COSLA, SOLACE and CIPFA Directors of Finance have provided a joint response to the Finance and Public Administration Committee’s Pre-Budget Call for Views.

The Committee is seeking views on Scotland's public finances in 2022-23 and the impact of COVID-19, from a Local Government perspective.

In particular the Committee is looking for views on the ongoing fiscal response to the crisis and how to support a fair and equal economic recovery, while addressing the financial cost of the pandemic.

Our response therefore seeks to address these points and can be found here.

Commenting on the joint response, COSLA’s Spokesperson for Resources, Councillor Gail Macgregor, said: “Our response emphasises the need for Local Government to be funded fairly in the Scottish Government’s Budget, in order that Councils can deliver the critical services needed in communities - for recovery from the COVID pandemic; to tackle poverty and inequality; and to enable a move to net zero emissions.

“There needs to be a move to ‘whole system’ thinking about promoting health, wellbeing and delivering economic prosperity for everyone in our communities.

“Local Government must not have its hands tied when deciding how funding should be used locally to address need.  Reforms are needed to deliver a fair and equal basis for all spheres of Government in Scotland.”