New councillors face service ‘challenges’
COUNCILLORS elected in May will face “major challenges” to maintain the service levels of cashstrapped local authorities, a report has warned.
Public spending watchdogs at the Accounts Commission said councils had “faced significant challenges from a decline in revenue funding and from an ageing and growing population”, adding “the scale of the challenges continues to grow”.
Local authorities have seen staff numbers fall by seven per cent over the past five years – the equivalent of 15,100 full-time posts – with most councils having to cut their workforce to help them reduce costs.
The Commission’s latest local government overview said funding from the Scottish Government has been reduced by 9.2 per cent in real terms since 2010-11.
The report said: “Councils are responding to the challenges by continuing to adopt alternative ways of working, reducing the level of service they provide and reviewing fees and charges.
“While some councils are making good progress in managing services, others are not.”
COSLA president councillor David O’Neill said: “The truth is that over 2016-17 and 2017-18, local government have seen a £550million reduction in their settlement and that is the budget reality.
“Councils are doing all they can to mitigate the impact of these cuts on communities.”