“Urgent, collective and collaborative action is required in order to ensure a just transition to net-zero. “If we all play our part, Scotland can show the rest of the world how it’s done – and ensure our people, businesses and communities can benefit from a greener, more sustainable economy. “By capitalising on our strengths in energy, natural capital, innovation, and our skilled workforce, we can be at the forefront of growing global low carbon markets in the future. “The Green Growth Accelerator illustrates how, working together across government, business and communities, we can capitalise on the economic, environmental and social benefits that our journey to net-zero present.”
Financial sustainability of Scots councils at risk without funding rethink, warns audit body SCOTLAND S local authorities face a clear risk to their financial sustainability without a radical shake-up in the way they are funded. That is the stark view of the public spending watchdog which says the 32 Scottish councils which run many of our services from education to dustbin collections need the certainty of a multi-year financial settlement from the Scottish Government so they can make proper planning. Presently the Scottish Government provides funding on an annual basis to local authorities, which employs 206,000 people and has an annual spending budget of £12.6bn to provided services for the nation.
STRIKINGLY absent from the Holyrood election debate was any discussion about the perilous financial state of councils in Scotland.
The diminution of debate in Scotland to the primacy of Yes v No on independence has seen this situation faced by all councils ignored in favour of polarised, petty invective.
This saw SNP MSPs pose for photo opportunities outside Maryhill public library protesting against SNP-run Glasgow City Council’s arms-length company Glasgow Life, which plans to close five libraries, 11 community halls and centres, three museums, along with 40 sports fields and gyms.
Glasgow Life can no longer afford to run these venues. Showing that they have read their Orwell they said that the venues were “not currently scheduled to reopen.”