COSLA

ALT COSLA President Cllr Shona Morrison and Vice President Cllr Steven Heddle against a white background. The title reads "Public Service Reform Must Start with Outcomes, Not Structures." The text explains that Council Leaders today called for the Scottish Government to work with councils on future reforms to local services and COSLA agreed a vision for public service reform.

ALT Councillor Paul Kelly in a black suit and red tie with the text "COSLA's Health and Social Care Board met this morning to discuss Local Government's own vision for social care." A white COSLA logo in the top right corner.

ALT A dark purple background with the text "Today's meeting of the Health and Social Care Board outlined COSLA has its own vision for social care, centred on local democratic accountability, partnership working, and ensuring services are designed around the needs of communities. We are now discussing these proposals with the Scottish Government." Councillor Paul Kelly, COSLA Health and Social Care Spokesperson.

ALT The Scottish Parliament with the title "Tackling Poverty Through Public Service Reform. How an outcomes-based Public Service Reform Programme could accelerate work to reduce poverty in Scotland." A white COSLA logo in the top right corner.

ALT A purple floral background with the title "Building upon local successes." Three paragraphs highlight the clear evidence of local innovation, increasingly sophisticated use of data and close partnership working. Images of a lightbulb, a graph and hands holding jigsaw pieces accompany the text.

ALT A purple background with the title "We know more has to be done". Three bullet points note that: despite a slight fall in the overall poverty rate, progress remains tentative and fragile; on current forecasts, child poverty targets will be missed; poverty remains entrenched in priority groups. A purple pie chart shows this includes "47% of children in minority ethnic families growing up in poverty."

ALT A purple brick wall with the title "Outcomes-based public service reform". Three paragraphs note: we must accelerate work to tackle poverty; this will require a fully funded Local Government, building on local success; and public service reform must put outcomes first, learning from those who deliver services. Three images of an increasing graph, two people helping each other up and three people in a group accompany the text.

ALT A light purple background with portraits of Councillor Aengus O'Rourke - wearing a grey suit and white shirt - and Tommy Moylan - wearing a blue suit, white shirt and striped tie - from the Association of Irish Local Government. The text reads "COSLA Conference 2026. Perspective from Local Government in Ireland. 19 November." A dark purple COSLA logo in the top right corner.

ALT Group of nine adults including Paul kelly standing indoors at a community event promoting Healthy n Happy in Scotland.

ALT "Every suicide is a tragedy that has a profound impact on families, friends, and communities. Today, our thoughts are with everyone affected by suicide. Suicide prevention is everyone's business, and we all have a role to play. COSLA and the Scottish Government are determined to deliver on our national suicide prevention strategy, Creating Hope Together which aims to reduce suicide while addressing the wider factors that can increase suicide risk.”

ALT A teacher presenting to students in a classroom. The title reads "Public service reform must consider workforce impacts and meaningfully engage staff. How the workforce could be impacted by the Scottish Government’s proposals to reorganise councils and why trade unions, staff, and employers must be meaningfully involved." A white COSLA logo in the top right corner.

ALT A gritter clearing a snowy road. The title reads "Local Government Workforce: Key Facts". Four paragraphs highlight key facts about the number of people employed by councils, the services council staff deliver, how terms and conditions work for council employees and the pressures facing councils in recent years. Four images accompany the text showing a handshake, hands holding a house, a document and a graph.

ALT A group of people working outside. The title reads "Public Service Reform: Considering the workforce impacts". Four purple arrows with text highlighting the complexity of reorganising councils, the questions that remain unanswered in Scottish Government proposals, the need for workforce, Trade Unions and employers to play a central role in shaping reform, and the need for any changes to be underpinned by Fair Work principles and limit uncertainty for workers.

ALT A purple background with the title "What next? COSLA and our trade union partners are calling for." Three images showing people conversing, a document and a clock, and a hand holding money, accompany key points about meaningful engagement with the workforce, a realistic approach to timescales and understanding of reform, and investment to support long-term sustainability of services. Councillor Kelly Parry's joint statement with UNISON, UNITE and GMB is linked: www.cosla.gov.uk/news.

ALT A dark purple background with the title "COSLA Elected Member Bulletin". Followed by four light purple bubbles highlighting four key points from the bulletin: Emerging Public Service Reform Proposals, COSLA Conference 2026, Elected Member Webinar: Budget Lobbying and Local Government Workforce" followed by the text "and lots more!"

ALT Image of Cllr Kelly Parry with white COSLA logo and text COSLA and Local Government trade unions, UNISON, UNITE and the GMB issue a statement on Public Service Reform.

ALT Purple slide with white cosla logo and quote from Councillor Kelly Parry: “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. "

ALT Photo of Councillor Kelly Parry wearing a grey suit in a Scottish Parliament committee room with the title "COSLA responds to the UK Government’s Budget Announcement. Councillor Kelly Parry, COSLA Resources Spokesperson."

ALT A light purple background with the title "COSLA Conference 2026. Masterclass: Fair Work and Local Government. 19 November." With photos of: Dawn Roberts, Chief Executive, Dumfries & Galloway Council; Professor Patricia Findlay, University of Strathclyde; and Peter Hunter, UNISON." The COSLA logo is in the top right corner in purple.

ALT Detailed floor plan of an exhibition hall showing numbered exhibitor booths, coffee stations, and key locations with a list of exhibitors on the right.

ALT A purple background with a photo of Councillor Steven Heddle and the text "The European Charter of Local Self Government gives us a clear test for Public Service Reform: does it put communities first? Scottish Ministers now have a legal duty to act compatibly with the Charter, and, while the First Minister has made clear that COSLA will be a key partner throughout the reform process, underpinned by the Act, that must be reflected in how change is designed and delivered."