A new report has been published by independent body the Accounts Commission detailing  some of the significant and ongoing challenges Councils have faced in the year 2021/2022.

The report can be read on the Audit Scotland website here.

Councillor Katie Hagmann, COSLA’s Resources Spokesperson said:  “We welcome today’s report from the Accounts Commission which clearly and impartially sets out the worrying state of Council finances. COSLA has been absolutely clear over recent years that councils are facing extremely difficult financial choices due to real terms cuts and increasing demand, now compounded by inflation, the cost-of-living crisis and the impact of Covid.

“It was for this reason that COSLA’s Budget Campaign this year was an ‘SOS call’ to Scottish Government, highlighting the socially harmful impact of not funding Local Government adequately.

“It is disappointing that our request has not been met. The independent report out today reflects this extremely precarious financial situation in which Councils across Scotland find themselves.

“There is a real danger that as well as cuts, some essential services may stop altogether - we have already seen reports in the media of what Councils are considering. This is as a consequence of real-term cuts to the core budgets of Scotland’s 32 Councils over recent years.”