Tag: council services

Council Budget: Unite reflects

UNION CALLS FOR FAIR FUNDING NOW

Thursday 26 February was Budget Day for the City of Edinburgh Council. The current Labour administration put their spending plans for 26/27 up for scrutiny and we, along with other unions and organisations, were at the City Chambers to let them know out thoughts.

The day started with a small demonstration outside the City Chambers, demanding Fair Funding for Local Authorities. Unite, the Union’s most recent national campaign is calling on the UK government down in Westminster to properly fund local authorities after years of austerity.

We were told this Labour government was bringing change – instead, local services keep getting starved of funds and people are losing faith in the public sector.

Once inside, we listened and echo the excellent deputations from Living Rent and the Edinburgh Tenant’s Federation about the need for more support for tenants across town and for proper enforcement to hold rogue landlords accountable.

The Welcoming Association also spoke, giving a strong testimony about the important work they do to integrate and welcome “new scots”, requesting core funding from the Council in order to be able to consistently deliver for the communities they support. 

The EIS highlighted the need for further investment after years of cuts but, nevertheless, welcomed the money set aside for more staff and infrastructure for a more robust ASN support.

The Edinburgh Trade Union Council mentioned this year they would be celebrating the 50th anniversary of their first deputation to the CEC where they also addressed the topic of Housing.

Claire and Des spoke of the impact the housing emergency is having on Edinburgh’s families and how this is becoming increasingly visible in children in our schools.

Our deputation echoed some of the points raised by the other speakers and focused on three areas – Housing, Education, and Worker’s Pay.

Housing

While recognising the considerable investment in Housing which will double the amount of homes delivered by the Council in the next 10 years, we stressed this is simply not enough. By the Council’s own assessment, this only amounts to between 1/5 and 1/6 of what is needed. Additionally, although they claim this investment is in affordable housing, it includes mid-market accommodation which are exempt form future rent controls and is still well-above most worker’s budget.

Still, we hope this investment leads to more good council jobs and apprenticeships and that the Labour group will keep to their “insourcing” agenda and draws from the wealth of knowledge, skill, and expertise we have in our Housing Property team, rather than outsourcing these projects to non-living wage paying businesses. It’s essential to build an experienced and reliable workforce with good employment conditions to restore the tenant’s and residents faith in the public service across the city’s estate.

Schools

The Council proudly announced the narrowing of the attainment gap with more pupils from deprived backgrounds achieving more qualifications at all levels which an extremely positive development – but let’s not rest on our laurels. Schools in our Edinburgh have become the front line of a social emergency. Teachers who are already under immense pressure are now tasked with supporting pupils facing increasingly complex challenges as a result of high poverty rates in this city. The high standard of council schools is sustained due to the essential and immeasurable contributions and hard-work from some of the lowest paid workers in the whole local authority – Pupil Support Assistants and other School Support workers.

The recent review into School Support failed to address the gap between what is written on a PSA’s job description and what really goes on a daily basis in our schools. Our School Support colleagues work beyond their remits every day to meet the needs of the young people they support because they care deeply about helping them. There is a real need for a proper career progression, non-contact time included in the daily schedule, fair pay, and more protection and training to help deal with the increasing demand and scope of behaviours displayed by pupils in both mainstream and special schools.

Simply deploying more low paid staff does not solve the underlying crisis schools face regarding the complexity of need we are currently witnessing. Instead, it puts workers in situations with a higher level of unpredictability and risk. We sincerely hope the proposed investment translates into a measurable decrease in the amount of violence support workers face on a daily basis – because you cannot bridge an attainment gap while the staff expected to close it are pushed to breaking point.

Pay

We are proud to work for the people of Edinburgh and for this Council and, therefore, expect our employer to value and protect us. Instead, this administration is presenting a pay cut on its own workers and asking them, in their own words, to “continually deliver more with less resources”.

In April, every council worker will see their pay go up by 3.0% – the second part of a 2-year deal negotiated by the unions with COSLA. This budget will increase council tax by 4% and council tenants will see their rents go up by 7%. If the payslips of the people of Edinburgh cannot keep up with the rising cost of living exacerbated in part by this council tax hike, the Council cannot act surprised when more people turn to the local government for support. This regressive mode of taxation is being raised of the backs of ordinary people and some of the most vulnerable among us, instead of high earners living in Council Tax Bands E and above.

When the local authority fails to deliver for the public, it’s the public-facing council employees are the ones who pay the price – be it Library, School Support, Waste & Cleansing, Justice, Homecare, or Housing workers –  we are the ones facing the consequences of the decisions made in these chambers.

Every Councillor got a QR code for our campaign big enough to hang it proudly in their offices.

Finally, we are fully aware that some of the shortcomings of this budget are due to insufficient funding from the Scottish and Westminster governments, which is why we challenged all the Councillors present to subscribe to Unite’s Fair Funding for Local Government and to send a message to their MP down in London.

We left every Councillor in the chamber a big enough QR code so they can proudly display it in their offices You can also sign the petition here and send a postcard for free to your MP here.

Many more aspects of this budget could have been raised but João and Étáin used the limited time they had to speak on the topics that were most relevant to them.

We will keep tabs on this Council to see through promises made in this budget and, in the meantime, we will continue to support our members and fight for a fairer more equal Edinburgh.

COSLA: Scottish Budget is ‘a very poor settlement for local government’

COSLA has written to Shona Robison MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government, on behalf of Scottish Local Government after the Scottish Budget which took place on the 13th January 2026.

COSLA Leaders have since met to discuss the 2026/27 Scottish Budget and Local Government Settlement. Our Leaders agreed that this year’s settlement is a very poor settlement for local government which fails to address the dire financial situation of local government.

Further, it was noted that the settlement does not offer the urgent financial support required for social care and social work.

THE LETTER READS:

26-01-16-Cllr-Bell-to-Cabinet-Secretary-LG-SettlementDownload

COSLA calls for investment in social care funding

Social care pressures are spiralling. Integration Joint Boards have faced £497m pressures in 2025/26. A £750m investment in the Scottish Budget could stabilise the system, says COSLA:

COSLA is urging the Scottish Government to provide a £16 billion boost in revenue in the Scottish Budget, to secure fair and sustainable funding for councils.

A demand for a £844 million general capital settlement has also been requested, plus a restoration of the Affordable Housing Supply Programme to £955 million, to maintain, repair, expand and secure the future of Council estates.

COSLA has launched a lobbying campaign urging the Scottish Government to use the upcoming Scottish Budget to provide councils with the fair, sustainable and multi-year funding needed to protect essential local services.

The campaign – ‘Strong Councils, Strong Communities’ – highlights growing pressures facing local government and the very real consequences of continued underfunding for communities across Scotland. The financial pressures in social care and housing are two key areas COSLA are asking the Scottish Government to specifically address in their upcoming budget.

COSLA warns that without urgent action in January’s Budget, councils will be unable to maintain essential services such as social care, education, housing support, roads, and community safety.

COSLA Resources Spokesperson, Councillor Ricky Bell, said: ““Scotland’s councils deliver the services that people rely on every single day — from caring for older and vulnerable people to keeping schools open, streets safe and communities thriving.

“Councils are facing greater demand than ever and are required to do more with significantly less. This is unsustainable.

“The upcoming Scottish Budget is a pivotal moment. The Scottish Government must deliver a settlement that matches the scale of the challenge. Without fair funding, communities will see services reduced and inequalities deepen, and we will struggle to meet national targets in key areas such as child poverty, housing, and net zero”

This year, councils continue to face rising inflation, increasing demand for services, and the continued impact of workforce pressures across social care and education. COSLA’s analysis shows that even maintaining current services requires substantial additional investment.

As a fair and sustainable overall financial settlement COSLA’s key asks from the campaign include:

  • An immediate £750m investment in social care.
  • Flexibility for councils to make local decisions that respond to community needs.
  • Recognition of local government as an equal partner in delivering national priorities and tackling inequalities.

COSLA President, Councillor Shona Morrison, added: “Councils work tirelessly to deliver for Scotland’s communities, however, continued pressure on resources makes this increasingly challenging.

“This is about safeguarding what matters most, support for the most vulnerable, opportunities for young people, support for families, and safe, thriving communities.

“We hope the Budget will reflect the vital role Local Government plays in Scotland’s public services.”

Over £16 Billion needed in the Scottish Budget to protect essential services, COSLA Warns

COSLA is urging the Scottish Government to provide a £16 billion boost in revenue in the Scottish Budget, to secure fair and sustainable funding for councils.

A demand for a £844 million general capital settlement has also been requested, plus a restoration of the Affordable Housing Supply Programme to £955 million, to maintain, repair, expand and secure the future of Council estates.

COSLA has today launched a lobbying campaign urging the Scottish Government to use the upcoming Scottish Budget to provide councils with the fair, sustainable and multi-year funding needed to protect essential local services.

The campaign – ‘Strong Councils, Strong Communities’ – highlights growing pressures facing local government and the very real consequences of continued underfunding for communities across Scotland. The financial pressures in social care and housing are two key areas COSLA are asking the Scottish Government to specifically address in their upcoming budget.

COSLA warns that without urgent action in January’s Budget, councils will be unable to maintain essential services such as social care, education, housing support, roads, and community safety.

COSLA Resources Spokesperson, Councillor Ricky Bell, said: “Scotland’s councils deliver the services that people rely on every single day — from caring for older and vulnerable people to keeping schools open, streets safe and communities thriving. Councils are facing greater demand than ever and are required to do more with significantly less. This is unsustainable.

“The upcoming Scottish Budget is a pivotal moment. The Scottish Government must deliver a settlement that matches the scale of the challenge. Without fair funding, communities will see services reduced and inequalities deepen, and we will struggle to meet national targets in key areas such as child poverty, housing, and net zero”

This year, councils continue to face rising inflation, increasing demand for services, and the continued impact of workforce pressures across social care and education. COSLA’s analysis shows that even maintaining current services requires substantial additional investment.

As a fair and sustainable overall financial settlement COSLA’s key asks from the campaign include:

  • An immediate £750m investment in social care.
  • Flexibility for councils to make local decisions that respond to community needs.
  • Recognition of local government as an equal partner in delivering national priorities and tackling inequalities.

COSLA President, Councillor Shona Morrison, added: “Councils work tirelessly to deliver for Scotland’s communities, however, continued pressure on resources makes this increasingly challenging.

“This is about safeguarding what matters most, support for the most vulnerable, opportunities for young people, support for families, and safe, thriving communities. We hope the Budget will reflect the vital role Local Government plays in Scotland’s public services.”

Budget-Lobbying-Campaign-2025-Final-Version-25-12-08Download

COSLA calls for urgent action to address Scotland’s crisis in social care

Councils Leaders have issued a stark warning about the growing crisis in social care, urging the need for social care funding to be a clear and focused national priority.

Following a meeting of Council Leaders, COSLA’s Health and Social Care Spokesperson Councillor Paul Kelly said: ‘Social care underpins everything we value most within our communities – from dignity in later life, supporting people in their unpaid caring roles, to enabling people to live independently and participate fully in society.

“Local Government has consistently prioritised social care, protecting budgets where possible and working tirelessly to maintain services despite severe and well-evidenced financial pressures.

“But Local Government cannot do this alone. Demand is increasing, costs are rising, and the workforce is under immense strain. Without fair and sustainable funding, we risk the viability of services that people rely on every single day.

“Local Government is doing everything possible to sustain vital care and support services, but without urgent investment from Scottish Government to enable us to commission and deliver more care, the system is at breaking point. That is why as part of COSLA’s manifesto we are calling on the next Scottish Government to invest £750m into social care services.

“We urge a national focus on addressing the workforce and financial crisis social care is experiencing, to ensure those who need support are not left without the help they need to live fulfilling lives.”

COSLA, Scottish Government, care providers, and system leaders had been meeting in the first half of 2025 as part of the jointly convened Financial Viability Response Group to address risks and impacts of funding challenges across the health and social care sector.

Cllr Kelly continued: ‘It is crucial that we reconvene the social care Financial Viability Response Group immediately.  

“We urge the Scottish Government to engage with us and our valued partners in the third and independent sector through the work of the Group to address the financial and workforce crisis in social care.”

COSLA’s 2026 Manifesto calls for sustainable finance for local services, including calling for an additional investment of £750m for social care: 

COSLA-Manifesto-2026v2 (1)Download

https://www.cosla.gov.uk/manifesto

Audit Scotland recently published a briefing on Local Government budgets for 25/26, which reported a projected revenue budget gap in 26/27 for 31 councils of £528m.

Audit Scotland: Communities face growing expectation gap

Mounting pressures from inflation, increasing costs and demand are exceeding the Scottish Government’s additional investment in Scotland’s councils.

In 2025/26 councils received over £15 billion in government funding, with more money set to be raised from council tax and charges for some services. With communities paying more for services, their expectations are increasing.

In its latest assessment of local government finances, the Accounts Commission reports that additional costs from wage increases, higher employer National Insurance contributions and intensifying service demands, including social care as Scotland’s population ages, mean councils must cover a budget shortfall of £647 million in 2025/26.

Whilst councils have partly met this shortfall through service savings and increased charges for services, continuing to use reserves and make one-off savings isn’t sustainable. It intensifies pressures on future budgets.

Longer-term change in the way services are delivered is happening but must accelerate. Action is also needed to better understand the impacts on the most vulnerable communities.

Capital funding is vital for councils to invest in public buildings such as schools and libraries, as well as roads. It also underpins the significant transformation needed in the ways services are delivered in the future.

Capital funding from the Scottish Government is increasing but has not returned to previous levels. Councils remain heavily reliant on borrowing to fund their planned £4.7 billion capital investment in 2025/26.

Derek Yule, Member of the Accounts Commission said: “There’s a growing expectation gap. Councils don’t have enough money to meet current demand, at a time when local communities are being asked to contribute more through increases in council tax and charges for some services.

“Councils need to provide clearer budget information and work with communities to determine how services will be delivered in the future. These conversations won’t be easy.

“With public finances tightening, however, not all cost increases faced by councils can be met by government funding. Local action is needed now to find solutions to immediate and future financial challenges.

“This means difficult decisions on what services can be delivered and making major changes in how they are delivered.”

Businesses: Meet the Council!

DROP-IN FOR BUSINESS SUPPORT

Businesses in Edinburgh are being invited to engage with dozens of Council services and business-facing partners face to face.

A Meet the Council event will be held on Tuesday 11 March at the Assembly Rooms on George Street between 10:00am and 2:00pm.

Local businesses are encouraged to register in advance to secure a space to the drop-in, with opportunities throughout the day to meet with key Council teams and hear about opportunities for business growth.

Offering a single point of access for business support, the event will bring together Council officers from:

• Building standards
• Business Gateway
• Commercial property
• Cultural events
• Economic development
• Edinburgh Convention Bureau
• Environmental health
• Film Edinburgh
• Forever Edinburgh
• JET (Jobs, Education & Training)
• Licensing
• Non-Domestic Rates
• Parental Employability Support
• Planning
• Procurement
• The Edinburgh Employer Recruitment Incentive
• The Edinburgh Guarantee
• Trading standards
• Visitor Levy

Throughout the day, external partners will also be on hand to present and share their expertise, including:

• Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce, an independent membership organisation which supports over 1,000 organisations who employ more than 120,000 staff in the Capital
• British Business Bank, a government-owned economic bank specialised in helping businesses in the UK access financial support
• Federation of Small Businesses, a non-profit organisation that helps small businesses and the self-employed
• Capital City Partnership, the anchor delivery body for Edinburgh’s employability strategy, working together to tackle inequality and poverty
• Edinburgh Social Enterprise Network, which works to create opportunities for Edinburgh’s Social Enterprise community to develop and thrive
• Forth Green Freeport, Scotland’s largest opportunity to deliver a just transition to net zero, to attract significant inward investment, to build international trade and export capability, and to create high quality and well paid jobs.

Councillor Lezley Marion Cameron, Housing, Homelessness and Fair Work Convener, said: “Edinburgh continues to have the strongest local economy outside of London and the highest number of registered Living Wage employers in Scotland.

“The entrepreneurialism, success and resilience of Edinburgh business owners contributes hugely to what makes our City of Edinburgh a unique and special place to live and work.

“We would like to work much more closely with the business community in offering meaningful support, understand more fully the views, concerns and aspirations of business owners and work jointly in securing a vibrant, sustainable, and resilient economic future for Edinburgh.

“We recognise that the current economic climate is challenging, and in working together with businesses and other partners, there is much we can do collectively to grow and sustain Edinburgh’s economy, promote the benefits of Fair Work, and become a fairer city for all. That’s why the Council is hosting this opportunity for businesses to meet us face-to-face and engage with our staff teams across a variety of services which support business.

“Whether you’re looking for advice on funding, navigating licensing, or exploring how we can support employers, this event is an ideal place to connect directly with the right people, who can provide the advice and support you need.”

The Meet the Council event is designed to support Edinburgh’s business community and help foster a thriving, greener, and fairer economy – as outlined in the Council’s Business Plan 2023-27.

Invest in libraries, invest in communities: the cost of cuts is too high

An OPEN LETTER from ALISON NOLAN, chief executive officer of the Scottish Library and Information Council (SLIC)

Did you know that over the past decade, 53 public libraries across Scotland have closed their doors for good – without replacement ? 

The same public libraries which provide essential access to trusted information and education for all, which ignite a lifelong love of reading from early years, and which serve as warm, welcoming spaces where everyone is welcome without any expectation to spend. The same public libraries which, time and again, deliver enormous value to communities across the country, only to find themselves at risk when budgets are debated. 

I’ve written to councillors across Edinburgh, before crucial budget decisions are made for the next financial year, to remind them what investment in public libraries truly means.

At the Scottish Library and Information Council (SLIC), the advocacy body for Scotland’s network of over 500 public and mobile libraries, we understand the delicate financial situation that councils must navigate but we would urge those considering cuts to their library services to think again.

It’s no secret that the cultural sector is under unprecedented pressure but the narrative that austerity measures justify these cuts is shortsighted. This isn’t just a story of diminishing buildings and bookshelves; it’s a story of lives disrupted. 

These closures are deeply felt because libraries represent so much more than the sum of their parts. Public libraries remain the most popular service local government delivers. Closing these doors means cutting off opportunities — a cost far greater than any savings achieved.

Libraries are proven to deliver significant economic and social returns, with research from Suffolk Libraires revealing a £6.95 return of economic benefit for every £1 invested through improved literacy, better mental health and stronger communities. And of course, when this investment figure is flipped, we see that the closure of public libraries will result in the community losing out on £6.95 of economic and social benefit for every £1 that is invested elsewhere. 

The troubling trend of closures and cuts to library services across the country all too often disproportionately affects rural communities, exacerbating existing inequalities by stripping away vital access to education, digital resources and safe spaces for social interaction.

For these communities, libraries are not a luxury but a necessity. They provide essential services to support job applications, digital literacy training and social connection. To lose them is to deepen the isolation already felt by many.

Ask yourself: where else can citizens turn for support with their health, finances and employment? Libraries do it all under a single roof. They make real change to people in communities right across Edinburgh and play a central part in how the council brings about change. 

Libraries drive forward crucial national agendas including preventative health – with the Health on the Shelf research report showing they save NHS Scotland £3.2m every year, bridging the digital divide by offering free access to PCs, Wi-Fi and digital support for a range of essential services, and fostering social cohesion by hosting a diverse range of community events. And this is all in addition to their core function: to encourage reading and provide a range of trusted reference materials. 

As cuts and closures loom across the country, we’re urging local decision-makers to prioritise sustainable investment in libraries. Cutting library budgets is a false economy. The cost of losing libraries extends far beyond financial savings, impacting education, mental health and community cohesion. But it’s not just closures that we’re concerned about. 

The slow, salami-slicing effect that has been seen over recent years, with opening hours cut – decreasing by 13%, on average – budgets slashed and staffing numbers reduced is felt across communities, with 1 in 3 voicing fears that their whole service is at risk. 

Where councils have embraced the importance of libraries, the benefits are clear. 22 out of the 32 local authorities have not made any cuts to their library services in the last decade; instead, they are choosing to invest in their future, from creating learning hubs which have seen unprecedented loan figures, to developing dedicated ‘Maker Spaces’, reinforcing the role that libraries play as the originators of the sharing economy by offering access to emerging technology, such as 3D printers and laser cutters, as well as sewing and embroidery equipment. 

In a recent survey from the Association of Public Libraries in Scotland, over 93% agreed that using the public library improves their quality of life, reminding us of the immense value that a public library holds, evolving to meet the needs of modern Scotland with the emergence of whole-community assets that can be used by educators, small businesses, community groups, and individuals to help people right across Edinburgh achieve their potential, while retaining their fundamental purpose: to connect, inspire and empower. 

These services are a source of inspiration, but they remain the exception rather than the rule. To fulfil this potential, they need more than goodwill — they need sustainable funding. 

No other community asset can deliver the vast economic and social benefits that a thriving public library service can, and so we would urge decision-makers to prioritise investment in their communities.

Anything less would be a failure we cannot afford.

ALISON NOLAN

Chief executive officer of the Scottish Library and Information Council (SLIC)

SNP have ‘starved local communities of funding for public toilets’

Scottish Liberal Democrat communities spokesperson Willie Rennie has criticised cuts to local authority funding which have seen the number of public toilets fall by 25% since the SNP came to power and four local authorities no longer having any public toilet facilities.

Analysis of data uncovered through a Scottish Liberal Democrat freedom of information request reveals that:

  • Across the 18 councils which provided data for both 2007 and 2024, there has been a 25% decrease in the number of public toilets during this period.
  • Across the 31 councils which provided data for both 2018 and 2024, there has been an 8% decrease in the number of public toilets during this period.
  • Clackmannanshire, East Dunbartonshire, Falkirk and South Lanarkshire now have zero public toilets.
  • Highland Council has closed the largest number of toilets, with 37 having closed since the SNP came to power. Edinburgh has closed more than half of its public toilets.

Commenting on the figures, Mr Rennie said: “Since the SNP came to power public toilets have been shut down left, right and centre.

“This is not just about public convenience. For some older or disabled Scots, a lack of accessible bathrooms can prevent them enjoying public spaces or getting out and about in their communities.

“That’s a depressing state of affairs for our country to be in but it the inevitable consequence of the decisions that successive SNP First Ministers have taken over the past 17 years.

“Scottish Liberal Democrats want to see local authorities handed real financial firepower to rebuild battered local services like public toilets and other essential amenities like electric charging points and waste disposal points.

“Looking ahead there also needs to be a commitment from the next Scottish Government not to treat local authorities as second-class services.”