Budget deal for local councils is fair, insists Finance Secretary
Finance Secretary Kate Forbes insisted the cash settlement for local councils is fair (PA)
Finance Secretary Kate Forbes has insisted the cash settlement for councils in next year’s Budget is fair – despite claims that she is “short-changing” local government.
Ms Forbes was pressed on the issue after local government body Cosla claimed councils are not getting enough cash to fully fund the Scottish Government’s public pay policy.
Cosla resources spokeswoman Gail Macgregor also warned that if the additional money authorities will receive is not maintained, Scots could be facing a council tax hike of 6% in 2022-23.