaders and urge action to counteract it.

The CSWOs – the strategic and professional leads for social work in each of the local authorities – said the “acute shortage of suitable homes and carers” was increasing “the risk of harm to children from physical, sexual, emotional abuse or exploitation and neglect”.

It was also “placing undue and unsustainable pressure on the people entrusted with keeping Scotland’s children, young people and adults safe”, said the statement, published by leadership body Social Work Scotland.

The CSWOs said the the shortage of placement options had led to:

  • Social workers having to take children home with them in some parts of the country.
  • Newborn babies remaining in the care of hospital nurses.
  • Children as young as three being placed in residential care alongside young adults.
  • Older children sleeping on the sofas of foster carers and residential homes.
  • Children who do not have high needs being placed in expensive specialist provision making it unavailable for those who need it.
  • Foster carers going many months without a break.

They described the care system as “saturated” and said it would have collapsed entirely without “the incredible efforts of Scotland’s carers, social work staff and other professionals”.

“This is an emergency for Scotland’s care system, and we ask Scottish Government and local government leaders to work with us to take necessary action.”

The CSWOs asks for:

  • To have the flexibility to authorise placements which they deem suitable to protect the welfare and wellbeing of children.
  • The rapid implementation of commitments already made by political leaders to “alleviate the administrative demand on social work”.

The statement referenced The Promise – the pledge that all children in Scotland would grow up loved, safe and respected by 2030 – which the Scottish Government is seeking to achieve through a raft of policies.

“We share these ambitions wholeheartedly,” said the CSWOs. “But the primary responsibility of public authorities is to protect the welfare and wellbeing of people, and if we are unable to do this fundamental task, those ambitions will never be realised.”

THE CSWOs STATEMENT IN FULL:

Across Scotland there is now an acute shortage of suitable homes and carers for children who are unable to remain in the care of their family. The lack of options increases the risk of harm to children from physical, sexual, emotional abuse or exploitation and neglect, as well as placing undue and unsustainable pressure on the people entrusted with keeping Scotland’s children, young people and adults safe.

The crisis is occurring at a time of growing concerns about the impact of poverty on families, a shortage of housing, and national attention on child sexual abuse and exploitation.

We, Scotland’s thirty-two Chief Social Work Officers, are therefore taking this unusual step of issuing a joint statement to ensure that the public and political leaders are aware of the situation, and the need for urgent action.

In the absence of placement options, newborn babies are remaining in the care of hospital nurses. Children as young as three years old are being placed in residential homes with young adults; a setting characterised by frequently changing staff and other young people.

Older children are sleeping on the sofas of foster carers and residential homes. And in such scarcity, where any safe placement will do, expensive specialist options are being used for children who do not have high levels of need, making them unavailable for those children who do.

The capacity of the care system is saturated, and it is only thanks to the incredible efforts of Scotland’s carers, social work staff and other professionals that we have been able to prevent the system collapsing entirely.

Some carers have not had a break in many months, and in some parts of the country social workers have had to take children home with them, as no other safe options are available. This is an emergency for Scotland’s care system, and we ask Scottish Government and Local Government leaders to work with us to take necessary action.

Principally, we – as the leaders of social work in local government – require the flexibility to authorise placements which we deem suitable to protect the welfare and wellbeing of children. We also need to see political commitments to alleviate the administrative demand on social work implemented at pace.

Scotland aspires to be among the best places in the world to grow up, no matter what your background or circumstances. And Scotland has made a promise to those children and families who require social work support that the experience will be positive and nurturing. We share these ambitions wholeheartedly.

But the primary responsibility of public authorities is to protect the welfare and wellbeing of people, and if we are unable to do this fundamental task, those ambitions will never be realised.

Siobhian Brown, minister for children, young people and The Promise, said she took the issues raised by the statement “very seriously” and had asked to meet with Social Work Scotland “as a priority to discuss their concerns”.
 
“Any child or young person who cannot live at home, regardless of their age, must be able to stay in a safe, stable and caring environment,” she added.

“We are committed to delivering The Promise, and this includes increasing the recruitment of foster carers and providing an additional £22.2 million investment in support for foster carers and kinship carers.

“We also brought new legislation in March to regulate cross-border placements in residential care – this should help ensure more places are available for local authorities in Scotland. And this year we launched the National Social Work Agency to strengthen and support the social work profession.
 
“However, I recognise that significant pressures remain, and we will work closely with Social Work Scotland and other partners to ensure we have the right placements across the country for children and young people.”

Scottish Association of Social Work professional officer Susan Dobson said: “The dedication of the workforce to those they support is clear, but social workers having to take children home because there is nowhere else for them to go cannot be normalised.

“This environment has potentially catastrophic consequences for those children. 

“The immediate needs of children must be the priority, and we must support the profession’s leadership to provide for them in the short-term. In the long-term, there must be significant changes to resourcing and funding for services to protect and care for vulnerable children and young people.”

COSLA’s children and young people spokesperson, Tony Buchanan, said: “The issues highlighted point to real and growing risks for children and young people, for families, and for the workforce who are going above and beyond to keep people safe.

“Local government is committed to working closely with Social Work Scotland, the Scottish Government and partners to deliver both urgent action and longer term solutions… Without stabilising system capacity, there is a risk that the progress we all want to see for children and families will not be achievable.”

Joanne Smith, NSPCC Scotland policy and public affairs manager, said: “It is deeply concerning to hear from social work professionals that Scotland’s care system is in a state of emergency. The situations they describe highlight how overstretched the system has become.  

“Every child who cannot live safely at home must have access to safe, consistent, nurturing and responsive care as early as possible. We have overwhelming evidence that failing to provide timely, high-quality care for children who have experienced early adversity can have devastating and lifelong consequences.

“A lack of suitable placements means that babies and children are left in unsafe, unstable, or inappropriate situations that harm their wellbeing immediately and can have lasting effects on their mental health, relationships and life chances. 

“This must be a turning point. We need urgent action to increase the number of suitable foster placements, ensure better support for professionals and carers, and invest in early help so that fewer families reach crisis point in the first place.  

“The Scottish Government has committed to keeping The Promise. To deliver its ambitions we must see much greater recognition that how we treat children at the start of their care journey could massively impact their life chances.

“Without immediate and sustained investment, we risk failing those children who are most vulnerable and need our protection the most.” 

Veterans Scotland puts community at the heart of discussions at Armed Forces Champion Gathering event

Veterans Scotland has hailed its Armed Forces Champion Gathering event as a major success after bringing together representatives from local authorities, public bodies, the Armed Forces community, and the Scottish and UK Governments to reinforce partnership working in support of the Armed Forces Covenant.

The event, held at the Stirling Court Hotel and attended by over 120 invited guests, provided a national platform for organisations across Scotland to share good practice, strengthen collaboration and discuss how services can continue to improve support for veterans, serving personnel, reservists and military families.

Delegates took part in discussions on the latest updates on the Armed Forces Covenant extension, gaining insight into the lived experiences of the Armed Forces and Veterans community in relation to health, education and housing and learned from peers about how the Covenant duty is being delivered on the ground in communities across Scotland.

The Gathering also highlighted successful partnership initiatives already taking place across Scotland and showcased the importance of coordinated working between local authorities, public bodies and the Scottish Government in supporting the Armed Forces community.

Veterans Scotland has a broad footprint across Scotland, recognising veterans not as a group in need of support but as a national asset whose skills, experience and values are actively harnessed to deliver wider government priorities, including economic growth, the Plan for Change, and strengthened defence and resilience.

Emma Watson Mack, Executive Chair at Veterans Scotland, said: “Our Gathering event was designed as a day to inform, connect and inspire those delivering the Armed Forces Covenant in practice.

“We’re thrilled with how many of our members and partner organisations attended. It not only showed such a strong commitment in supporting our veterans but also to share their experience and the crucial impact that Covenant has on so many Veterans and their families across Scotland.

“We heard some incredible insights that demonstrated lived experience and innovative approaches by local authority champions which we know will help inspire other organisations in the future. The Armed Forces Covenant is most effective when organisations work together, and this event has reinforced that shared commitment.”

Veterans Minister Jamie Hepburn said: “Though I have only been Veterans Minister for a short time, it is already clear to me that so much of what is done in aid of those veterans and service families who find themselves in need is underpinned by the passion, dedication and hard work of individuals across the country.

“I am grateful to Veterans Scotland for all their work, and for giving so many important voices the opportunity to come together at their Gathering in Stirling to share their knowledge and experiences.

“I remain committed to working with Veterans Scotland and all in the Armed Forces community to build on the significant progress that has been made in recent years, as we develop an action plan for veterans in Scotland that reflects the new Strategy for Veterans published last year.”

Cllr Maureen Chalmers, COSLA Spokesperson for Community Wellbeing said: “It was both a privilege and a timely opportunity to come together in support of the Armed Forces community at the Veterans Scotland Gathering. Events like this send a powerful message of our collective commitment to those who have served. 

“It was also particularly valuable to hear about the practical ways councils and their partners are making the Armed Forces Covenant continue to make a difference in communities across Scotland. I very much hope that the discussions from the event and the collaboration will lead to stronger partnerships, improved services, and further tangible progress with the Covenant. 

“Ultimately, the priority is to carry forward the energy from the event into practical improvement, so the Covenant continues to make a real difference to veterans and their families to ensure they feel supported, recognised and included.”    

Lt Cdr (Ret’d) Susie Hamilton, Scottish Veterans Commissioner, said: “The Gathering was extremely impactful. It demonstrates the power of collaboration, the real world consequences of policy decisions, and the importance of listening directly to the serving and veteran community.”

Scotland’s councils face HALF BILLION budget gap

Funding for councils is failing to keep pace with rising costs and demand despite a small real terms increase in funding.

Councils’ revenue funding from the Scottish Government has gone up by two per cent. However, much of it is used to cover existing commitments such as teachers’ pay increases. Overall, Scotland’s councils face managing a budget gap of around £529 million for their 2026/27 daily operating costs – around three per cent of their revenue funding. Capital funding is down by 15 per cent.

That means councils will have to borrow more to build houses and other infrastructure, which heightens long-term financial risk.

Every local authority increased council tax by an average of 7.7 per cent for 2026/27, which should raise an extra £248 million. Councils expect to bring in around £1.2 billion from fees and other charges, such as for leisure centres and some refuse services. They are also planning to make savings of £180 million – around 1 per cent of councils’ total revenue budget. But these savings will have to increasingly affect services people rely on.

Social care makes up a high proportion of council spending and increasing demand for these services is putting major pressure on local budgets.

Anticipated reductions in Scottish Government funding over the medium term are expected to intensify these pressures and increase the risk of councils becoming financially unsustainable.

Derek Yule, a member of the Accounts Commission, said: “As things stand, councils will continue to face increasing financial pressures unless they stop, reduce, or significantly redesign services.

“Savings options are limited and will have to increasingly focus on changes to services people rely on. That makes it essential that councils talk to their communities about the difficult decisions they are facing.”

COSLA has responded to the Accounts Commission report on Local Government budgets 2026/27.

Read the full comment from Cllr Ricky Bell, COSLA Resources Spokesperson here:

https://ow.ly/yjh550ZaknP

Supporting people with complex care needs

New plan to help people live in their own communities

Almost 400 people with learning disabilities and complex support needs will benefit from £20 million of funding to implement the Coming Home Action Plan, which sets out measures to ensure tailored support and housing close to home, family and friends.

This will fund bespoke support, home adaptations, equipment and technology to enable people to return to their communities rather than spending longer periods in hospital than necessary or living in supported accommodation far from home.

Minister for Social Care and Mental Wellbeing Tom Arthur said: “Every day spent unnecessarily in hospital is time away from someone’s community, family and friends. We cannot allow people to spend longer in hospital than they need to or to stay far from home just because they have more intensive support needs.

“We are beginning to see progress. The latest data shows that fewer people are delayed in hospital or placed in care settings far from home – but there is more to do. 

“I am pleased to see this £20 million funding bringing total investment in delivering the Coming Home agenda to £40 million since 2021. I thank Dr Anne MacDonald and partners for their commitment. Real change is delivered locally and this Action Plan, alongside additional investment, provides a strong framework for that.”

Cllr Paul Kelly, COSLA Spokesperson for Health and Social Care said: “We recognise the vital importance of ensuring that people with learning disabilities and complex needs spend no more time away from home than is absolutely necessary. COSLA remains fully committed to delivering the Coming Home Action Plan and to improving outcomes for the individuals and families we all serve.

“We have worked closely with the Scottish Government, Local Government, Integration Authorities, the NHS and Third Sector partners to develop the Action Plan and set out how we will jointly address these long standing issues. I am grateful for the significant commitment and time that all partners have invested in producing the Plan, which is published today. We now need to maintain that drive and collective focus as we move into delivery.

“Sustained, additional investment across the whole system will be crucial to ensuring that people with learning disabilities and complex needs can return home as quickly as possible.”

Dr Anne MacDonald, Chair of the Coming Home Short Life Working Group, said: “I’d like to thank colleagues across the sector for all their input to developing this Action Plan, which we hope will make a real difference to the lives of people with learning disabilities and complex support needs. 

“The Action Plan is focused on changes that will support people to live well in their local communities, to have choice and control about where they live, and to have their human rights upheld.”

Coming Home Action Plan

Easy Reader Summary

coming-home-action-planDownload

Landmark deal for teachers

Scotland’s teachers to benefit from fully-funded classroom hours reduction

Scotland’s teachers will see a reduction in class contact time after a landmark agreement was reached – averting industrial action in schools.

A weekly reduction of 90 minutes will be introduced on a phased basis, with primary school teachers and those working in special schools benefiting from August 2027. Secondary school teachers will follow two years later.

The Scottish Government has committed to meeting the full cost of implementing this agreement, including £40 million in 2026-27 for the recruitment of additional teachers required to deliver the change.

Further funding to support this deal will be provided from 2027-28. An additional recurring investment of £1 million will be made to support rural and island communities that face challenges in recruiting teachers.

The deal was agreed by the Scottish Government and the EIS earlier this week before being ratified by COSLA during a meeting earlier today.

Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth said: “This is a significant milestone for Scotland’s teaching profession. I am delighted that we have been able to reach a deal that works for teachers, parties in local government and most importantly our children and young people.

“I want to thank the EIS in particular for their constructive engagement and dialogue. This deal shows what can be achieved when we all work together in the interests of children and teachers. 

“Avoiding industrial action was essential – particularly at this critical time when pupils are preparing for their exams. This agreement ensures that any potential disruption to their learning has been averted.

“By giving teachers more protected time, we are taking meaningful action to reduce workload and stress, supporting a healthier, more sustainable teaching profession that will deliver better outcomes for children and young people across Scotland.

“This is a landmark investment in the teaching profession and in the quality of education that every child and young person in Scotland deserves.”

First Minister John Sweeney added: “I am pleased that agreement has been reached with the EIS and COSLA to suspend planned teacher strikes.

“This deal supports teachers, protects learning time for pupils, especially those preparing for exams, and shows what can be achieved through constructive partnership.”

COSLA Resources Spokesperson, Councillor Ricky Bell, commented: “COSLA Leaders met this morning (Friday) to consider the issue of Reduced Class Contact Time (RCCT) and the potential for industrial action by members of the Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS).

“Following considerable deliberations among council leaders, COSLA agreed to support the proposed way forward – fully funded by Scottish Government – which we expect will enable the EIS to rescind their notice to strike.

“The joint statement agreed with the Scottish Government and the EIS commits Local Government to developing implementation plans for the introduction of Reduced Class Contact Time of 90 minutes per week. We recognise that concessions have been made on all sides.

“Despite concerns being expressed by councils, in the interests of reaching a constructive way forward and attempting to avert planned strike action, Leaders have agreed to support the joint approach. Throughout implementation, COSLA will always prioritise what is in the best interest of children and young people.

“Further detail will be negotiated through the SNCT.”

The EIS has announced that it is suspending all planned industrial action over teacher workload, following an agreement being reached between the EIS, Scottish Government and Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA).

A draft agreement, approved earlier this week by both the EIS and Scottish Government, was also approved by COSLA leaders at a meeting earlier today.

The draft agreement, as approved by all three sides, will now pass to the Scottish Negotiating Committee for Teachers (SNCT) for formal approval and implementation.

The agreement will deliver the promised 90-minute per week reduction in the maximum class contact time for teachers as a means to tackling excessive teacher workload and to provide more time for teachers to undertake important areas of activity such as the preparation and correction of pupil work.

Commenting today, EIS General Secretary Andrea Bradley said, “The EIS is extremely pleased that a negotiated outcome, which has been approved by all sides, has now been achieved in this long-running dispute.

“This agreement will have a positive impact on teacher workload and will help to create more jobs for the many newly and recently qualified teachers currently seeking secure employment in schools across Scotland.

“This is a positive outcome for Scottish education, and for teachers and pupils. It will deliver more teachers into our schools, with a positive impact on teacher workload and the creation of an improved learning environment and experience for pupils.”

Ms Bradley added, “It is the collective strength of Scotland’s teachers, working through the EIS, that has delivered this positive outcome.

“We are extremely pleased that both the Scottish Government and COSLA have listened to the very clear message that was sent by EIS members, and have now agreed the way forward on these positive changes for Scottish education.

“This agreement will help to deliver a brighter future for our schools, and for all teachers and pupils across Scotland.”

Strengthening additional support for learning

Delivering better experiences for learners, teachers and practitioners to thrive

A rapid review of Additional Support for Learning (ASL) has set out recommendations to ensure young people’s evolving needs continue to be met across Scotland.

Professional Education Advisor Janie McManus’ expert review of ASL said that clearer expectations, stronger pathways to support across education, health and social care, and early interventions should underpin the next steps in delivering Additional Support Needs (ASN) provision in schools.

Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth welcomed publication of the review outcomes and accepted the recommendations in a speech to practitioners – the first in a series of national events on ASL convened by the Scottish Government.

In her address, Ms Gilruth also confirmed that an app to streamline administrative tasks and free up teachers’ time to focus on pupil needs would be rolled out more widely later this year, backed by £700,000 government funding, subject to the success of ongoing pilots in six council areas.

Ms Gilruth said: “I am grateful to MSPs from across Parliament for their constructive engagement on the additional support needs review. I am also thankful to Janie McManus for leading this short, sharp review into ASN, with clear recommendations for the next Scottish Government to address.

“The pandemic was an undoubtedly challenging time for schools, but none more so than for our additional support needs pupils. It is with the needs of those young people in mind, that we have come together to work collegiately to drive the improvement we all want to see in Scotland’s inclusive schools.

“Across the country our teachers and school staff display extraordinary commitment working with pupils with ASN to provide a nurturing, supportive environment. Through our investment in the CivTech programme, we are seeing how technology can be harnessed to cut the time spent on paperwork and free up valuable time for teaching and learning, helping ensure teachers and school staff have the time to focus on what matters most – their pupils.”

COSLA Children and Young People Spokesperson Cllr Tony Buchanan said: “We welcome the final progress report on the Additional Support for Learning Action Plan.

“Six years after Angela Morgan’s review, progress has been made, though more remains to do. We now better understand the needs of children and young people, supported by new tools and stronger partnerships.

“Local and Scottish Government must continue working together with a shared vision that enables local and individualised approaches. We note Janie McManus’s report and will consider it jointly with Scottish Government.”

A spokesperson for the Scottish Children’s Services Coalition commented: “While we welcome the outcomes of the expert review on additional support for learning (ASL), including the call for timely access to specialist services across education, health and social care, and early intervention, there needs to be adequate resourcing in place to turn this vision into a reality.

“Across the last decade, spending per pupil on ASL has declined by almost a third, and there have been cuts in the like of specialist ASN teacher numbers, which have been slashed by 240 over the same time period. We are facing a lost generation of vulnerable children and young people who are not getting the care and support they so vitally need.

“We would urge the Scottish Government to prioritise the windfall that will come from proposed increased spending on those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) in English schools, on those Scottish pupils with ASN.

“With more than two out of five pupils identified with additional support needs, and the Scottish Parliamentary elections forthcoming, we would additionally urge the political parties to concentrate on this issue as they draft their manifestoes and for the public to focus on what these parties intend to do if voted into office.”

Council leaders urged to agree package to avoid industrial action in schools

Joint letter from Education Secretary and teaching union

Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth and General Secretary of EIS Andrea Bradley have written a joint letter to all council leaders, urging them to take the decisions needed to avoid industrial action.

The letter states:

“We are writing to you ahead of tomorrow’s Cosla Leaders meeting to urge you to take the decisions needed to avoid industrial action and to join us in implementing a reduction in class contact time (RCCT). Both Scottish Ministers and the EIS have now signed up to the plans to implement the 90- minute RCCT across Scotland that you will be considering tomorrow. It has taken a lot of intensive work to get to this point.

“It is clear that an agreement can now be reached that would see RCCT implemented by August 2027 in Primary and Special Schools, and by August 2029 in Secondary. This phased approach is intended to give councils the time and capacity required to manage recruitment and local planning effectively, and the Scottish Government and teacher unions will work with you to assist in that task.”

Reduction in class contact time: Letter to council leaders – gov.scot

Joint long-term alcohol and drugs strategic plan launched

A new plan to reduce deaths and harms caused by alcohol and drugs has been published.

The joint Scottish Government and COSLA plan aims to improve collaboration between government and grassroots delivery with a locally-led, accountable system, guided by clear national direction and support.

Backed by more than £160 million in 2026-27, the plan builds on the Scottish Government’s five-year National Mission on Drugs which ends in April.

A key priority is to expand treatment standards to include alcohol and all drugs. It has a renewed focus on prevention, with specific measures to stop people from developing problem alcohol and drug use. It also maintains support for residential rehabilitation with a focus on improving pathways through detox, crisis care and stabilisation.

The plan is underpinned by a human-rights based approach. This ensures that people with first-hand experience help shape the design and delivery of services and receive person-centred support.

Speaking at the Haven residential rehabilitation service, which has received £600,000 for eight additional beds, Drugs and Alcohol Policy Minister Maree Todd said: “The last five years have seen record investment in alcohol and drugs services, with significant progress, but we want to do more. This plan marks the next phase in our response to tackling alcohol and drug harms.

“We are already widening access to treatment, residential rehabilitation and life-saving naloxone, and Glasgow hosts the UK’s first Safer Drug Consumption Facility. As we respond to new challenges – including an increasingly toxic drugs supply – this plan refocuses our efforts in a more co-ordinated and sustainable way.

“As a joint Scottish Government and COSLA initiative, this plan will strengthen national and local partnership working so that people can receive the right help when and where they need it.”

The plan is aimed at preventing initial harm and supporting long-term recovery and wellbeing and focuses on four interconnected areas:

·       prevention and early intervention

·       harm reduction

·       treatment and care

·       the wider circle of support.

Priorities include strengthening local delivery, supporting the voluntary sector and workforce and improving data, research and evidence.  

COSLA Health and Social Care spokesperson Councillor Paul Kelly said: “Far too many individuals and families continue to be affected by drugs and alcohol harms. We need to do everything we can to support people, which requires us to work across spheres of government.

“Bringing local and national government together for the first time in this way represents a step change in how we plan and deliver support for people affected by drugs and alcohol.

“Local government works closely with our communities, across a range of preventative services, and has strong local knowledge of the challenges our communities face.

“No single service can respond to the ongoing challenge of drugs and alcohol harms. It is only by working in partnership, investing sustainably in vital supports and through the co-ordinated efforts of the whole system, that we prevent issues before they arise and support people to sustain recovery.”

The Haven Chief Executive Gary Lister said: “Through its holistic, recovery-focused programme, The Haven supports individuals to rebuild their lives, restore family relationships and move towards long-term recovery.

“The Scottish Government’s support for the current expansion of the facility — including eight additional residential beds and enhanced living spaces — will help ensure more people can access the safe, structured support they need to begin that journey.”

Paul Waterson, SAIP Chair said: “The Scottish Alcohol Industry Partnership is committed to promoting responsible consumption and tackling harmful drinking. The data show that progress is being made in tackling harmful consumption, but more needs to be done.

“Scotland has had in place for many years a wide-ranging whole population approach. What is needed to make further progress is greater focus and more action to deliver targeted interventions such as community alcohol partnerships, and a greater use of assertive outreach.

“We welcome the commitment to engagement with business and industry on the alcohol harm prevention plan to be published later in 2026.”

Preventing Harm, Promoting Recovery: Scotland’s Alcohol & Drugs Strategic Plan 2026 – 2035

Working Towards Achieving a More Balanced Population in Scotland

COSLA LAUNCHES FIRST IN A SERIES OF WHITE PAPERS

COSLA has launched Working Towards Achieving a More Balanced Population in Scotland, the first in a series of white papers to be published in advance of the 2026 Scottish Parliament election.

Scottish councils are facing increasingly complex and deeply rooted population challenges, and COSLA is calling for urgent, coordinated action to address them.

This paper provides a detailed examination of these issues and sets out practical recommendations across key policy areas to support a more sustainable and balanced population.

Launching the paper, COSLA described achieving population balance as a central priority for Scottish local government.

With some areas experiencing rapid growth, others facing significant depopulation, and many managing both pressures simultaneously within their boundaries, the need for strategic intervention has never been greater.

COSLA Community Wellbeing Spokesperson, Cllr Maureen Chalmers, said: “I am delighted to be launching our population white paper today.

“Achieving a more balanced population is a priority for Scottish Local Government and COSLA, and it is imperative that this remains a priority for the new Scottish Government administration following the election.

“Our white paper highlights the diverse population challenges faced by councils across Scotland, from those that are experiencing rapid population growth, to those facing critical depopulation, as well as the many dealing with both challenges within their council area. It proposes recommendations across three key priority areas: economy, workforce and jobs; housing; and transport.

“Scottish councils are best placed to lead population balance efforts but require support from both Scottish and UK Government to achieve our aims.

“We are calling on our national politicians to commit to working with us to implement the recommendations that we have set out today.”

Population White Paper

Population White Paper – Executive Summary

EIS Formally Issues Industrial Action Notice in Teacher Workload Dispute

The EIS has issued formal 10-day notice of its intention to call its members to take industrial action over workload. 

The industrial action will include national days of strike action, additional days of strike action in key target areas, and an ongoing national programme of Action Short of Strike (ASOS).

The issuing of 10-day notice is a legal requirement, and must be issued before any industrial action can commence. The issuing of notice does not compel the EIS to undertake strike action, but enables it to call its members out should a resolution to the dispute not be achieved within the next 10 days. 

Whilst the EIS recognises the progress in negotiations made in the last 24 hours, following this week’s EIS statutory ballot result, a firm agreement from the Scottish Government and COSLA to work together to deliver past promises on teacher workload and jobs, has not been forthcoming.

Commenting, EIS General Secretary Andrea Bradley said, “In issuing these formal notices of the intent to commence industrial action, the EIS is complying with the legal requirement to give notice of such action.

“This allows us to keep our options open, within the confines of current trade union law, and retain the option to call on our members to take industrial action, should it be required to ensure a resolution to this long-running dispute.

“Some progress has been made in the past 24 hours but so far, we have nothing in writing to reflect the commitment of the Scottish Government and COSLA to deliver on past promises.”

Ms Bradley continued, “The EIS remains fully committed to seeking a negotiated solution to this dispute, and will remain available in the coming days and before the closing of this 10-day window for meaningful discussion with the Scottish Government and local authority employers, through COSLA.

“We would urge those other parties to use this window wisely, and to move swiftly to ensure that an agreement can be reached to end this dispute, in the best interests of learners and teachers across Scotland.”

Ms Bradley added, “What we need to see from the Scottish Government and COSLA is surety over what they are offering to teachers. “After five years of waiting, and more than a year in dispute, Scotland’s teachers and the EIS will expect to see a firm and binding commitment, in writing and signed by all parties, before we are willing to remove the prospect of industrial action being undertaken in Scotland’s schools.”

Further information on the specific planned dates for industrial action will be issued next week. 

Responding to the EIS announcement that the teachers’ union has received a mandate for industrial action over teacher workload, Cllr Ricky Bell, COSLA Resources Spokesperson said: “COSLA notes the outcome of the EIS ballot for industrial action about reducing the weekly time teachers spend delivering lessons. With Scottish Government, COSLA continue to engage with the unions on the subject.

“Industrial action is in nobody’s interests, and we urge unions to work with COSLA and Scottish Government to find a solution all parties can agree rather that threaten to disrupt education at this crucial time of year.

“We recognise that supporting teachers is essential. However, this needs to be facilitated in a way that ensures a positive impact on outcomes for children and young people.

“COSLA remains committed to constructive engagement with the Scottish Government and teaching unions through the Scottish Negotiating Committee for Teachers (SNCT) on the implementation of the Ministerial commitment to reduce class contact time.

“Concerns about the financial and practical implications of this policy remain. RCCT cannot be delivered without full funding and a clear understanding of its impact on children and young people.”