COSLA has today (9th November) launched our Budget Lobbying Campaign.
Local Services Cannot Take More Cuts
Scotland’s councils have warned that vital local services are at risk without a fairer funding settlement, after making around £5 billion of savings since 2010-11 and facing a further £529 million funding gap in 2026-27.
Councils deliver the services people rely on every day, from educating more than 700,000 pupils, to supporting almost 98,000 people with care at home, maintaining 54,000 kilometres of roads, tackling homelessness and supporting vulnerable families.
With years of efficiencies and service redesign, councils say there is little left to cut. Spending on culture and leisure has already fallen by 26% in real terms since 2010-11, while corporate support spending has reduced by 25%. At the same time, demand for services and inflation continue to rise.
COSLA's concerns are backed by several independent organisations. The Accounts Commission has warned that council funding is failing to keep pace with rising costs and demand, while the Joseph Rowntree Foundation continues to highlight the growing levels of poverty and hardship driving demand for local support. Together, the evidence paints a clear picture: communities need stronger local services at precisely the moment councils are under the greatest financial strain.
COSLA Resources Spokesperson Kelly Parry said:
"There is little left to cut without communities feeling the impact. Councils have already delivered billions in savings while continuing to provide the services people rely on every day."
"Local services are the foundation of strong communities. If Scotland wants high-quality schools, social care, roads and local support services, councils must be given the resources to deliver them."
"The choice is clear: either we invest in local services or we accept their decline. Communities across Scotland deserve better than that."
COSLA is calling for increased investment in local government, including support to meet growing social care demands, inflation-proofed funding, greater local flexibility and multi-year settlements that allow councils to plan effectively for the future.
"Strong communities need strong councils. If Scotland wants high-quality local services, local government must be properly funded to deliver them."
