Cosla

Social care staff are to receive an immediate 3.3% pay increase backdated from April 1. Health secretary Jeane Freeman made the promise during a coronavirus briefing last week, saying that social care employee’s work “is always hugely valued, and never more so than now.”

People most at risk from the impacts of the coronavirus outbreak are to receive further support following emergency investment in crucial services and £30 million of new investment from the Scottish Government Food Fund. Charities Simon Community, Social Bite, Glasgow Night Shelter and other k

Years without fair funding for local government in Scotland has meant that councils' budgets are at breaking point, COSLA president Alison Evison has warned.

An evaluation of the Scottish Government's Regeneration Capital Grant Fund has found that the projects which received support from the fund have had a positive impact on Scottish communities. According to the analysis, projects benefitting from over £138 million of funding have the potential t

Harper Macleod’s Jennifer Jack discusses the COSLA conference taking place in St Andrews this week and the powers local authorities have to get empty homes back into use. COSLA's 2019 Annual Conference takes place today and tomorrow (10 & 11 October), looking at local government issues 20

The Scottish Government has launched a £3 million action plan to tackle the discrimination and challenges faced by the Gypsy/Traveller community.

A ground-breaking response to homelessness in Scotland has reached a milestone with more than 100 people having a home of their own along with appropriate support. Figures for July have revealed that 103 people across six local authority areas in Scotland who were formerly homeless have been housed

An additional £9 million of funding will be provided to local authorities to prevent homelessness and help people into more permanent accommodation.

New powers across areas of health, environment and leisure services could be given to local communities after initial findings from a review into the devolution of local powers show that people overwhelmingly want more say about how public services are run in their area.

The first of a series of collaborative workshops to explore ways to increase offsite construction of affordable homes has been launched at Construction Scotland Innovation Centre (CSIC) by housing minister Kevin Stewart.

The Scottish Government has made an additional £80 million available over the next two years to help councils deliver affordable homes. In 2019-20 council areas will benefit from an extra £42m on previously announced funding for affordable housing. In 2020-21, councils wil

“Fundamental change” is required to ensure Scotland’s councils deliver services in the face of ever decreasing funding, according to the local authority watchdog. The Local Government Overview 2019 report by the Accounts Commission warned that while councils are managing to improve

Glasgow could become the first city in the UK to pilot changes to the asylum process after a multi-agency taskforce recommended a number of proposed reforms. The city is keen to lead the way on proposed changes to the existing system agreed by partners on its Asylum Taskforce, which includes the Hom

The Scottish Government has launched a £50 million fund to help boost town centres. The Town Centre Fund, which has been set up in partnership with COSLA, is supporting councils to ensure their high streets are more diverse, sustainable and successful in the face of changing and evolving retai

Local government body COSLA has issued new guidance on the rights of migrants to services provided by local authorities in Scotland. The guidance explores how councils can provide support for vulnerable people who are classed under UK immigration law as having no recourse to public funds.