The Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA) and Local Government trade unions, UNISON, UNITE & the GMB, have issued the following statement on Public Service Reform:
“Local Government workers play a vital role in serving Scotland’s communities, tirelessly delivering essential local services in an often challenging environment.
In the context of current dialogue about public service reform, the model proposed by the Scottish Government is creating uncertainty for the council workforce. Key questions, including about the future of jobs, transfer of staff, and potential impacts on terms and conditions, remain unanswered and require thorough consideration.
Scotland needs public sector reform which improves outcomes for people, strengthens prevention, supports local democracy, creates sustainable public services, and truly values the workforce that delivers them.
Reform must start with outcomes, not structures, and must be underpinned by a strong evidence base and a meaningful engagement process. Close involvement of the workforce, recognised trade unions, and local authority employers must be central to this. Change cannot be imposed from the top down, but must be informed by the voices of those who truly understand the realities of delivering local services.
There is also a need for realism about timescales: radical reform of local structures, services, and workforces is incredibly complex and would require detailed planning and many years of sustained work alongside significant resource.
We are clear that any national reorganisation process affecting council employees must be carried out in line with Fair Work principles, including meaningful consultation with staff and respect for collective bargaining.
Local Government has borne the brunt of cuts over many years, and workforce capacity has not kept pace with rising demand for services. If we are to create public services which can meet the needs of communities now and in future, reform must be matched with the investment required to support long-term sustainability.
COSLA and the Local Government trade unions, as representatives of our vital workforce, stand ready to engage meaningfully and constructively with the Scottish Government as key equal partners in any proposed reform.”
Commenting on the statement, COSLA’s Resources Spokesperson, Councillor Kelly Parry said:
“Public service reform must be evidence-based and underpinned by meaningful engagement with the Local Government workforce, realism about timescales and the complexities of reform, and the investment required to support the long-term sustainability of services.
Our joint message as Local Government employers and trade unions is clear and we stand ready to engage constructively with the Scottish Government as equal partners.”
Scotland’s 32 council leaders will meet again on Friday 30th October 2026 to consider their response to the Scottish Government’s three-month dialogue on the future of local governance and what it means for councils.
All enquiries to press@cosla.gov.uk or 07483903028.
Notes:
For COSLA’s previous statements on Public Service Reform see: https://www.cosla.gov.uk/
