Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 26 February 2026 [Draft]
26 Feb 2026 · S6 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Local Government Finance (Scotland) Order 2026
As I rise to speak to this year’s local government finance order, I cannot but reflect on the parlous position that this SNP Government has put councils of all political persuasions in by the decisions that it has taken. Right across Scotland, the financial position that councils face is dire and set to worsen. Red lights are flashing on risk registers right across the country.
The order allocates funding to Scotland’s 32 councils and sets the financial limits within which council services must operate. Unfortunately, given the severity of the financial position that local government faces, we cannot support the order this evening.
In the same item of business
The Presiding Officer (Alison Johnstone)
NPA
The next item of business is a debate on motion S6M-20733, in the name of Ivan McKee, on the Local Government Finance (Scotland) Order 2026. I would be grate...
The Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government (Shona Robison)
SNP
The motion for today’s debate on the Local Government Finance (Scotland) Order 2026 seeks the Parliament’s approval of the guaranteed allocations of revenue ...
Craig Hoy (South Scotland) (Con)
Con
What does the cabinet secretary say to the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities, which argues that many of the baselined funds still come with clear requ...
Shona Robison
SNP
Many of those specific national priorities are exactly the things that we, as ministers, are asked about in the chamber by Craig Hoy, his colleagues and othe...
Craig Hoy
Con
Made a request to intervene.
Shona Robison
SNP
I would be delighted to take an intervention if I could get the time back.
The Presiding Officer
NPA
You can.
Craig Hoy
Con
I am sorry—I did not mean to press the button.
Shona Robison
SNP
Oh, that is such a shame. I was hoping that there would be an intervention.I should also stress that council tax is lower in Scotland than everywhere else. A...
Craig Hoy
Con
If, as the cabinet secretary says, this is a reasonable settlement, why did Scottish National Party-run North Ayrshire Council yesterday propose a 12 per cen...
Shona Robison
SNP
To be accurate, the council tax that the council then set was 8.5 per cent.I am really glad that Craig Hoy intervened, because it gives me the opportunity to...
Craig Hoy
Con
They are rural areas.
Shona Robison
SNP
There are other rural authorities that do not have double-figure increases.I must move on. The Government recognises the financial challenges that local auth...
Craig Hoy (South Scotland) (Con)
Con
As I rise to speak to this year’s local government finance order, I cannot but reflect on the parlous position that this SNP Government has put councils of a...
Shona Robison
SNP
I want to ensure that Craig Hoy understands that, if the order were not to go through—as per the Tories voting against it and, presumably, wanting everyone e...
Craig Hoy
Con
I suspect that Shona Robison’s new-found friends in the Liberal Democrats and Labour will agree to the order, which is why we will abstain on a point of prin...
Mark Griffin (Central Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
The Local Government Finance (Scotland) Order 2026 may be presented by the Scottish Government as a success, but the reality for local authorities is far mor...
Ariane Burgess (Highlands and Islands) (Green)
Green
The order may look technical, but it goes to the heart of whether councils can keep schools open, social care running, bins collected and community facilitie...
Jamie Greene (West Scotland) (LD)
LD
I am going to stick to facts and figures today rather than some of the politics of local government funding, and I say that as a member of the Public Audit C...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
I call the minister to wind up the debate.17:28
The Minister for Public Finance (Ivan McKee)
SNP
The Local Government Finance (Scotland) Order 2026, which is before us for parliamentary approval today, means that, next year, the Scottish Government will ...