Sponsored by Ariane Burgess MSP, the event will bring together Ministers and MSPs with key players from across the public sector to mark this milestone with COSLA. The event will feature speeches from the COSLA president and vice president, the cabinet secretary for finance and local government, Shona Robison, and Sir Neil Macintosh.

COSLA president, Councillor Shona Morrison, said: “It’s an absolute honour to be able to mark this important milestone for COSLA as President, and I firstly would like to thank our colleagues from local government, national government and wider civil society for joining us to celebrate our 50th year.

“For me, this is a time to reflect on and recognise the vital work our councils do every single day. COSLA is its 32 member councils. We exist to amplify their essential role in our society, and to do so as a united voice. Councils are with us at every stage of our lives, support us and our family members during difficult times, and help make sure our communities are safer and fairer places where people can live well locally. I take this opportunity to pay tribute to our council workers past and present whose dedication is the reason we are here today and the reason we can celebrate the last 50 years of Scottish local government’s good work.

“I hope that everyone attending the event or celebrating with us in any way will take this opportunity to be fierce advocates for Scottish local government. United we can deliver on Scotland’s national priorities locally, and achieve what we are all here to achieve – supporting the people of Scotland to thrive in their communities.”

COSLA vice president, Councillor Steven Heddle, added: “While COSLA has represented councils since 1975, the world, of course, looks vastly different in 2025.

“It’s no exaggeration to say we as local government are facing new and sometimes unprecedented global and local challenges at an accelerating pace. We are also seeing and developing new opportunities to face those challenges with digital innovation and with our collective vast knowledge base.

“Let’s take this opportunity to reflect on how we can continue to innovate our modern councils together, as cornerstones of healthy and thriving communities that can continue to deliver for our people and communities in the years to come.”

The COSLA Excellence Awards return

The event comes as the COSLA Excellence Awards, celebrating the very best of Scottish local government, return for 2025.

This year’s COSLA Excellence Awards represent a fantastic opportunity for councils and their partners to recognise the great work, talent, and innovation across Local Government. The COSLA Excellence Awards prizegiving ceremony for 2025 will take place on Thursday, 13th November at the Fairmont, St Andrews, as part of the COSLA’s Annual Conference, and all Excellence Awards finalists teams will be invited along.

COSLA president, Councillor Shona Morrison, said: “I am delighted to be launching this year’s Excellence Awards – the awards that celebrate the very makeup of our councils - wonderful, talented and innovative people who care about improving lives locally. It’s a privilege to be Chair of the awards this year – the Excellence Awards are always a highlight of my calendar as COSLA president.

“To all my local government colleagues in Scotland, I’d encourage you to look at this as a real opportunity champion your best people and teams on a national stage. The Excellence Awards recognise the very best of Scottish local government, and we know that this often means the unsung heroes in our communities who make lives better every day.

“Applications open on Tuesday 6th of May 2025 – so don’t delay, get your application in by Friday 4th of July to help us celebrate your people as the very best of Scottish local government!”