Browsing Tag
local authorities
15 posts
Claim Labour and Conservatives formed alliances in councils is Half True
Ferret Fact Service looks at a claim about Labour and Conservative co-operation on local councils in Scotland.
Councils spent £200m on profit-making residential care providers for children and young people
Scottish councils have given up to £200m to private firms to provide residential care for children and young people, despite promising to move away from the practice four years ago.
Scottish Government overturned 4 in 10 planning appeals last year
The Scottish Government has been accused of “stripping powers away” from councils after overturning four in ten planning…
Pretty vacant: Local authorities and tax havens own hundreds of empty properties
Local authorities own over 1,100 vacant properties in Scotland’s cities while real estate investors, tax haven firms and others are responsible for more than 500 high street vacancies.
Weed killer linked to cancer still used by every Scots council
Nearly every Scottish council is still using a weed killer linked to cancer and biodiversity loss, with new figures obtained by The Ferret showing that around 40,000 litres of the herbicide are being used across the country each year.
Council contracts with debt collectors worth up to £20m
Local authorities have been accused of issuing “escalating threats” to people behind on their council tax, after The Ferret found they have contracts worth up to £20m with debt collectors.
FFS explains: What powers do councils have?
Ferret Fact Service looks at what powers councils have, ahead of the upcoming local elections.
Thousands of disabled people left in unsuitable housing
Thousands of disabled Scots who applied for a funding grant to adapt their home are stuck in unsuitable housing.
Parents can still face thousands in nursery fees when deferring school for four-year-olds
Parents are calling for an end to the postcode lottery on funding for primary school deferral as figures show dozens were refused by councils last year.
