UNISON Scotland has called for a above-inflation pay increase for local government workers as it submitted its 2024/25 joint pay claim.
The unions – UNISON and Unite – submitted the claim earlier this year, although COSLA leaders are unlikely to respond before their budget allocations are finalised. UNISON has made it clear we want a deal agreed as close to the April 1, 2024 implementation date as possible.
Local government workers are continuing to struggle with the cost-of-living crisis and UNISON has warned there is a real risk that workers will find better-paid, less-stressful work elsewhere if their pay continues to lose its value.
UNISON says that an above-inflation pay increase is the only way to maintain the staff levels necessary to deliver services to the public, looking after the most vulnerable, giving children the education they need and keeping neighbourhoods safe.
The key elements of UNISON’s claim are:
A one-year settlement that runs for the period 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025.
For those on the lowest pay – an above-inflation increase in line with the aspiration, agreed with UNISON in November 2023, to achieve implementation of a minimum rate of pay for all local government workers of £15 per hour by 1 April 26.
An increase of 7% to all spinal column points (or an increase of £1.60 to the hourly rate whichever is greater) and related allowances.
Urgent progress to be made on how we achieve a no detriment reduction in the working week to enable members to achieve a better work-life balance.
A review of the scope and level of the Distant Islands Allowance.
No less than parity with other local government bargaining groups.
Lilian Macer, UNISON’s Scottish Secretary, said: “An above-inflation wage rise is the only way to maintain the staff levels necessary to deliver services to the public. Unless councils and schools can pay competitive rates, employees will find better-paid, less-stressful work elsewhere and new recruits will be thin on the ground.
“Our members tell us how every day how they are struggling with the cost-of-living crisis and how they are struggling to make ends meet. Local government workers must be properly rewarded for the vital services they provide.
UNISON have signed a joint letter with Cosla and other unions to the Deputy First Minister, Shona Robison MSP, saying it is clear to both employers and unions “that funding levels for councils have not kept pace with increased demand for services.”
They say “Local Government is facing a cut in real terms to both core revenue and capital budgets. As a proportion of funding allocated to the Scottish Budget, the percentage for local government has declined.”
And that “this is impacted by both the growing need of services due to demographic pressures and the ongoing cost of living crisis.”
It is in everyone’s interest to achieve a sustainable settlement on pay at the earliest opportunity.
The letter states: “Scottish Local Government settlements must be sustainable alongside the significant budget challenges facing councils and it is vital that the approach to our workforce is fair, acknowledging the essential front-line services that are delivered every day.”
Do you know a councillor whose unwavering dedication deserves national recognition? Nominations are now open for the 2024 Local Government Information Unit (LGIU) and CCLA Cllr Awards – the only ceremony that celebrates the outstanding contributions of councillors across England, Wales, and Scotland.
The Cllr Awards shine a light on the achievements of local elected representatives who have made a tangible impact in their communities. Winners in England & Wales will be announced at the illustrious Guildhall in London while winners in Scotland will be revealed at the esteemed City Chambers in Edinburgh this winter.
The 2024 Cllr Awards feature five categories: Community Champion, Leader of the Year, Young Councillor of the Year, Innovator of the Year and Lifetime Legend.
Nominations are open to anyone – whether you’re a member of the public, a fellow councillor, or a council officer – who wishes to acknowledge a councillor’s exceptional commitment to improving their community and achieving remarkable results over the past year.
Submitting a nomination is free and takes just seven minutes. Applicants must provide details about the nominated councillor, outlining why they deserve recognition and how their initiatives have positively impacted the community.
Nominations close on Friday 13 September 2024, and the shortlisted candidates will be announced in the autumn.
Once again this year, the awards will also shine a spotlight on the remarkable contributions of councillors from around the world through the Global Local Cllr Showcase. This special presentation celebrates councillors worldwide whose projects, engagement, and representation have made a significant difference in the communities they serve.
Jonathan Carr-West, Chief Executive, LGIU, said: “The LGIU is proud to once again host the annual Cllr Awards, paying tribute to our locally elected representatives and sharing examples of the innovation and dedication our councillors demonstrate day in day out.
“Local communities rely on councillors, whose positive contributions impact our daily lives in many ways, from maintaining streets to funding community projects, shaping the character of our towns.
“Often working tirelessly behind the scenes, elected members frequently go unnoticed by many, making the Cllr Awards essential in highlighting their invaluable work in 2024.
“We eagerly anticipate a wave of nominations this year and look forward to hearing the remarkable stories behind them. These awards are made possible through the generous support of founding partners, CCLA.”
Legislation which will see the introduction of a National Care Service for Scotland (NCS) has passed Stage 1 in Parliament.
MSPs have voted for the general principles of the National Care Service (Scotland) Bill which will ensure greater transparency in the delivery of community health and social care, improve standards, strengthen the role of the workforce and provide better support for unpaid carers.
The proposals include establishing a National Care Service Charter, rights to breaks for carers and provisions to enact Anne’s Law so people in care homes have the right to be visited by their families.
Social Care Minister Maree Todd said: “We need long-term, widespread transformation to fix some of the ingrained issues within the system and ensure sustainability for the future.
“We have spent considerable time working with people with lived experience on how to reform social care for the better. I’m grateful to the thousands of people who have lent their voices and I am determined to ensure the Bill delivers the positive change needed.
“Today’s vote shows that the Scottish Parliament also recognises this and I am grateful to them for bringing us one step closer to this urgent reform.
“This Bill is the biggest public sector reform since devolution and it is our chance to make meaningful change that we all agree is needed to the social care system. I know the people of Scotland will see huge benefits.”
Scotland’s largest trade union bodies have condemned the Scottish Government’s proposed National Care Service Bill as ‘not fit for purpose’ as MSPs approve the legislation at Stage 1.
The Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC) alongside the three biggest social care unions in Scotland – UNISON, GMB SCOTLAND and UNITE – have written to the Cabinet Secretary for NHS Recovery, Health and Social Care Neil Gray outlining their shared concerns on the Bill.
The letter states that social care workers’ concerns have been ‘widely ignored’ by the Scottish Government and that, at this stage of proceedings, the Bill as drafted remains ‘firmly unacceptable’.
Last week the Scottish Parliament’s Health, Social Care and Sport Committee’s report into Stage 1 drew criticism from trade unions who outlined the ‘glaring deficiencies’ of the proposals on costs and operation of the service.
Commenting, STUC General Secretary Roz Foyer said: “It beggars belief that, despite repeated warnings to the Scottish Government, Scotland’s social care workers are still in the dark on the basic fundamentals of the new National Care Service.
“Our social care sector already suffers from insecure conditions and low pay. We cannot risk those weaknesses being carried over into any new system of nationalised care.
“We must see the Scottish Government take seriously the recommendations of the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee’s report into the Bill. This would include improving pay, terms and conditions for social care staff, including a £15 per hour minimum wage. We also need to see Scottish Government guarantees on Fair Work and sectoral bargaining in addition to full sick pay from day one of employment.
“Our social care staff are the lifeblood of our system. We value their work and it’s high time the Scottish Government does likewise.”
COSLA: “SIGNIFICANT CONCERNS” ON NATIONAL CARE SERVICE PLANS
Speaking ahead of the Stage 1 debate for the National Care Service Bill in the Scottish Parliament on Thursday 29th February, Councillor Paul Kelly, COSLA’s Health & Social Care Spokesperson, commented:“Councils have expressed significant concerns regarding current National Care Service plans and believe there is still work to do to ensure proposals can meet aspirations.
“In particular, Council Leaders are disappointed in the decision of the Scottish Government to continue to push through legislation where a power will be given to Ministers to delegate children and justice services, despite the potential disruption to services and extensive negotiations and concessions from Local Government.
“Council Leaders remain concerned that such a move risks excessive centralisation of decision-making away from local people and areas. Leaders did agree that COSLA should continue to work closely with Scottish Government to address these concerns.
“COSLA welcomes the progress which has been made in reforming some National Care Service proposals, including that local authorities will continue to play a central role in the delivery of, and accountability for care.
“There is a pressing need to improve people’s experiences of accessing and delivering care in Scotland. Although legislative and governance reform may be part of that, the reality is that national funding decisions – including the proposed council tax freeze which has not been fully funded – will further squeeze local care and social work services which are already under incredible pressure.
“Investment in social care must be seen as a priority which can enhance the wellbeing of people, of society and of Scotland.”
Having passed Stage One, the National Care Service (Scotland) Bill moves into Stage 2 where amendments will be considered by the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee before Stage 3, when the full Parliament makes a final vote on whether to pass the Bill.
Scotland’s Council Leaders today (Friday) said that any interference in the democratic decision making of Councils by Scottish Government Ministers is disrespectful.
Commenting following the meeting COSLA Resources Spokesperson Councillor Katie Hagmann said: “Council Leaders were absolutely clear today that it is not appropriate for Scottish Government Ministers to interfere in the democratic decision making of Councils.
“Leaders also reaffirmed in the strongest possible terms the principle that it should be for individual Local Authorities to set their own level of Council Tax without sanction or financial detriment imposed by Scottish Government.
“Leaders were clear that given the financial situation in which councils find themselves as a result of the proposed Scottish Budget, recurring penalties in relation to setting council tax levels should not be applied.
“I have been asked to seek confirmation from Scottish Government that there will be no further Council Tax freezes for the remainder of this Parliament.”
Following a special meeting yesterday (Friday 9th February) Council Leaders are seeking an urgent further meeting with the Deputy First Minister in relation to the Budget settlement for Scottish Local Government, highlighting the dire consequences of the Government’s current spending plans on communities throughout Scotland.
Commenting following the meeting the COSLA Resources Spokesperson Councillor Katie Hagmann said: “Leaders were clear today that an urgent meeting with the Deputy First Minister is a priority.
“Leaders expressed anger at the Budget setting timetable which has left Councils unable to set their budgets due to a lack of certainty from Scottish Government and as a result of having to wait until UK Government Spring Statement before knowing what additional funding could be passed on.
“In addition, there was a clear direction from Leaders to seek restoration of the £63m cut to the core Local Government budget on behalf of their communities and the essential services they rely on at the meeting with the DFM.
“Leaders also agreedthat the council tax freeze should be on a voluntary basis with agreement that the £147m, already earmarked by Scottish Government for this purpose, is distributed to all Councils with flexibility to raise Council Tax by up to 5%. There should also be no penalty or reduction in funding in line with the principles of the Verity House Agreement.
“Leaders were clear that Councils should be given full flexibility of funding to deploy within Schools, and the wider community, to provide the right support for the diverse needs of children and young people across Scotland, therefore recognising that a wide range of people who contribute to a child’s education.
“Finally, Leaders agreed to seek a guarantee that the £45m Barnett consequentials resulting from the UK Government’s recent announcement will be passed in full to councils, also in accordance with the Verity House Agreement so it can be used to address local priorities.”
Increasing exemptions to additional properties tax
Legislation enabling councils to increase their affordable housing stock without having to pay a tax on additional properties has been introduced in the Scottish Parliament.
Under changes to the Additional Dwelling Supplement (ADS), paid as part of Land and Buildings Transaction Tax, the length of time a buyer moving between properties has to sell their original home in order to be able to reclaim ADS would also be extended from 18 months to 36 months.
Other changes include an exemption for people buying a new property to live in after divorce or separation if they are required by court to keep their previous home. Further amendments will exempt buyers from paying ADS on a property for which missives have been signed when a separate property has been inherited in the meantime.
Public Finance Minister Tom Arthur said: “The Additional Dwelling Supplement is an important source of revenue and in 2022-23 raised £163 million to support vital public services. The tax works well in most cases but we have taken on board feedback about the way it operates in certain circumstances.
“We want everyone in Scotland to have an affordable home that meets their needs, which is why we’re extending the scope of relief for councils to help them increase their affordable housing stock without having to pay tax on additional properties.
“The amendments also take on board feedback that it can be tricky for people moving house to sell their original home within 18 months due to differences in supply and demand in the housing market across Scotland.
“I am grateful to everyone who responded to the Scottish Government’s consultation on these changes and look forward to working with MSPs as the legislation progresses through Parliament.”
£144 million does not fully fund a council tax freeze, COSLA Resources Spokesperson Councillor Katie Hagmann has explained.
Ms Hagmann said: “Disappointingly the Scottish Budget has not provided our local authorities with a fully funded council tax freeze as expected.
“The Scottish Government has set aside £144m stating this will ‘fully fund’ a council tax freeze – this would only provide the income equivalent to a 5% rise.
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“However, Local Government’s core revenue budget was cut by £63m from the outset, essentially leaving just £81m compensation for a council tax freeze. As a result, Local Government is faced with the reality that the funding offered for a council tax freeze only equates to a 2.8% rise.
“This significantly adds to the pressures faced by councils – a recent LGIU survey found that 83% of Scottish councils were looking at a minimum increase of 5%.”
‘A BUDGET OF MISSED OPPORTUNITIES ON TACKLING POVERTY AND LITTLE FOCUS ON PREVENTION’
COSLA has described the Scottish Government’s Draft Budget as a missed opportunity for the communities of Scotland in relation to tackling poverty.
COSLA also added that Scotland’s Council Leaders, Councillors, the Local Government Workforce and communities should be treated with the respect they deserve demonstrated through investment, not cuts.
COSLA said: “At a special meeting just before Christmas, there was dismay and frustration from Scotland’s Council Leaders about the way Local Government and the communities we represent had been treated in the Scottish Government’s Draft Budget. As the Budget currently stands, communities will see and feel a range of negative impacts.
“COSLA’s ‘Councils are Key’ budget lobbying campaign set out the case for fair funding that would allow Local Government to deliver for the people of Scotland, particularly around tackling poverty, one of the three shared priorities laid out in the Verity House Agreement.
“The response from the Scottish Government to our Budget ask is disappointing and will mean that the potential that councils have to prevent problems occurring will be limited severely.
“Specifically on poverty, the Budget should have had a focus on tackling the root causes of poverty, particularly its impacts on children. This would have needed a greater prioritisation of the work councils do in prevention and early support.
“The essential social supports councils provide in homes, schools, hubs and communities that aim to support and empower people will be further eroded – this has been the case for a number of years now, due to poor Local Government settlements that cut core funding.
“Services that support Local Government to Keep the Promise made to Scotland’s care experienced children and young people like family support and youth work, are under threat as a result of the proposed Scottish budget.
“Tackling poverty in Scotland will continue to be a significant challenge when councils do not have the resources they need to support communities.
“This year’s Budget presented the opportunity prioritise prevention and tackle inequity, to invest in communities and realise our ambitions to end poverty in Scotland.
“It did not deliver. Without a fair settlement for Councils, the poverty gap in Scotland will continue to grow. Investing in Local Government is key to a fairer Scotland.”
“The proposed Council Tax Freeze means that money which could have been invested in tackling poverty upstream – in families, communities and schools – is lost, missing a real opportunity to unlock Councils’ potential.
“COSLA’s President, Vice President and political Group Leaders from all parties have written to the Deputy First Minister and are seeking an urgent meeting.
“Council Leaders will not let this lie, they simply cannot afford to because it will have such a detrimental impact on the communities they represent.”
Delivering the building blocks for Scotland’s future?
More than £5 billion is being invested in building a fair, green and growing economy which creates jobs, supports businesses and helps finance Scotland’s public services and the transition to net zero.
Despite one of the most difficult financial climates since devolution, the Scottish Budget 2024-25 maintains its focus on core priorities and drives forward a government-wide approach to economic transformation.
Measures include allocating £67 million to kickstart a five-year commitment to develop Scotland’s offshore wind supply chain and ensure the country reaps the benefits of the global expansion in wind power. This brings total Scottish public sector support for offshore wind to £87 million next year.
The Budget also boosts annual investment in digital connectivity from £93 million to £140 million in 2024-25, delivering critical infrastructure to enable businesses to innovate and grow while connecting more than 114,000 homes and companies in rural areas to gigabit-capable broadband through the R100 programme.
Since entrepreneurship is at the heart of Scotland’s economic strategy, a further £9 million investment in the Techscalers programme will support the country’s best start-ups with world-class mentoring. The Scottish Government is also prioritising the implementation of Ana Stewart and Mark Logan’s Pathways report, focused on helping more women to start and grow businesses.
The Budget also includes:
putting almost £2.5 billion into public transport to provide viable alternatives to car use, and a further £220 million in active travel to promote walking, wheeling and cycling
providing £358 million to continue accelerating energy efficiency upgrades and installation of clean heating systems
increasing the education and skills budget by £128 million
investing £49 million to promote the re-use of resources and reduce consumption, modernise recycling and decarbonise waste disposal as part of Scotland’s transition to a circular economy
Wellbeing Economy Secretary Neil Gray said: “Our focus is on creating new opportunities for a highly productive, competitive economy, providing thousands of new jobs, embedding innovation and boosting skills.
“We are using all the powers we have to support business and to achieve our ambitious net zero targets. Our strategic investment in offshore wind will stimulate and support private investment in the infrastructure and manufacturing facilities critical to the growth of the sector, and we are delivering a real-terms increase in the education budget to help boost skills and increase productivity. As a priority, we will also consult on options for improving the capacity of local authority planning services.
“Scotland’s finances face a worst-case scenario of underinvestment, which means we must make the difficult choices necessary to focus our limited resources on what will deliver most effectively for people and businesses.
“We’ve seen an Autumn Statement that prioritised a tax cut over investing in public services and infrastructure. The Scottish Government cannot follow this, and has not shied away from taking the tough decisions needed to protect and grow this country’s economy.”
COSLA: Council Tax Freeze is NOT Fully Funded
The Scottish Government has delivered a major blow to communities and has put councils at financial risk with a cash cut to Local Government in its draft Budget (published on 19th December) and no provision for inflation or pay increases, COSLA said.
COSLA Leaders described the draft Budget as not only leaving councils at real and significant financial risk for the coming year, but as it stands, it will mean cuts in every community in Scotland and job losses across Scottish Local Government.
Following a full meeting of Council Leaders yesterday (Thursday) COSLA said that whatever way the Government presents the figures, the reality is that once again the people in our communities have been left at the end of the queue.
That is why we are calling for urgent discussions with Scottish government to ensure a meaningful negotiation on the budget takes place before the final budget is presented to Parliament.
Speaking yesterday afternoon, COSLA’s President Councillor Shona Morrison said: “COSLA’s initial analysis, shows a real terms cut to our revenue and capital spending power which will leave Council services at breaking point, with some having to stop altogether.
“The Budget in its current form could result in service cuts, job losses and an inevitable shift to providing statutory services only. This means potentially losing Libraries, leisure centres and all the things that improve our lives.
“COSLA’s initial analysis of the Budget is that the Council Tax freeze is not fully funded. Leaders from across Scotland agreed today that decisions on Council Tax can only be made by each full Council, and it is for each individual Council to determine their own level of Council Tax.
“With any sort of shortfall in core funding, the £144m revenue offered for the freeze is immediately worth less.”
COSLA Vice President Steven Heddle said: “Despite the Verity House Agreement rhetoric about working together on shared priorities it is the same outcome at Budget time for Local Government in reality.
“The Scottish Government is claiming to protect public services, but are not protecting the essential public services provided by councils– Scotland’s councils are key, they deliver your homecare, schools, road maintenance, street lighting, leisure and waste services and have been locked out again.
“We needed increased funding to cope with inflation, but have been given less instead. The cut to Revenue funding we have been given is a devastating blow and the cut to our Capital funding means that we will be unable to meet our targets in terms of a move towards Net Zero and mitigating climate change targets.”
COSLA’s Resources Spokesperson Councillor Katie Hagmann said: “The Scottish Government has disappointingly failed to recognise that investment in Councils is investment in cities, towns and villages across Scotland. As it stands, this is not a good Budget for our communities or the people who deliver our essential front-line services.
“This is a Budget which will mean job losses – real jobs that support families, and deliver vital services that make a positive difference to people’s lives. Sadly, the budget as it stands, leaves nothing for meaningful pay rises in 24/25 so we would call on the Scottish Government to look again, so that our workforce can get the pay rise they deserve next year.”
COSLA Vice President Councillor Steven Heddle has sent a strong warning to the Scottish Government that any Council Tax Freeze must be fully funded.
COSLA’s message is a response to comments made to the media by Deputy First Minister Shona Robison on Sunday.
Councillor Heddle said: “There were a few things in the comments made by the Deputy First Minister yesterday (Sunday) that I am uncomfortable with on behalf of COSLA, our member councils and the communities that we represent.
“Firstly, the Deputy First Minister cannot decide or unilaterally say that the ‘Council Tax freeze to stay’- it’s up to 32 individual council to decide if they have a council tax freeze or not, not her government.
“Secondly, unless it is funded with additional money for each council that allows them to fund their planned Council Tax increases, then it is not fully funded, and it will be our service users who will suffer as a consequence.
“The funding for the freeze needs to be transparently additional and consolidated into our Budgets for future years.”
“The DFM also mentioned the ‘Changing shape of public sector workforce’. Local Government’s workforce has already changed shape drastically. Between 2006 and 2018, the Local Government workforce reduced by 15% (35,000 FTE) before Scottish Government policies such as Early Learning and Childcare added staff back in from 2019.
“The Scottish Government workforce has nearly doubled since 2006; staffing in non-departmental bodies has also doubled and in Scottish Government agencies, staffing has grown by 15%. These increases have added more than 7,000 FTE staff in just over 15 years.
“The Verity House Agreement was designed to ensure positive working between Scottish Local Government and The Scottish Government, and a focus on better outcomes and person-centred services.
“The VHA has three priorities – to tackle poverty, particularly child poverty; to transform our economy through a just transition to deliver net zero, recognising climate change as one of the biggest threats to communities across Scotland; and deliver sustainable person-centred public services.
Local Government will be unable to contribute to these if underfunded.
“COSLA knows that Scottish Government is under pressure financially around this Budget. However, the Council Tax freeze came out of the blue and has serious financial implications.
“And any suggestions that Local Government’s workforce needs cut further will have serious consequences for communities.”
