Accounts Commission report shows councils have faced a scythe to their funds

Responding to the embargoed report from the Accounts Commission which warns that Scotland’s councils faced a collective gap of up to £585 million between the money needed to deliver services and the money available when setting their budgets this year and that this is estimated to increase to £780 million by 2026/27, Scottish Liberal Democrat economy spokesperson Willie Rennie said:

“The SNP Government have been loading extra responsibilities and costs onto councils whilst taking a scythe to their funds and tying their hands on the council tax.  

“This huge financial gap means children losing out on education, pot holes left unfilled and elderly people without support.  

“The SNP Government need to change the habit of the last seventeen years and support councils rather than undermine them.”