Established in 1975, COSLA is the voice of Local Government in Scotland. We provide political leadership on national issues, and work with councils to improve local services and strengthen local democracy as a legitimate, respected sphere of government in Scotland. Millions of people rely on the services that Scotland's Councils deliver every day. Collectively, councils spend almost £19 billion a year on local services and employ over 240,000 people.

Learn about COSLA

Read our 5-Year plan for Local Government

Meet our policy teams

Our job is to stand up for Local Government and represent it effectively. We are a councillor-led, cross party organisation, representing all 32 Local Authorities in Scotland. We work on behalf of our members to focus on their priorities, challenges and opportunities

Read Councils Are Key: a call for properly funded local services from COSLA, released ahead of the 2024/25 Scottish budget announcement.

What does the latest Scottish budget mean for councils? Read Budget Reality - budget analysis from COSLA.

Learn about how COSLA works

Situated in the heart of Edinburgh, right beside Haymarket railway station, COSLA’s Conference Centre is a modern, spacious venue with a wealth of flexible rooms and the latest audio-visual technology. We can tailor each space to your own specific requirements, whether that’s a meeting for ten or a conference for 200.

Our experienced team will be on hand at every stage of the event, from initial planning to the day itself, offering timely help and advice to ensure everything runs smoothly.

Download the COSLA Conference Centre brochure (PDF)]

Book your event