Chamber and committees

Thank you—that was helpful.

We have already touched on the issue of reserves, but what is COSLA’s view on the use of reserves by councils to cover some of the funding gaps that they face? The issue of reserves and how big or depleted they are has already been part of our conversations and deliberations, but I just wondered what COSLA’s view is and what advice is being given to councils.

That is helpful—thank you.

Given that we are going through a period of change, is it time to review the funding formula for councils? I represent Edinburgh, which receives the lowest share per head of population but has some of the largest challenges in the country around homelessness and children in temporary accommodation. There are also the national events that take place in the capital and the costs that arise from those. What is COSLA’s thinking on that? When I have put that point to the Scottish Government, it has said that it is happy to take that forward but that it wants COSLA to suggest that it wants that to take place.

There may be more questions about that. We could ask the Scottish Government for information on the councils that have had to use their reserves and on those that are considering using them.

I also want to ask about national policies that require local authorities to assist in their delivery. To what extent does COSLA ensure that policies that are to be delivered by local authorities are appropriately funded, and that they can be properly maintained in line with inflation and in consideration of potential additional demands that might emerge? What framework currently exists, and what should be coming through the Verity house agreement? What does it look like now, and what needs to change?

Good morning, and thanks for joining us. I will start with a question about how the Scottish Government would respond to the directors of finance—a few of whom we have heard from as we have been looking at the budget—that there is no more room for efficiency savings. What would the minister say to councillors who are now looking at potential cuts to non-statutory services?

I will ask another question afterwards.

Good morning, and thank you for joining us. My first question is about COSLA’s hopes for the European Charter of Local Self-Government (Incorporation) (Scotland) Bill, which we expect to come back to Parliament for the reconsideration stage. How could that help, especially in relation to the financial situation that we have discussed this morning?

Katie, would you like to come in first on that?

In the past, a lot of councils have taken decisions, for example, to set up arm’s-length organisations for leisure services. There are reports here in Edinburgh that significant potential cuts and closures are being considered.

Where councils have taken such decisions and are potentially looking at cutting their funding for those services—and, in turn, making the services unsustainable in the future—is the Scottish Government advising them on what different models are possible, and suggesting that they take a different approach? Is Government working with councils to develop such approaches and to ensure that those potential cuts and closures do not take place?

Good morning to the panel. Thank you for joining us today. I have a few questions on different topics. My first one is on the three shared priorities in the Verity house agreement and specifically on the net zero priority. Given what we have heard about cuts to capital budgets—Kirsty Flanagan outlined them in some detail—what impact do you think that they will have on realising your net zero commitments?

That is helpful, and it links to my next question. Argyll and Bute Council and Glasgow City Council have declared housing emergencies. As it stands, the Fraser of Allander Institute suggests about a 37 per cent cut over the past two years to the housing budget. What decision making is taking place around the housing and homelessness emergency, and where will that be prioritised, given that both councils have declared a housing emergency?

Does anyone else want to come in on that?

That is helpful.

My only other question is about the impact of RAAC, which I know that all councils have been working on. Perhaps you could provide us with written evidence on that, unless there is anything specific that you want to put on record today.