COSLA

COSLA have today published a new briefing covering why the Scottish 2025/26 Budget represents a missed opportunity to tackle social care issues. Read it here: bit.ly/3Ds4AU6 Comment from our Health & Social Care Spokesperson, Councillor Paul Kelly⬇️

COSLA's email bulletin for Elected Members has been published! In the latest bumper issue: - 2025/26 Scottish budget analysis from COSLA - UK-France Local Government Forum - The latest comment from our Spokespeople ...& much more! Read it here: https://lnkd.in/dagk4mqm

COSLA has released a new post-budget briefing covering the impact of the 2025/26 Scottish Budget for councils. Read the full briefing here: https://bit.ly/4iIxTlB #InvestLocally

Yesterday COSLA’s Health & Social Care Spokesperson, Councillor Paul Kelly, chaired the Mental Health & Wellbeing Strategy Leadership Board, welcoming discussion with Board Members on the progress and prioritisation of work aligned to COSLA and Scottish Government’s joint Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy and its associated delivery and action plans. Achieving the best possible mental health outcomes for our communities remains a key focus as we collectively progress this work. Find out more about the work of the Board: https://lnkd.in/dms72aFE

The Promise Progress Framework, published today by COSLA, The Scottish Government and The Promise Scotland pulls together data to help us understand progress being made to #KeepThePromise. Read more: https://lnkd.in/emJcm4ag #WeWillKeepThePromise

Great to see our Chief Executive Jane O'Donnell featured in Local Government Information Unit (LGIU)'s Words of Wisdom spotlight last week. Jane was interviewed by LGIU earlier this year. You can read the full interview here: https://zurl.co/MPjC

✨ Words of Wisdom Day 8 ✨ This December at LGIU, we are spotlighting some of the wisdom that has been shared throughout our 2024 interviews with key players in the local government sector. Next up is Jane O'Donnell Chief Executive of COSLA. Read Jane's full interview: https://zurl.co/MPjC

We were delighted to take part in the UK-France Local Government Forum held in Leeds last week. COSLA was represented by our President, Councillor Shona Morrison; Community Wellbeing Spokesperson, Councillor Maureen Chalmers, our Chief Executive, Jane O'Donnell, & COSLA's Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR) Representative, Councillor Gary Robinson.

Day 7 of our #DigitalPartnership 2024 highlights! We're thrilled to feature the Scotland - Wide Data Agreement with CACI Ltd 📊 COSLA secured access to CACI's Acorn and Paycheck products in October, with 23 Councils already participating in the first year of the agreement. This initiative aims to build on the experience of Councils who have already used this data to improve policy and planning decision-making and enable targeted interventions across Scotland using detailed demographic data. To ensure that Councils benefit from the Agreement, the Digital Office and CACI are working in partnership to help councils with the adoption of the data, create shared learning, and to identify opportunities for Councils to work together to use the data to improve outcomes associated with Scottish Local Government’s key policies and priorities. Councillor Katie Hagmann, COSLA Resources Spokesperson (Finance, Employers and Digital) "The Scotland-Wide Data Agreement demonstrates the power of partnership working to deliver real benefits for local authorities across Scotland. Given the context of increasing demand and expectations on local government, alongside limited budgets and resources, this initiative equips councils with the tools they need to make smarter, more informed decisions, target interventions effectively, and ultimately improve the lives of the people and communities we serve." Dr Colin Birchenall, Chief Technology Officer, Digital Office for Scottish Local Government: “The availability of this data has the potential to improve outcomes for the people of Scotland. This initiative illustrates how improved access to data can help councils to improve policy and planning decision-making, enable more targeted interventions, make more efficient use of resources, and ultimately improve the wellbeing of our communities.” Find out more: https://ow.ly/vyLq50UnMTS

2024 has been an incredible year for the Digital Telecare Programme! 🎉 For day 6 of our #DigitalPartnership highlights, we're celebrating the dedication and hard work of everyone involved. Check out our latest blog to explore how the Housing Programme is helping Housing Associations prepare for the analogue to digital transition. Read now ➡️ bit.ly/3OCi0PV