COSLA has today (17th March) issued a statement ahead of Stage 3 of the Children (Care, Care Experience and Services Planning) (Scotland) Bill, warning that the legislation in its current form is not deliverable and risks unintended consequences for children and young people.
COSLA has called for a pause in the Bill’s progression to allow for further development, stronger evidence, and more realistic planning. Local Government remains committed to The Promise and fully supports the ambition to improve outcomes for children and young people with care experience, but the current proposals fall short in terms of deliverability, affordability, and clarity.
COSLA highlights that the Bill is being brought forward in a challenging financial and workforce context, with local services already under significant pressure. The Promise is clear that system wide change is required to improve outcomes for children and young people with care experience. However, this Bill risks diverting significant resources and capacity towards one part of the system instead of supporting balanced, whole-system reform.
COSLA also raises serious concerns about the financial implications of the Bill. Estimated costs are projected to rise from over £150 million in 2027/28 to approximately £270 million by 2029/30, with COSLA warning these figures are likely to be underestimates. This creates significant financial risk for both local and national government, particularly given wider budget pressures facing Scottish Local Government.
In addition, COSLA notes that key aspects of the Bill rely heavily on secondary legislation, leaving limited clarity for policymakers on how new duties would operate in practice or how they would be funded.
COSLA has also expressed concern about proposed changes to accommodation arrangements, which would see young people requiring accommodation brought into the care system instead of housing pathways. These measures could reduce existing legal protections, including tenant rights and safeguards related to unsuitable accommodation, without clear evidence that outcomes would improve.
Cllr Tony Buchanan, COSLA Spokesperson for Children and Young People, said:
"We share the ambition to improve outcomes for children and young people, and remain fully committed to the Promise, but this Bill as currently drafted is not deliverable. Without credible planning, realistic costings and a strong evidence base, there is a real risk of unintended consequences and missed opportunities for meaningful reform.
“COSLA is urging policymakers to undertake more detailed analysis before progressing legislation of this scale. This includes clearer cost modelling, stronger evidence of impact, and alignment with long-term reform goals.”
17th March 2026
