'Severe consequences' warning for council funding cuts

The Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (Cosla) has said that any more cuts to local government funding will result in "severe consequences" for jobs across the country.

Speaking in advance of the Scottish Government laying out its spending plans for next year, Cosla president and Councillor David O'Neill said that certain "political choices" which lead to job cuts would have a "detrimental" impact on local economies and communities.

In November, a forecast by the Accounts Commission predicted that Scotland's councils could be facing a shortfall of more than £550 million in just two years' time.

In October, Labour-controlled Dumfries and Galloway Council warned it was having to make savings of £20 million for 2017/18, and opened a public consultation to consider which services it should axe.

In response to the comments, a Scottish Government spokeswoman said: