Workers say local authorities no longer give ‘quality services’

Almost three in five council employees believe the local authority they work for no long provides quality services, with the same number also believing their council does not make the right decisions for the public.

A survey of more than 2,000 local government workers in Scotland by the trade union Unison found 82% said cuts to budgets had a negative impact on their ability to do their job.

More than two thirds (68%) of those questioned said local residents did not receive help and support when they needed it, while 51% were not confident that vulnerable people are safe and cared for.

Council workers identified a lack of front line staff (69%), adult social care (59%), safeguarding children and young people (41%), a lack of housing options (43%) and road repairs (46%) as being the biggest challenges facing local authorities in Scotland.

A total of 57% of those who took part in survey, which was released to coincide with the union’s local government conference, said they no longer believe their authority provides quality services, with the same proportion saying they did not think the council they work for takes the right decisions for the public.

Seven out of 10 workers (70%) were worried about the financial situation of the council, with 74% saying jobs had been cut in their department.