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| Cosla urges councils to reject Scottish government funding deal | Cosla urges councils to reject Scottish government funding deal |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The group representing many of Scotland's councils has urged them to reject the Scottish government's funding settlement offer. | The group representing many of Scotland's councils has urged them to reject the Scottish government's funding settlement offer. |
| Council leaders on the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities voted by 21 to 7 to reject the "unacceptable" deal. | Council leaders on the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities voted by 21 to 7 to reject the "unacceptable" deal. |
| The motion said the Scottish government's approach was "wholly misguided" and "threatens grievous injury" to communities and citizens. | The motion said the Scottish government's approach was "wholly misguided" and "threatens grievous injury" to communities and citizens. |
| Finance secretary John Swinney called the offer "challenging but fair". | Finance secretary John Swinney called the offer "challenging but fair". |
| Councils have until 9 February to respond to the settlement offer. | Councils have until 9 February to respond to the settlement offer. |
| All councils in the Cosla grouping which are not run by the SNP united against the deal, with some looking at the possibility of a legal challenge. | All councils in the Cosla grouping which are not run by the SNP united against the deal, with some looking at the possibility of a legal challenge. |
| Scotland's four other councils which are not part of Cosla also met, and are exploring whether the terms of the deal being offered are legal. | Scotland's four other councils which are not part of Cosla also met, and are exploring whether the terms of the deal being offered are legal. |
| 'Horrendous sanctions' | 'Horrendous sanctions' |
| The funding package on offer prioritises maintaining the council tax freeze, which has been in place since 2007, with any councils which break it facing a loss of Scottish government funding. | The funding package on offer prioritises maintaining the council tax freeze, which has been in place since 2007, with any councils which break it facing a loss of Scottish government funding. |
| However, some councils are considering raising taxes anyway in the face of budget pressures. | However, some councils are considering raising taxes anyway in the face of budget pressures. |
| Talks have been taking place between Mr Swinney and council leaders, with the deadline for the deal to be accepted repeatedly pushed back. | Talks have been taking place between Mr Swinney and council leaders, with the deadline for the deal to be accepted repeatedly pushed back. |
| Following a meeting of Cosla in Edinburgh, president David O'Neill announced the grouping had rejected the funding package as "totally unacceptable and an attack on our democratic mandate". | Following a meeting of Cosla in Edinburgh, president David O'Neill announced the grouping had rejected the funding package as "totally unacceptable and an attack on our democratic mandate". |
| He said: "The Scottish government is basically forcing individual councils into having to accept the deal. | He said: "The Scottish government is basically forcing individual councils into having to accept the deal. |
| "Sadly, I fully accept that individual councils, due to the horrendous sanctions they would face, will find that they have no other option but to give in to central direction on this occasion. | "Sadly, I fully accept that individual councils, due to the horrendous sanctions they would face, will find that they have no other option but to give in to central direction on this occasion. |
| "In imposing the deal on individual councils, the most vulnerable in our communities will be left to pick up the pieces." | "In imposing the deal on individual councils, the most vulnerable in our communities will be left to pick up the pieces." |
| The motion accepted by Cosla said the deal would see council budgets slashed by £350m, and would be "undeliverable without an unacceptable level of cuts to services and staffing". | The motion accepted by Cosla said the deal would see council budgets slashed by £350m, and would be "undeliverable without an unacceptable level of cuts to services and staffing". |
| Trade union GMB Scotland has claimed 8,785 local authority jobs are under threat due to budget cuts, and is planning a rally outside the Scottish Parliament next week. | |
| 'Held to ransom' | 'Held to ransom' |
| Jenny Laing, leader of Aberdeen City Council, which is not part of Cosla, said the relationship between the Scottish government and councils was "broken". | |
| Speaking after the Scottish Local Government Partnership met in Glasgow, she said: "This is the most significant grant cut ever applied to local government. | Speaking after the Scottish Local Government Partnership met in Glasgow, she said: "This is the most significant grant cut ever applied to local government. |
| "And when we've carried out our civic duty to question the settlement on behalf of our residents, we've been held to ransom by the Scottish government's attempt to control decisions which should be made by democratically-elected representatives." | "And when we've carried out our civic duty to question the settlement on behalf of our residents, we've been held to ransom by the Scottish government's attempt to control decisions which should be made by democratically-elected representatives." |
| She said the group was "seeking legal advice" on the matter. | She said the group was "seeking legal advice" on the matter. |
| Scottish Labour and the Lib Dems said it was now time for Mr Swinney to "re-think" the deal on the table. | Scottish Labour and the Lib Dems said it was now time for Mr Swinney to "re-think" the deal on the table. |
| Mr Swinney has said he is "absolutely committed to continuing a positive, collaborative relationship" with local authorities. | Mr Swinney has said he is "absolutely committed to continuing a positive, collaborative relationship" with local authorities. |
| He said the deal on offer was "challenging but fair", highlighting £250m of investment in integrating health and social care. | He said the deal on offer was "challenging but fair", highlighting £250m of investment in integrating health and social care. |
| He said: "The funding proposals I have set out for local government will protect our shared priorities and deliver practical financial support to increase the pace of reform and improve public services - I would urge councils to take up this offer." | He said: "The funding proposals I have set out for local government will protect our shared priorities and deliver practical financial support to increase the pace of reform and improve public services - I would urge councils to take up this offer." |