Councils and trade unions hit out against 'top down' local government reform

Council leaders and trade unions have hit out against “top down” reforms from the Scottish Government.

Councils body Cosla and trade unions representing the local government workforce – Unison, GMB and Unite – say the plans are creating “uncertainty” for workers, with major factors like the future of jobs still unknown.

Ministers plan to create a new local government system, merging the existing 32 councils to create six to 10 regional authorities presiding over areas like housing, transport and education. These will be accompanied by up to 160 smaller, more localised bodies responsible for issues like licensing and leisure.

The government has said the shift – part of broader public service reforms – will “improve the delivery of public services and maximise the efficient use of public spending”.

Ministers have set out a three-month window for discussions on future of local government, but there has been criticism over the lack of detail on proposals, which come ahead of the May 2027 council elections.

In a joint statement, Cosla and the three unions have called for “realism” about the time the change would take and urged ministers not to impose a “top down” approach.

The move comes one day before the leaders of all Scottish councils meet for crunch talks.

The statement said: “Reform must start with outcomes, not structures, and must be underpinned by a strong evidence base and a meaningful engagement process. Close involvement of the workforce, recognised trade unions, and local authority employers must be central to this. Change cannot be imposed from the top down, but must be informed by the voices of those who truly understand the realities of delivering local services.

“There is also a need for realism about timescales: radical reform of local structures, services, and workforces is incredibly complex and would require detailed planning and many years of sustained work alongside significant resource.”

It goes on: “Local government has borne the brunt of cuts over many years, and workforce capacity has not kept pace with rising demand for services. If we are to create public services which can meet the needs of communities now and in future, reform must be matched with the investment required to support long-term sustainability.

 “Cosla and the local government trade unions, as representatives of our vital workforce, stand ready to engage meaningfully and constructively with the Scottish Government as key equal partners in any proposed reform.”

Commenting on the statement, Cosla resource spokesperson Kelly Parry, who is also the leader of Midlothian Council, said: “Public service reform must be evidence-based and underpinned by meaningful engagement with the local government workforce, realism about timescales and the complexities of reform, and the investment required to support the long-term sustainability of services. 

“Our joint message as local government employers and trade unions is clear and we stand ready to engage constructively with the Scottish Government as equal partners.” 

The Scottish Government has said carrying out the change would mean “careful assessment” and engagement with partners on practical issues around workforce, service delivery, and implementation.

A spokesperson said: “Public service reform will help to ensure investment is focused on frontline delivery to empower communities and deliver real improvements in public services. Some decision-making is best delivered at national level and regional level while others better sit closer to communities and we must get that balance right.

“Our proposals provide a starting point to facilitate debate during three months of dialogue with partners, including councils and trade unions, to inform the next steps. No decisions have been taken on future structures. Once formal reform proposals are developed, appropriate consultation will follow in the usual manner.”