Councils and locally elected councillors are the closest sphere of government to our communities. As our lives move increasingly online and the impact of global uncertainty is felt at home, local decision making and community are more important than ever. Our services are tailored to the needs of individuals, families and communities and we are fundamental to ensuring places across Scotland can thrive.

View our Manifesto online.

Download the full Manifesto PDF, 3958.61 KB

Download the full Manifesto (Text Only) RTF, 22.84 KB

Established in 1975, COSLA is the voice of Local Government in Scotland. We provide political leadership on national issues, and work with councils to improve local services and strengthen local democracy as a legitimate, respected sphere of government in Scotland. Millions of people rely on the services that Scotland's Councils deliver every day. Collectively, councils spend almost £19 billion a year on local services and employ over 240,000 people.

Learn about COSLA

Read our 5-Year plan for Local Government

Meet our policy teams

Our job is to stand up for Local Government and represent it effectively. We are a councillor-led, cross party organisation, representing all 32 Local Authorities in Scotland. We work on behalf of our members to focus on their priorities, challenges and opportunities.

Post-budget briefing on Social Care

What does the 2026-27 Budget mean for Councils?

Read Councils Are Key: a call for properly funded local services from COSLA, released ahead of the 2024/25 Scottish budget announcement.

Learn about how COSLA works