COUNCILS in Scotland are at “breaking point” as the Scottish government’s draft budget leaves no cash for reform, local authority leaders warned today.

The Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (Cosla) warned that councils across the country stand on the brink of financial meltdown, but hopes for a cash injection were dashed in December’s budget statement.

Scottish government finance secretary Shona Robison’s promise of £144 million to fund a council tax freeze was met with alarm by Cosla, which said it falls short of the true cost.

Cosla said the Scottish government’s internal costs had increased by £40 million across capital and day-to-day spending.

A statement from the umbrella group said: “The 2024-25 budget shows a clear difference between the treatment of local government and other public bodies, with local government disproportionately impacted by cuts.

“A person-centred reform agenda based on prevention needs to be driven locally, where people are closest to and can take part in the decisions that affect them the most.

“Council leaders will not let this lie, they simply cannot afford to because it will have such a detrimental impact on the communities they represent.”