Highland Council supports Cosla’s funding call on Scottish Government

Highland Council’s Leader, Cllr Margaret Davidson is echoing Cosla’s call on the Scottish Government in their report ‘Respect our communities: Protect our funding’ published today (Tuesday 26 January).

Cllr Davidson said: “COSLA (Convention of Local Authorities) is highlighting to Scottish Government: the costs of COVID-19 to local councils and the need for these to be met. We also need  flexibility on how the budget allocated to councils is spent and; an increased budget allocation to address the reduction in funding over recent settlements.

“As an independent led administration of The Highland Council, we support Cosla’s findings highlighting  significant additional pressures due to Covid-19. That is absolutely the position we are experiencing in Highland region.”

She added: “Since March last year our hard working staff have responded magnificently to the COVID-directed funds made available and they – along with our  inspirational community groups, have performed outstandingly on getting that money out where it is needed.

“But while there has been a large increase in Government funding this has been ring-fenced and local authorities have experienced a reduction in core funding which is the money that keeps our waste collections going, our potholes filled and our vulnerable children and older people safe.  At the same time actual costs and need have grown. That is where the squeeze is showing in Highland.

"It is for these reasons that I support Cosla’s call on the Scottish Government and why I have written to the Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Kate Forbes MSP this week to ask for fair funding for 2021/22 that respects our communities and echo Cosla’s stance that without this, there will be further cuts to services, reductions in spending locally, increases in the inequalities exposed by the pandemic and a much slower recovery.”