The Finance and Public Administration Committee (FPAC) published their annual pre-budget scrutiny call for views which this year focussed on the affordability of Scotland's tax and spending plans. In responding, COSLA, SOLACE and Directors of Finance have jointly taken the opportunity to highlight the invaluable role Local Government plays in ensuring the sustainability of the public sector. Where increased investment in our services can lead to better outcomes for our communities and the realisation of our shared national priorities, there is also a preventative, best-value contribution that has huge benefit to the wider public sector. We have been clear that this must be recognised alongside the huge level of efficiencies and savings already delivered as we move forward with the Public Service Reform Strategy.

In recognition of the new parliamentary term starting and the predominately new membership of FPAC, the submission also gave us an opportunity to provide some crucial information of the services local authorities provide and the contextual, structural funding deficit we have faced for several years.

This week, the response has been published on the Scottish Parliament's website, and can be found here.

Alongside responding to the Finance and Public Administration Committee, we have also responded to the Public Service Reform Committee, where the same theme and similar messages to our main FPAC submission were conveyed in our response.