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What does the Scottish budget mean for Councils?
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COSLA has shared two new documents setting out high-level analysis of the Scottish 2025-26 Budget and what it means for Councils and essential local social care services.

What does the Scottish Budget mean for councils?

Following the Scottish Budget announcement earlier this month, we shared a short briefing setting out high-level analysis on what the Budget means for Scottish Local Government.

Commenting, COSLA’s Resources Spokesperson, Councillor Katie Hagmann, commented:

“This Budget is a welcomed step in the right direction for Local Government and provides a small amount of additional uncommitted revenue and capital funding for 2025/26. However, due to the unprecedented financial challenges being faced by our councils, this additional funding may not be enough to reverse planned cuts to vital services across our communities.”

Read the 'What does the 2025-26 Budget Mean for Councils? document here.

What does the Scottish budget mean for social care?

Our councils have increased real terms spend on social care by 29% since 2010/11 at the expense of other preventative, non-statutory services. However, rising operational costs, escalating demand for services, and high inflation mean that the need for greater funding is more urgent than ever.

The level of funding provided in the 2025/26 Budget will not resolve the unprecedented challenges being faced in local social care services.

COSLA’s Health and Social Care Spokesperson, Councillor Paul Kelly, added:

“Without additional funding to increase capacity across all of our social care services, there is a very real risk that key services will not be able to transform to the scale that our communities require and deserve. COSLA and Local Authorities are ready and willing to work constructively to support improvement and reform in social care that is aligned to local needs and priorities, but this should be backed by the much-needed investment.”

Read our Social Care Budget Analysis document here.