Latest news with #AccountsCommission
The Herald Scotland
6 days ago
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
North Ayrshire Council warned of £46.7million funding gap
The report revealed that the council's latest Medium Term Financial Outlook has identified a structural funding gap of £46.7m in the three-year period to 2027-28 (including HSCP pressures). Projected savings from transformation fall significantly short of the savings required. Officers are clear that future recurring savings also need to be made through workforce changes, cuts in services, and council tax and fees and charges increases. Officers have indicated that future recurring savings also need to be made through workforce changes, cuts in services, and council tax and fees and charges increases. However, Audit Scotland claim the transformation programme needs to be sufficiently ambitious to respond to the scale of the financial challenges. The Accounts Commission's Local government in Scotland Financial bulletin 2023-24 noted that councils need to intensify transformation activity, progressing at scale and pace to ensure their financial sustainability. The council's current transformation programme, known as its Sustainable Change Programme, was approved in 2023 and clearly sets out how it intends to transform its services, in line with its priorities, through five workstreams and six service reviews. Between 2021-22 and 2024-25 the council achieved financial efficiencies from its Sustainable Change Programme of £3.136m. They plan to make further efficiencies of £8.5m over the next three years. There was scope for the council to consider opportunities for more radical transformational change with partners. Mark Boyd, Head of Service (Finance), told the committee that in terms of transformation there is a lot of work going on and the solar farms would generate revenue. They were progressing with a number of services reviews like waste services, learning resource reviews and digital workstreams. There was also more momentum about how the 32 councils could better work together. In areas like blue badges, he said they could maybe have one solution across the authorities. Thirty-two councils were all doing similar tasks and they had to look to harness that activity and target efficiency from it. Budget preparations were beginning next week with the executive leadership, the finance boss revealed. There were also ongoing discussions with other Ayrshire councils around wider reform and opportunities to share services and that would continue although there had to be the will to progress that through three separate entities that had to be done at officer level and leadership level.
The Herald Scotland
24-05-2025
- Politics
- The Herald Scotland
Look after Scotland first with new winter fuel payment
Discussion so far appears to revolve around a form of 'means testing'. That is one approach. However, it is my view that UK governments, of whatever political hue, cannot bring themselves to look at the needs of the population. Is it cooler in Shetland 12 months per year compared to the South of England? Do homes located in the Highlands require more heat and light during the winter months? I would recommend setting a base level around the Liverpool area and applying a graduated reduced heating allowance to the regions to the south of that line and a graduated increase to the north. It is surely not beyond the wit of the Exchequer to make use of postcode data and differentiate the parameters to be used to determine a 'levelling up' approach to an individual's needs. Governments appear to be able to determine taxation levels and varying service charges for gas and electricity on a geographical basis. I would term this approach as logical. But would it be viewed as an acceptable political approach? I doubt it in London but I would urge all Scottish MPs to get behind my motion and look after the Scottish population. Stewart Lightbody, Troon. Disordered evidence Neil Mackay's article on the increasingly intemperate language used in what he terms "disordered discourse" ("Clarkson shows he knows diddly squat about Scotland", The Herald, May 22) was apposite at a time when there is repeated evidence of this in any discussion of Scottish politics, whether it be in The Herald or elsewhere. The Letters Pages are a prime example of this with derogatory references to SNP supporters as "sheep-like supporters" who "parrot the same lines". But the SNP that won 56 seats in the 2015 General Election only won nine last year. So by definition their support can hardly be described as "sheep-like". In reality such remarks are not discourse but simply mendacity for mendacity's sake. A further example is the £650 million shortfall faced by local councils as highlighted by the Accounts Commission. The Commission blames this on "soaring inflation" plus "increased costs and demands". These are all outwith the ability of the Scottish Government to control. Yet there is a predictable knee-jerk response from opposition politicians with Labour's spokesperson saying this is a direct consequence of 'SNP incompetence and cuts'. This is despite the Accounts Commission itself saying that 'not all cost increases faced by councils can be met by government funding' and that £350 million of additional costs faced by councils can be attributed to the National Insurance increases implemented by the current Labour Government at Westminster. Read more letters The presentation of facts doesn't deter those with a malign view of their opponents from constantly framing events through the prism of their own bias. For example, the failure to build two ferries on time is once again blamed on "SNP incompetence". But Scottish Government ministers had no oversight role in the actual build process. They are not a party to the contract and as such cannot direct or influence events on the ground. Nevertheless that does not stop them from being blamed for the mistakes made by those who had that responsibility. Predictably rival parties maintain that if they were in power none of this would have happened. And of course no evidence to validate this assertion is ever offered up. The civil servants, workers and management responsible for the ferries debacle – either in whole or in part – will invariably remain in place along with the usual bland assurances that "lessons will be learnt". But they never are. For instance we now learn that the same mistakes made on the Glen Sannox were made on the Glen Rosa without anybody apparently noticing. This is despite repeated reassurances given to ministers and to various Holyrood committees by Ferguson's management that the monitoring of procedures had been tightened up. It is therefore not so much a case of disordered discourse but more one of disordered evidence. Robert Menzies, Falkirk. CalMac users satisfied In response to Peter Wright (Letters, May 23): there is nothing 'whitabootery' about citing UK cost over-runs when my taxes (and those of everyone else in Scotland) are used to pay for them. Anyone can check on the status of Isle of Wight ferries and they will find BBC and local/national newspaper reports on frequent cancellations, 'more misery', 'held to ransom [a £440 return ticket]', a 'scandalous' ferry system – often due to maintenance failures and breakdown (sound familiar?). New Tory MP Joe Robertson (after 14 years of Tory rule), asked the Labour Government to 'protect Isle of Wight passengers from excessive ferry prices... bad and unreliable service for a vital transport link from unregulated ferry companies'. Sir Keir Starmer concurred at PMQs with this MP, that islanders were reliant on foreign-owned, debt-laden, unregulated ferry companies for essential travel. As for consulting local residents of the Hebridean islands, luckily I do not have to. A six-month survey of 15,000 ferry users (published January 2025) found an average satisfaction rate of 84%, two per cent up on the previous summer. If you don't like or trust this, you can ask CalMac for details of who carried out the survey. Being properly regulated, it cannot refuse to answer. It would be nice in Scotland if ferries, knife crime, education, policing numbers, NHS waiting lists et al could all be reported in our media normally, without hyperbole, and in context. GR Weir, Ochiltree. Is castration a viable course? How should we view Labour Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood's consideration of chemical castration for sex offenders ("Chemical castration of sex offenders to be piloted in 20 prisons, says Mahmood", heraldscotland, May 22)? It follows a review led by a former justice secretary, David Gauke, which the Scottish Government is reported to be considering. Throughout society there seems to have been an explosion of abhorrent offences involving grooming gangs, sexual abuse of children and a rise in rape statistics. Steps both short-term and long-term will have to be taken to stem the flood of such obnoxious crimes. Long-term projects in this direction will take years to come to fruition while short-term measures could have a sharp-shock deterrent effect upon those who wish to indulge their unsavoury sexual appetites upon unwilling victims. Castration, chemical or surgical, could put the frighteners on those who harbour insalubrious designs upon their targets. However, the introduction of castration for sex offenders could mean that a reintroduction of the death penalty might have to be considered, if those who cannot or are unwilling to control their unhealthy sexual impulses resort to the murder of their victims to avoid the unpleasantness of lifelong castration and so hope to escape detection.. What penalty would await those women who are complicit in helping those who indulge their sexual fantasies with unwilling victims or themselves participate actively in such sexual abuse? Then there are women who lure underage youngsters into having sex with them, both male and female. They merit a condign penalty for ruining young lives. In this age of equality of the sexes, what punishment would Shabana Mahmood propose for those offenders? This is a can of worms which deserves to be explored and investigated. Denis Bruce, Bishopbriggs. UK Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood has proposed a trial of chemical castration of sex offenders (Image: PA) Trump right to cut PBS funding AJ Clarence (Letters, May 22) appears to be suffering from what our friends across the pond currently describe as "Trump Derangement Syndrome" – in that, whatever happens, or indeed is claimed by social media to have happened, it is his fault. In a similar fashion, more locally, the equally deranged SNP blames Westminster for anything negative. Your correspondent is upset that Donald Trump has "defunded Sesame Street". In fact what has happened is that Warner Bros – which provided much of the programme's funding – was not renewing its deal with PBS and has now stopped its support. In addition, quite rightly, Mr Trump has reduced the state funding provided to PBS on the grounds that while it is meant to be apolitical, it clearly is not. In a similar way, many here firmly believe that the BBC should be defunded due to its endless left-leaning bias in all matters political – hence the increasing numbers refusing to pay their TV licences. Why should taxpayers fund media outlets to produce what is effectively political propaganda? Regarding AJ Clarence's criticism of Mr Trump on Israel: the President has enabled ceasefire negotiations and talks between Israel and the Hamas terrorists, while his predecessor Joe Biden sat on Benjamin Netanyahu's war cabinet. Derangement syndrome fully engaged. Steph Johnson, Glasgow. Does Hamas want peace? Your Letters Pages today (May 23) make interesting reading with regards to the situation in Gaza. Little or nothing is made of the impact of the October 7 attack on Israel by Hamas but a lot is made of the consequences for Gaza. I have criticised the Labour Government for not thinking ahead but it looks suspiciously like Hamas did and the current situation is exactly what it wants. Peace can never be achieved by starting hostilities with an utterly atrocious massacre. Does Hamas really want peace? Highly unlikely, so you have to ask the question about what is the end game and it must be a Hamas victory which equates to the destruction of the state of Israel. Shockingly perhaps Benjamin Netanyahu is right when he this week equated "Free Palestine" with "Heil Hitler" for neo-Nazis. Dr Gerald Edwards, Glasgow. Green cloud cuckoo land The SNP's Net Zero Secretary Gillian Martin has said that people living in cities should consider getting rid of their cars to help tackle climate change. Ms Martin also supports the expansion of heat pumps. She can afford an expensive EV since she gets a salary of £116,125 from the Scottish taxpayer. She might not know that heat pumps are at least four times more expensive than gas boilers and are less efficient and that Scotland only has 0.1 per cent of global emissions. She and too many other politicians live in a green cloud cuckoo land where they chant "Where Scotland leads others will follow". They should all be put back into their green boxes and the lids closed. Clark Cross, Linlithgow. Sum amusement Willie Towers' letter (May 21) reminded me of a maths teacher of mine who would chalk a lengthy maths solution on the board then say: "Right, look at the board while I run through it." We never did have the pleasure of seeing him achieve this feat. More recently, though still some time ago, a teaching colleague in the maths department would similarly elaborate a maths problem on the board then ask the class "Are you with me?" to be met with a chorus of "No, we're with the Woolwich!". Readers of a certain age will remember the TV advert. Bob Byiers, Bearsden.
Daily Record
22-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Record
Warning West Lothian Council's £35m budget black hole is 'unsustainable'
The Accounts Commission said watchdogs are warning local authorities will face 'difficult decisions on what services can be delivered' after reports Scottish council's face a near £1 billion black hole in the next two years. West Lothian Council's finance chief has warned the funding crisis facing the local authority is 'of a magnitude never experienced before.' The Accounts Commission said watchdogs are warning local authorities will face 'difficult decisions on what services can be delivered' after reports Scottish council's face a near £1 billion black hole in the next two years. In West Lothian the budget gap is reportedly £35m - and the council leader said the situation is 'unsustainable' West Lothian has had to cut more than £200m from its budgets since 2007. The Accounts Commission said for this year, the budget gap between the country's 32 local authorities stands at £647 million - up £52 million from 2024-25. This comes despite councils receiving £15.2 billion from the Scottish Government in the budget for 2025-26 - with the amount of cash rising by 6% in real-terms. The Accounts Commission said: 'Councils are currently anticipating a cumulative revenue budget gap of £997 million over the next two years.' The hike in employers' national insurance contributions is also impacting councils, with local government body Cosla saying this could cost £370 million a year - more than double the £144 million provided by the Scottish Government towards the rise. Council leader Lawrence Fitzpatrick said: 'Due to insufficient funding from the Scottish Government the council has a budget gap of £35 million over the next three years, with us having to make nearly £12 million of savings this year alone. 'By 2028 the West Lothian Council will have had to make budget savings of over £207 million.' 'These are the stark facts and the pain is felt across all Scottish councils. 'The gap between what funding we receive and what services we are expected to deliver is significant and it is an unsustainable situation. 'The growing demand for service set against a backdrop of insufficient levels of funding means we are at breaking point. Councils are in an impossible situation in terms of what is expected of us and the services we provide, and our ability to provide them.' Kenneth Ribbons, West Lothian's Interim Head of Finance and Property Services said: 'The continuing financial crisis facing local government is of a magnitude never experienced before. 'Increases in Scottish Government funding fall well short of the funding required to stabilise finances as is the case with all Scottish Local Authorities. That is clearly highlighted by the Accounts Commission. 'The scale of the financial challenges are of such a level that this additional funding does not fully address the substantial and ever increasing cost of delivering services to our local communities. This is particularly the case in relation to delivering health and social care services. 'COSLA has emphasised that the additional funding only provides a real terms protection and is not an increase that will reverse the impact of many years of budget reductions and flat cash settlements.' Councils across Scotland increased council tax for 2025-26 to help with their finances - with rises ranging from 6% in South Lanarkshire to 15.6% in Falkirk. In West Lothian Council Tax rose to 8.95% However the Accounts Commission said higher bills for local people means 'there is greater expectation on the performance of local services'. Accounts Commission member Derek Yule warned of a 'growing expectation gap' for authorities. He said: 'Councils don't have enough money to meet current demand, at a time when local communities are being asked to contribute more through increases in council tax and charges for some services.' As a result, Mr Yule said 'councils need to provide clearer budget information and work with communities to determine how services will be delivered in the future' - although he added 'these conversations won't be easy'. Mr Yule also warned: 'With public finances tightening, however, not all cost increases faced by councils can be met by Government funding. 'Local action is needed now to find solutions to immediate and future financial challenges. This means difficult decisions on what services can be delivered and making major changes in how they are delivered.' The report also told how councils are due to make 'around £210 million of approved savings' in 2025-26, with this including £68 million of savings from corporate services and £58 million from children's services. Cosla resources spokesperson Councillor Katie Hagmann said the report was 'further evidence of the financial constraint under which councils are operating'. Ms Hagmann said: 'Despite an improved settlement for 2025-26, the stark reality is that local authorities continue to face persistent financial pressures that far outstrip the resources available to them. 'Rising inflation, increased costs resulting from higher employer national insurance contributions and pay, and ever-growing demand on vital services like social care are pushing local budgets to the breaking point. 'Councils have worked tirelessly to protect the services that matter most - such as schools, roads, housing, and supports for vulnerable people, to name but a few - yet the gap between what is needed and what is available continues to widen. 'Years of these mounting pressures have left councils with no alternative but to make extremely difficult decisions to close this year's budget gap of around £647 million.' Politicians of all stripes turned their fire on the SNP government in Holyrood following the Accounts Commission findings. The Scottish Government responded to criticism. A spokesperson said: 'This report confirms that the Scottish Government provided a real-terms increase in funding for local government in 2025-26, building on continued increases in recent years. 'The Scottish Government will continue to work in partnership with local government to address the challenges facing council budgets and ensure we are operating sustainable people centred public services that communities expect and deserve.'
Edinburgh Reporter
22-05-2025
- Business
- Edinburgh Reporter
Stark warning on budget deficit for West Lothian
West Lothian Council's finance chief has warned the funding crisis facing the local authority is 'of a magnitude never experienced before.' The Accounts Commission today said watchdogs are warning local authorities will face 'difficult decisions on what services can be delivered' after reports Scottish council's face a near £1 billion black hole in the next two years. In West Lothian the budget gap is reportedly £35m – and the council leader said the situation is 'unsustainable' West Lothian has had to cut more than £200m from its budgets since 2007. The Accounts Commission said for this year, the budget gap between the country's 32 local authorities stands at £647 million – up £52 million from 2024-25. This comes despite councils receiving £15.2 billion from the Scottish Government in the budget for 2025-26 – with the amount of cash rising by 6% in real-terms. The Accounts Commission said: 'Councils are currently anticipating a cumulative revenue budget gap of £997 million over the next two years.' The hike in employers' national insurance contributions is also impacting councils, with local government body Cosla saying this could cost £370 million a year – more than double the £144 million provided by the Scottish Government towards the rise. Council leader Lawrence Fitzpatrick said: 'Due to insufficient funding from the Scottish Government the council has a budget gap of £35 million over the next three years, with us having to make nearly £12 million of savings this year alone. 'By 2028 the West Lothian Council will have had to make budget savings of over £207 million.' 'These are the stark facts, and the pain is felt across all Scottish councils. 'The gap between what funding we receive and what services we are expected to deliver is significant and it is an unsustainable situation. 'The growing demand for service set against a backdrop of insufficient levels of funding means we are at breaking point. Councils are in an impossible situation in terms of what is expected of us and the services we provide, and our ability to provide them.' Kenneth Ribbons, West Lothian's Interim Head of Finance and Property Services said:' The continuing financial crisis facing local government is of a magnitude never experienced before. 'Increases in Scottish Government funding fall well short of the funding required to stabilise finances as is the case with all Scottish Local Authorities. That is clearly highlighted by the Accounts Commission. 'The scale of the financial challenges are of such a level that this additional funding does not fully address the substantial and ever-increasing cost of delivering services to our local communities. This is particularly the case in relation to delivering health and social care services. 'COSLA has emphasised that the additional funding only provides a real terms protection and is not an increase that will reverse the impact of many years of budget reductions and flat cash settlements.' Councils across Scotland increased council tax for 2025-26 to help with their finances – with rises ranging from 6% in South Lanarkshire to 15.6% in Falkirk. In West Lothian Council Tax rose to 8.95% However, the Accounts Commission said higher bills for local people means 'there is greater expectation on the performance of local services'. Accounts Commission member Derek Yule warned of a 'growing expectation gap' for authorities. He said: 'Councils don't have enough money to meet current demand, at a time when local communities are being asked to contribute more through increases in council tax and charges for some services.' As a result, Mr Yule said 'councils need to provide clearer budget information and work with communities to determine how services will be delivered in the future' – although he added 'these conversations won't be easy'. Mr Yule also warned: 'With public finances tightening, however, not all cost increases faced by councils can be met by Government funding. 'Local action is needed now to find solutions to immediate and future financial challenges. This means difficult decisions on what services can be delivered and making major changes in how they are delivered.' The report also told how councils are due to make 'around £210 million of approved savings' in 2025-26, with this including £68 million of savings from corporate services and £58 million from children's services. Cosla resources spokesperson Councillor Katie Hagmann said the report was 'further evidence of the financial constraint under which councils are operating'. Ms Hagmann said: 'Despite an improved settlement for 2025-26, the stark reality is that local authorities continue to face persistent financial pressures that far outstrip the resources available to them. 'Rising inflation, increased costs resulting from higher employer national insurance contributions and pay, and ever-growing demand on vital services like social care are pushing local budgets to the breaking point. 'Councils have worked tirelessly to protect the services that matter most – such as schools, roads, housing, and supports for vulnerable people, to name but a few – yet the gap between what is needed and what is available continues to widen. 'Years of these mounting pressures have left councils with no alternative but to make extremely difficult decisions to close this year's budget gap of around £647 million.' Politicians of all stripes turned their fire on the SNP government in Holyrood following the Accounts Commission findings. The Scottish Government responded to criticism. A spokesperson said: 'This report confirms that the Scottish Government provided a real-terms increase in funding for local government in 2025-26, building on continued increases in recent years. 'The Scottish Government will continue to work in partnership with local government to address the challenges facing council budgets and ensure we are operating sustainable people centred public services that communities expect and deserve.' By Stuart Sommerville, Local Democracy Reporter Like this: Like Related
Edinburgh Live
22-05-2025
- Business
- Edinburgh Live
Warning West Lothian council's £35m budget black hole is 'unsustainable'
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info West Lothian Council's finance chief has warned the funding crisis facing the local authority is 'of a magnitude never experienced before.' The Accounts Commission today said watchdogs are warning local authorities will face 'difficult decisions on what services can be delivered' after reports Scottish council's face a near £1 billion black hole in the next two years. In West Lothian the budget gap is reportedly £35m - and the council leader said the situation is 'unsustainable'. West Lothian has had to cut more than £200m from its budgets since 2007. The Accounts Commission said for this year, the budget gap between the country's 32 local authorities stands at £647 million – up £52 million from 2024-25. This comes despite councils receiving £15.2 billion from the Scottish Government in the budget for 2025-26 – with the amount of cash rising by 6% in real-terms. The Accounts Commission said: 'Councils are currently anticipating a cumulative revenue budget gap of £997 million over the next two years.' The hike in employers' national insurance contributions is also impacting councils, with local government body Cosla saying this could cost £370 million a year – more than double the £144 million provided by the Scottish Government towards the rise. Council leader Lawrence Fitzpatrick said: 'Due to insufficient funding from the Scottish Government the council has a budget gap of £35 million over the next three years, with us having to make nearly £12 million of savings this year alone. "By 2028 the West Lothian Council will have had to make budget savings of over £207 million.' 'These are the stark facts and the pain is felt across all Scottish councils. 'The gap between what funding we receive and what services we are expected to deliver is significant and it is an unsustainable situation. 'The growing demand for service set against a backdrop of insufficient levels of funding means we are at breaking point. Councils are in an impossible situation in terms of what is expected of us and the services we provide, and our ability to provide them.' Kenneth Ribbons, West Lothian's Interim Head of Finance and Property Services said: 'The continuing financial crisis facing local government is of a magnitude never experienced before. "Increases in Scottish Government funding fall well short of the funding required to stabilise finances as is the case with all Scottish Local Authorities. That is clearly highlighted by the Accounts Commission. 'The scale of the financial challenges are of such a level that this additional funding does not fully address the substantial and ever increasing cost of delivering services to our local communities. This is particularly the case in relation to delivering health and social care services. "COSLA has emphasised that the additional funding only provides a real terms protection and is not an increase that will reverse the impact of many years of budget reductions and flat cash settlements.' Councils across Scotland increased council tax for 2025-26 to help with their finances – with rises ranging from 6% in South Lanarkshire to 15.6% in Falkirk. In West Lothian Council Tax rose to 8.95% However the Accounts Commission said higher bills for local people means 'there is greater expectation on the performance of local services'. Accounts Commission member Derek Yule warned of a 'growing expectation gap' for authorities. He said: 'Councils don't have enough money to meet current demand, at a time when local communities are being asked to contribute more through increases in council tax and charges for some services.' As a result, Mr Yule said 'councils need to provide clearer budget information and work with communities to determine how services will be delivered in the future' – although he added 'these conversations won't be easy'. Mr Yule also warned: 'With public finances tightening, however, not all cost increases faced by councils can be met by Government funding. 'Local action is needed now to find solutions to immediate and future financial challenges. This means difficult decisions on what services can be delivered and making major changes in how they are delivered.' The report also told how councils are due to make 'around £210 million of approved savings' in 2025-26, with this including £68 million of savings from corporate services and £58 million from children's services. Cosla resources spokesperson Councillor Katie Hagmann said the report was 'further evidence of the financial constraint under which councils are operating'. Ms Hagmann said: 'Despite an improved settlement for 2025-26, the stark reality is that local authorities continue to face persistent financial pressures that far outstrip the resources available to them. 'Rising inflation, increased costs resulting from higher employer national insurance contributions and pay, and ever-growing demand on vital services like social care are pushing local budgets to the breaking point. 'Councils have worked tirelessly to protect the services that matter most – such as schools, roads, housing, and supports for vulnerable people, to name but a few – yet the gap between what is needed and what is available continues to widen. 'Years of these mounting pressures have left councils with no alternative but to make extremely difficult decisions to close this year's budget gap of around £647 million.' Politicians of all stripes turned their fire on the SNP government in Holyrood following the Accounts Commission findings. The Scottish Government responded to criticism. A spokesperson said: 'This report confirms that the Scottish Government provided a real-terms increase in funding for local government in 2025-26, building on continued increases in recent years. 'The Scottish Government will continue to work in partnership with local government to address the challenges facing council budgets and ensure we are operating sustainable people centred public services that communities expect and deserve.'
