Cosla

New powers enabling councils to charge up to double the full rate of council tax on second homes came into force this week.

Local government associations from across the UK have united to write a letter to the Chancellor of the Exchequer outlining the real and significant risks facing councils if additional funding is not provided in the UK Spring Budget on the 6th of March. The unprecedented step to move away from lobby

The passing of the Scottish Budget 2024/25 at Holyrood yesterday will perpetuate housing inequality across the country and limit the number of new homes coming forward across all tenures, sector body Homes for Scotland (HFS) has warned. The Budget includes more than £1.3 billion for the W

Claims by the Scottish Government that progress is being made towards ending homelessness and building social housing look like an attempt to gaslight the Scottish public, Shelter Scotland told MSPs in Parliament yesterday. The housing charity made the claim after new figures showed local government

An agreement between the Scottish Government and councils to secure a sustainable, longer-term funding arrangement is now urgent to continue to deliver local services, the Accounts Commission said today.

New powers enabling councils to charge up to double the full rate of council tax on second homes have been agreed by the Scottish Parliament.

A coalition of experts has called on local and national government to adopt a groundbreaking new tool created to measure progress being made towards ending homelessness in Scotland.

Scotland’s health and social care sector is facing significant challenges this winter with increased demand and a greater complexity of need, rising cost pressures and real challenges in recruiting and retaining staff, local authorities have warned. Ahead of its budget on December 19, COSLA sa

Councils are key to unlocking both the potential and the best outcomes for our local communities but require proper funding to do so, COSLA has said today.

Local authorities may soon have the power to levy up to double the full rate of council tax on second homes if draft regulations before the Scottish Parliament are approved.

An innovative project spearheaded by Fife Council in collaboration with Dundee City and Clackmannanshire Councils and WEA has been honoured with the Excellent People, Excellent Outcomes award at the COSLA Excellence Awards 2023.

The winners of COSLA's 2023 Excellence Awards were named last night at a ceremony at Crieff Hydro, Perthshire - celebrating the very best of Scottish local government. Argyll and Bute Council, Falkirk Council, Inverclyde Council, Orkney Islands Council, Renfrewshire Council, Stirling Council, West L

A new strategy will help Ukrainians living in Scotland to settle into communities and gain longer term housing. Developed by the Scottish Government in collaboration with the Scottish Refugee Council and COSLA, the Warm Scots Future paper sets out priorities for the next phase of Scotland’s Uk

Legislation that will allow local authorities to charge a premium of up to 100% on council tax for second homes under legislation with the aim of increasing the availability of housing has passed the consultation stage. If approved by Parliament, the secondary legislation would bring second homes in

A working group has been established to understand the extent that reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) has been used in social housing in Scotland with early indications that the use of the material is not widespread.