Give us cash to fund pay rises, say councils
COUNCILS have called for extra funding from the Scottish Government in future to cover public sector pay rises without having to cut services.
Ministers announced an end to the pay cap for public sector staff in their 2018-19 tax and spending plans.
A budget deal with the Scottish Greens means pay increases will now apply to 75 per cent of those employed in the public sector. The deal also won an additional £170million for local authorities.
However, council umbrella body Cosla said pay remains a major issue.
Resource spokeswoman Gail Macgregor said: “We acknowledge the additional resources secured into the settlement for this year following extensive lobbying by Cosla.
“However this will not negate all of the challenges we still face, the main one relates to pay for our workforce now the Scottish Government have set out public sector pay policy.
“This additional resource has to become built into the core of future budgets.”
Finance Secretary Derek Mackay said councils had received a “very fair” £10.7billion settlement. He said: “This delivers a real terms boost in revenue and capital funding.
“Councils have flexibility to increase council tax by up to three per cent. Taken together, this will mean councils have access to an additional £251 million that can be spent at their discretion, including on pay increases for their staff.”