Tag: Scottish Government

Council Funding: who’s telling the truth?

Real terms funding increase for local government?

The Scottish Government says:

The Scottish Budget delivers a total funding package amounting to £11.1 billion for local government.

This provides local authorities with a £197.5 million increase for day to day spending on essential public services in 2019-20, alongside a £207.6 million increase on their capital spending budget.

Finance Secretary Derek Mackay said despite a £2 billion reduction in real terms to Scotland’s block grant over the last decade, the 2019-20 Scottish Budget provides local authorities with a real terms increase in overall funding of over £210 million. This alongside a real terms increase in both the revenue and capital settlements.

Mr Mackay said: “The Scottish Government has continued to ensure that our partners in local government receive a fair funding settlement despite further cuts to the Scottish Budget from the UK Government.

“After removing the health uplift the Scottish Government fiscal resource block grant funding goes down by £340 million or 1.3% in real terms for 2019-20.  Despite that reduction, we have still provided a 2% real terms uplift in the total Local Government settlement for 2019-20.

“If local authorities choose to use their powers to increase Council Tax by up to 3% they can generate up to an additional £80 million to support the delivery of essential local services.”

2019-20 Local Government funding allocations.

Local Authority Revenue Capital Total Local Government Settlement Council Tax Increase Total Local Government Funding Plus Potential Council Tax Income
£m £m £m £m £m
Aberdeen City 335.935 36.645 372.580 3.669 376.249
Aberdeenshire 422.419 47.964 470.383 4.197 474.580
Angus 204.922 20.131 225.053 1.567 226.620
Argyll & Bute 195.978 21.878 217.856 1.559 219.415
Clackmannanshire 95.667 8.068 103.735 0.742 104.477
Dumfries & Galloway 285.816 27.803 313.619 2.088 315.707
Dundee City 298.885 27.361 326.246 1.921 328.167
East Ayrshire 231.385 22.897 254.282 1.686 255.968
East Dunbartonshire 186.682 13.850 200.532 1.921 202.453
East Lothian 174.747 15.824 190.571 1.660 192.231
East Renfrewshire 177.809 12.984 190.793 1.608 192.401
Edinburgh, City of 731.695 107.886 839.581 8.504 848.085
Eilean Siar 95.399 10.384 105.783 0.327 106.110
Falkirk 282.900 22.102 305.002 2.104 307.106
Fife 649.412 50.805 700.217 5.186 705.403
Glasgow City 1250.279 178.834 1429.113 8.655 1437.768
Highland 450.617 50.165 500.782 3.770 504.552
Inverclyde 166.007 11.719 177.726 1.082 178.808
Midlothian 162.730 17.000 179.730 1.427 181.157
Moray 160.995 15.355 176.350 1.287 177.637
North Ayrshire 276.359 24.705 301.064 1.920 302.984
North Lanarkshire 619.950 47.063 667.013 4.139 671.152
Orkney 74.592 8.283 82.875 0.280 83.155
Perth & Kinross 250.919 34.288 285.207 2.485 287.692
Renfrewshire 315.487 23.672 339.159 2.621 341.780
Scottish Borders 207.926 23.957 231.883 1.731 233.614
Shetland 85.703 9.026 94.729 0.289 95.018
South Ayrshire 202.043 18.863 220.906 1.848 222.754
South Lanarkshire 564.744 41.482 606.226 4.392 610.618
Stirling 169.881 14.923 184.804 1.503 186.307
West Dunbartonshire 188.777 13.361 202.138 1.268 203.406
West Lothian 319.734 22.711 342.445 2.333 344.778
Undistributed 150.768 82.221 232.989 0.000 232.989
Scotland 9,987.162 1,084.210 11,071.372 79.768 11,151.140

‘A Bad Deal for Local Government’?

COSLA says:

COSLA said it was disappointed that the value of the essential services provided by Scottish Local Government has not been recognised by the Scottish Government in the Scottish Government’s budget announcement.

COSLA went on to describe the proposed budget as a cash cut to Local Government’s core budget and said that as a priority would use the next few weeks to engage in meaningful dialogue with both Scottish Government and the wider Scottish Parliament.

COSLA’s Resources Spokesperson Councillor Gail Macgregor said: “First and foremost my feeling is one of disappointment. Disappointment for councils, disappointment for communities and disappointment that Local Government’s role as a deliverer of vital services, an employer and a procurer has not been recognised.

“There is always smoke and mirrors around how those at the centre present their budget. The one message that the Scottish people need to take from today’s budget is that the Local Government’s core budget which provides our essential services has taken a hit.

“We have engaged positively with Scottish Government throughout these budget negotiations and we have run a positive campaign around the meaningful impact that our essential services make to communities throughout Scotland.

“The essential services that Local Government deliver are the foundations on which Scotland is built – today’s announcement means that these foundations are under severe pressure.”

COSLA President Councillor Alison Evison said: “Whichever way you want to dress it up, the reality of the situation is that yet again the totality of the essential services Councils deliver has been neglected by the Scottish Government.

“There is no scope for Local Government to mitigate the impact of these cuts as there has been no movement yet on local taxation – the 3% Council Tax Cap remains and there is no indication about discretionary taxation, including Tourist Tax.

“It is extremely frustrating that, having worked well on a range of issues with the Government this year, our contribution to meeting key outcomes across Scotland has not yet been acknowledged.

“What we have today is a bad deal for communities and for jobs. Given these proposals today, serious financial challenges lie ahead for councils.”

So who is telling the truth about local government funding?

Budget: saving public services?

The 2019-20 Scottish Budget provides Scotland with economic stability by making strategic long-term investments to strengthen and prepare the economy for the future, according to Finance Secretary Derek Mackay. However local government umbrella organisation COSLA says the budget will mean only more cuts to council services. Continue reading Budget: saving public services?

Equally Safe: Groundbreaking new centre for victims of abuse to be created in Edinburgh

A pioneering centre for people who have been victims of sexual assault and other forms of abuse and neglect is to be created for Edinburgh and the Lothians.

Continue reading Equally Safe: Groundbreaking new centre for victims of abuse to be created in Edinburgh

Safeguarding Scotland? Budget to support ‘transformation of essential public services’.

The 2019-20 Scottish Budget will seek to strengthen Scotland’s economy and deliver long term investments to transform public services, Finance Secretary Derek Mackay has said. Continue reading Safeguarding Scotland? Budget to support ‘transformation of essential public services’.

New taskforce to lead on Human Rights

A taskforce will be set up to take forward recommendations from the First Minister’s Advisory Group on Human Rights Leadership.
The announcement was made by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon on Human Rights Day, as the group published their final report, with seven recommendations to ensure Scotland is an international leader in building a rights-based society.
Welcoming the report and its ambition for Scotland, the First Minister said: “I set up the Advisory Group to offer advice on how we can further enhance human rights, as I wanted to ensure Brexit does not harm human rights in Scotland and that we remain in step with future advances in EU human rights. I also asked for recommendations to ensure Scotland is an international leader in respecting and enhancing human rights.
“I share the ambition in this report that Scotland should introduce a human rights statutory framework and I support their recommendation that this should be done through public engagement, working across the public sector, civic society and parliament. As a first step I will establish a National Taskforce, early in 2019, to progress these plans.
“It is fitting that the report is published as we celebrate Human Rights Day and the 70th anniversary of the signing the UN Declaration of Human Rights. I would like to thank Professor Alan Miller and all members of the group for their work and hope they continue to support efforts to deliver the human rights that will improve lives.”
The full report can be found below and is available online.

First-Ministers-Advisory-Group-on-Human-Rights-Leadership-Final-report-for-publication

Scottish delegation to make a stand against Brexit

Minister takes Scotland’s case to Brussels on eve of Westminster Brexit vote

Leading figures in education, research and science are taking the message to Brussels that Scotland’s universities remain open and welcoming.

Minister for Higher Education and Science Richard Lochhead will lead the Scottish delegation. The team will meet with EU partners and make the case that strong collaboration with researchers in EU countries and the rest of the world is hugely important for the future.

The Minister will underline that Scotland will continue to welcome EU citizens to study or work in our universities.  

Universities Scotland estimate Scotland’s universities are worth £11 billion gross to the economy. Scotland’s researchers and businesses are highly competitive when it comes to winning EU research and innovation funding from Horizon 2020 and other programmes.  

Speaking ahead of today’s meeting, Mr Lochhead said: “Scotland’s global reputation for ground-breaking research and innovation faces unprecedented risks.

“The message we are taking is simple: Scotland’s universities and research institutions are open and welcoming, and we maintain a strong commitment to research collaboration across Europe.

“The Scottish research community is standing together. We know that Scotland’s research has been strengthened by EU citizens working in Scotland, our membership of the European Union and our active participation in the Horizon 2020 programme. The benefits that such participation has provided cannot be underestimated and we will not stand by and see these benefits eroded and obstacles erected that undermine our future.”

Alastair Sim, Director of Universities Scotland commented: “The quality of the research and eduction Scottish higher education delivers is strengthened because of the partnerships we have across the European Union.

“Those relationships are deeply important to us and that remains the case whatever the outcome of the Brexit process. It’s a message we need to keep repeating so it is not lost amidst the noise and chaos going on elsewhere and that’s why it is good to be out in Brussels this week.”

The delegation will consist of:

  • Richard Lochhead: Minister for Further Education, Higher Education and Science
  • Professor Sheila Rowan: Chief Scientific Adviser for Scotland
  • Alastair Sim: Director, Universities Scotland
  • Professor Wayne Powell: Principal and Chief Executive, Scotland’s Rural College
  • Professor Tim Bedford: Associate Principal, University of Strathclyde
  • Dr Stuart Fancey: Director Research and Innovation, Scottish Funding Council

The Scottish Government published “Scotland’s Place in Europe: Science and Research” in November as part of the suite of papers in this series, illustrating the importance and value of research collaboration with the rest of Europe.

A joint statement was also issued last month from colleges, universities, trade unions and the Scottish Government, setting out a united approach to protecting the college and university sectors in Scotland from the worst effects of Brexit.

Scotland has proportionally more EU staff and students than the rest of the UK:

  • Around 9% of all university students are EU domiciled
  • 27% of full time research staff are EU nationals
  • EU nationals accounted for more than 75,000 college enrolments between 2012 and 2017

On average, 10% of Scottish universities’ research income comes from the EU.

Scotland has benefited from 558 million euros from the Horizon 2020 programme and 64 million euros from the Erasmus programme.

Horizon 2020 is the biggest EU Research and Innovation programme ever.

Erasmus is an EU programme for education which allows young people to study abroad, and encourages UK organisations to collaborate with international partners.

The Scottish Government has already confirmed that eligible EU students currently studying here or starting a degree this year or next will continue to be eligible for free tuition.

 

Budget “will deliver a healthier, wealthier and fairer Scotland”

Protecting public services: Scottish budget will prioritise health and education spending, says Finance Secretary

Investing in public services and growing the economy will be prioritised in spending plans to help protect Scotland’s prosperity as far as is possible in the face of continued uncertainty over Brexit, according to the Scottish government. Continue reading Budget “will deliver a healthier, wealthier and fairer Scotland”

A Perfect Fit: Brock ‘hugely excited’ by Leith film studio announcement

Screen Scotland has today launched a tender process inviting proposals from private developers to lease, refurbish and operate a permanent world-class film and television production facility at 31 Bath Road (formerly the Pelamis building) in the Port of Leith. Local MP Deirdre Brock has welcomed the announcement and says it’s the perfect location for the new studio. Continue reading A Perfect Fit: Brock ‘hugely excited’ by Leith film studio announcement

‘Shop Social’ this Christmas

More funding to strengthen the social enterprise sector

Over £396,000 in additional funding has been announced to support the delivery of eight new social enterprise programmes.

Since the launch of Scotland’s ten-year Social Enterprise Strategy in December 2016, more than £14 million has been invested to encourage the growth of social enterprises.

There are more than 5,600 social enterprises across Scotland.  They trade for the common good, addressing social needs, strengthening communities, improving people’s life chances and protecting the environment.

One of the programmes receiving additional funding is a ‘Social Enterprise Retail Academy’ aimed at getting more products into shops.

Meanwhile, a new website (www.shopsocialscotland.com) has been set up giving ideas for social enterprise presents this Christmas.

Together with a new marketing campaign coordinated by Social Enterprise Scotland, the funding will help raise awareness of social enterprises locally and nationally and tap into a growing desire from consumers to buy ethically.

The funding will expand the impact which this innovative sector can have on reducing inequality, working with communities to tackle tough social issues at source .

Communities Secretary Aileen Campbell said:  “Social enterprises are a vital partner in our communities and support ethical and worthwhile causes. We want them to achieve their full potential by ensuring they have access to the right resources, knowledge and networks.

“Particularly in the run-up to Christmas and ahead of Fair Saturday this weekend, I would encourage shoppers to support their local social enterprises and businesses and shop ethically for Christmas gifts. A purchase really could have an impact on a local social cause.”

Founder of the Scottish Design Exchange Lynzi Leroy said: “The Scottish Design Exchange exists to provide a space where local artists and designers, and social enterprise businesses, can sell direct to customers on the High Street.

“By supporting us and other social enterprise businesses at Christmas, you will not only have a direct impact on the local economy, you also help to fund businesses that are working hard for social causes.”