http://www.lgcplus.com/RSS/Scotland_RSS.xml en-uk Scottish councils have backed down over imposing a three-year pay settlement, in the face of rising inflation. http://www.lgcplus.com:80/InthisweeksLGC/2008/08/cosla_uturn_on_pay.html;jsessionid=4E068FEA486AEC9926654BDF97A2F4C6 http://www.lgcplus.com:80/InthisweeksLGC/2008/08/cosla_uturn_on_pay.html;jsessionid=4E068FEA486AEC9926654BDF97A2F4C6 Louise Hunt 28 August 2008 08:01 http://www.lgcplus.com:80/images/cropped-demopaisley_resized_70_tcm16-1806937.jpg Local authority employers in Scotland have agreed to re-open talks over a pay deal for the country's council workers. http://www.lgcplus.com:80/News/2008/08/pay_deal_no_longer_three_years.html;jsessionid=4E068FEA486AEC9926654BDF97A2F4C6 http://www.lgcplus.com:80/News/2008/08/pay_deal_no_longer_three_years.html;jsessionid=4E068FEA486AEC9926654BDF97A2F4C6 Louise Hunt 22 August 2008 08:19 http://www.lgcplus.com:80/images/cropped-demopaisley_resized_70_tcm16-1806937.jpg Tens of thousands of local government workers in Scotland, members of three unions, have been on a 24-hour strike over pay. http://www.lgcplus.com:80/News/2008/08/council_workers_strike_in_scotland.html;jsessionid=4E068FEA486AEC9926654BDF97A2F4C6 http://www.lgcplus.com:80/News/2008/08/council_workers_strike_in_scotland.html;jsessionid=4E068FEA486AEC9926654BDF97A2F4C6 Louise Hunt 20 August 2008 08:33 http://www.lgcplus.com:80/images/Unison%20logo_resized_70_tcm16-111000.jpg Alex Salmond has announced £100m plans to accelerate affordable housing delivery as part of a wide-ranging package to help Scotland’s economy. http://www.lgcplus.com:80/News/2008/08/scots_accelerate_affordable_housing.html;jsessionid=4E068FEA486AEC9926654BDF97A2F4C6 http://www.lgcplus.com:80/News/2008/08/scots_accelerate_affordable_housing.html;jsessionid=4E068FEA486AEC9926654BDF97A2F4C6 David Blackman 20 August 2008 09:03 http://www.lgcplus.com:80/images/alex_salmond_resized_70_tcm16-1531977.jpg Troubled Aberdeen City Council is preparing to welcome an interim chief executive. http://www.lgcplus.com:80/News/2008/08/aberdeen_awaits_new_chief_exec.html;jsessionid=4E068FEA486AEC9926654BDF97A2F4C6 http://www.lgcplus.com:80/News/2008/08/aberdeen_awaits_new_chief_exec.html;jsessionid=4E068FEA486AEC9926654BDF97A2F4C6 Robin Latchem 13 August 2008 08:05 http://www.lgcplus.com:80/images/cropped-aberdeen-flats_resized_70_tcm16-1796459.jpg All three candidates for the Scottish Labour leadership are now reported to be backing an end to council tax and favouring a different form of property tax. http://www.lgcplus.com:80/News/2008/08/scottish_labour_cools_on_council_tax.html;jsessionid=4E068FEA486AEC9926654BDF97A2F4C6 http://www.lgcplus.com:80/News/2008/08/scottish_labour_cools_on_council_tax.html;jsessionid=4E068FEA486AEC9926654BDF97A2F4C6 Robin Latchem 11 August 2008 11:24 http://www.lgcplus.com:80/images/scottish%20flag_resized_70_tcm16-108710.jpg Drug related deaths in Scotland have jumped 8% to record levels. http://www.lgcplus.com:80/News/2008/08/scottish_drug_deaths_jump.html;jsessionid=4E068FEA486AEC9926654BDF97A2F4C6 http://www.lgcplus.com:80/News/2008/08/scottish_drug_deaths_jump.html;jsessionid=4E068FEA486AEC9926654BDF97A2F4C6 Simon Ellery 07 August 2008 12:11 http://www.lgcplus.com:80/images/drugs-syringe_resized_70_tcm16-822255.jpg Edinburgh City Council has unveiled plans for 1,100 homes - the first time the council has built any housing in 20 years. http://www.lgcplus.com:80/News/2008/08/edinburgh_to_build_1100_homes.html;jsessionid=4E068FEA486AEC9926654BDF97A2F4C6 http://www.lgcplus.com:80/News/2008/08/edinburgh_to_build_1100_homes.html;jsessionid=4E068FEA486AEC9926654BDF97A2F4C6 Simon Ellery 04 August 2008 12:57 http://www.lgcplus.com:80/images/Construction%20crane_resized_70_tcm16-159259.jpg Members of Unison in Scottish local government have voted resoundingly in favour of industrial action over this year's pay settlement, joining the colleagues at the GMB and Unite. http://www.lgcplus.com:80/News/2008/08/unison_joins_scottish_pay_fight.html;jsessionid=4E068FEA486AEC9926654BDF97A2F4C6 http://www.lgcplus.com:80/News/2008/08/unison_joins_scottish_pay_fight.html;jsessionid=4E068FEA486AEC9926654BDF97A2F4C6 Jim Dunton 01 August 2008 14:37 http://www.lgcplus.com:80/images/Unison%20logo_resized_70_tcm16-111000.jpg Unison and Unite have suspended their strike action over local government pay pending talks with employers. http://www.lgcplus.com:80/News/2008/07/unions_suspend_strike.html;jsessionid=4E068FEA486AEC9926654BDF97A2F4C6 http://www.lgcplus.com:80/News/2008/07/unions_suspend_strike.html;jsessionid=4E068FEA486AEC9926654BDF97A2F4C6 Jim Dunton 24 July 2008 14:23 http://www.lgcplus.com:80/images/Unison%20logo_resized_70_tcm16-111000.jpg Europe's largest onshore windfarm has been given the green light by the Scottish government. http://www.lgcplus.com:80/News/2008/07/plans_for_europes_largest_windfarm_cleared.html;jsessionid=4E068FEA486AEC9926654BDF97A2F4C6 http://www.lgcplus.com:80/News/2008/07/plans_for_europes_largest_windfarm_cleared.html;jsessionid=4E068FEA486AEC9926654BDF97A2F4C6 Simon Ellery 22 July 2008 12:24 http://www.lgcplus.com:80/images/wind%20turbine_resized_70_tcm16-151050.jpg Aberdeen City Council’s leader Kate Dean has rejected calls for her to resign. http://www.lgcplus.com:80/News/2008/07/dean_rejects_resignation_call.html;jsessionid=4E068FEA486AEC9926654BDF97A2F4C6 http://www.lgcplus.com:80/News/2008/07/dean_rejects_resignation_call.html;jsessionid=4E068FEA486AEC9926654BDF97A2F4C6 21 July 2008 15:46 http://www.lgcplus.com:80/images/kate_dean_cllr_resized_70_tcm16-1085506.jpg Aberdeen City Council faces finding £50m worth of cuts – almost double earlier estimates.  http://www.lgcplus.com:80/News/2008/07/aberdeen_has_to_make_50m_cuts.html;jsessionid=4E068FEA486AEC9926654BDF97A2F4C6 http://www.lgcplus.com:80/News/2008/07/aberdeen_has_to_make_50m_cuts.html;jsessionid=4E068FEA486AEC9926654BDF97A2F4C6 Simon Ellery 18 July 2008 15:18 http://www.lgcplus.com:80/images/aberdeen_logo_resized_70_tcm16-1228760.jpg Tax experts have attacked Alex Salmon’s plans to replace council tax with a local income tax. http://www.lgcplus.com:80/News/2008/07/experts_attack_scottish_income_tax.html;jsessionid=4E068FEA486AEC9926654BDF97A2F4C6 http://www.lgcplus.com:80/News/2008/07/experts_attack_scottish_income_tax.html;jsessionid=4E068FEA486AEC9926654BDF97A2F4C6 Simon Ellery 14 July 2008 11:21 http://www.lgcplus.com:80/images/moneycoins_resized_70_tcm16-149043.jpg Aberdeen City Council is hiring a troubleshooter to overhaul its social services. http://www.lgcplus.com:80/News/2008/07/aberdeen_to_hire_social_work_expertise.html;jsessionid=4E068FEA486AEC9926654BDF97A2F4C6 http://www.lgcplus.com:80/News/2008/07/aberdeen_to_hire_social_work_expertise.html;jsessionid=4E068FEA486AEC9926654BDF97A2F4C6 Simon Ellery 07 July 2008 11:54 http://www.lgcplus.com:80/images/aberdeen_logo_resized_70_tcm16-1228760.jpg Aberdeenshire Council is hunting for a new chief executive after long-standing incumbent Alan Campbell announced his resignation. http://www.lgcplus.com:80/News/2008/06/aberdeenshire_chief_resigns.html;jsessionid=4E068FEA486AEC9926654BDF97A2F4C6 http://www.lgcplus.com:80/News/2008/06/aberdeenshire_chief_resigns.html;jsessionid=4E068FEA486AEC9926654BDF97A2F4C6 Simon Ellery 27 June 2008 10:24 http://www.lgcplus.com:80/images/alan_campbell_resized_70_tcm16-1654795.jpg Unite  members are to join Unison  colleagues in two days of strike action that threatens to shut down local government next month. http://www.lgcplus.com:80/News/2008/06/strike_numbers_swell_as_unite_joins.html;jsessionid=4E068FEA486AEC9926654BDF97A2F4C6 http://www.lgcplus.com:80/News/2008/06/strike_numbers_swell_as_unite_joins.html;jsessionid=4E068FEA486AEC9926654BDF97A2F4C6 Simon Ellery 27 June 2008 09:29 http://www.lgcplus.com:80/images/uniteLogo_resized_70_tcm16-108652.gif The Scottish Government has announced plans to tackle the housing credit crunch crisis. http://www.lgcplus.com:80/News/2008/06/brace_of_housing_plans_in_scotland.html;jsessionid=4E068FEA486AEC9926654BDF97A2F4C6 http://www.lgcplus.com:80/News/2008/06/brace_of_housing_plans_in_scotland.html;jsessionid=4E068FEA486AEC9926654BDF97A2F4C6 Simon Ellery 26 June 2008 11:47 http://www.lgcplus.com:80/images/property%20tax_resized_70_tcm16-195419.jpg John Swinney has promised to cut by a quarter the number of public service inspectorates operating north of the border. http://www.lgcplus.com:80/News/2008/06/scotland_to_axe_inspection_bodies.html;jsessionid=4E068FEA486AEC9926654BDF97A2F4C6 http://www.lgcplus.com:80/News/2008/06/scotland_to_axe_inspection_bodies.html;jsessionid=4E068FEA486AEC9926654BDF97A2F4C6 David Blackman 24 June 2008 09:07 http://www.lgcplus.com:80/images/John-Swinney_resized_70_tcm16-613808.jpg Glasgow City Council has come under attack for its argument to reject the proposed local income tax. http://www.lgcplus.com:80/News/2008/06/glasgows_case_to_reject_new_tax_slammed.html;jsessionid=4E068FEA486AEC9926654BDF97A2F4C6 http://www.lgcplus.com:80/News/2008/06/glasgows_case_to_reject_new_tax_slammed.html;jsessionid=4E068FEA486AEC9926654BDF97A2F4C6 Simon Ellery 20 June 2008 11:23 Local government craft workers in Scotland have suspended strike action following an agreement by a clutch of councils agreed to demands to cut the working week. http://www.lgcplus.com:80/News/2008/06/scottish_rolling_strike_suspended.html;jsessionid=4E068FEA486AEC9926654BDF97A2F4C6 http://www.lgcplus.com:80/News/2008/06/scottish_rolling_strike_suspended.html;jsessionid=4E068FEA486AEC9926654BDF97A2F4C6 Simon Ellery 16 June 2008 12:00 http://www.lgcplus.com:80/images/uniteLogo_resized_70_tcm16-108652.gif Scottish council chiefs have met the Scottish cabinet for the first time and thrashed out a deal to deter future threats to individual authorities. http://www.lgcplus.com:80/News/2008/06/deal_to_protect_scottish_councils.html;jsessionid=4E068FEA486AEC9926654BDF97A2F4C6 http://www.lgcplus.com:80/News/2008/06/deal_to_protect_scottish_councils.html;jsessionid=4E068FEA486AEC9926654BDF97A2F4C6 Simon Ellery 12 June 2008 12:08 http://www.lgcplus.com:80/images/alex_salmond_resized_70_tcm16-1531977.jpg Scottish first minister Alex Salmond has stepped into the increasingly acrimonious accounts post mortem at Aberdeen City Council . http://www.lgcplus.com:80/News/2008/06/salmond_steps_in_at_aberdeen.html;jsessionid=4E068FEA486AEC9926654BDF97A2F4C6 http://www.lgcplus.com:80/News/2008/06/salmond_steps_in_at_aberdeen.html;jsessionid=4E068FEA486AEC9926654BDF97A2F4C6 Simon Ellery 10 June 2008 12:37 http://www.lgcplus.com:80/images/alex_salmond_resized_70_tcm16-1531977.jpg Auditors have told Aberdeen City Council to appoint an outside expert to oversee its finances after public hearings last month revealed the council’s reserves were nearly exhausted. http://www.lgcplus.com:80/InthisweeksLGC/2008/06/aberdeen_called_to_account.html;jsessionid=4E068FEA486AEC9926654BDF97A2F4C6 http://www.lgcplus.com:80/InthisweeksLGC/2008/06/aberdeen_called_to_account.html;jsessionid=4E068FEA486AEC9926654BDF97A2F4C6 Mark Smulian 04 June 2008 16:35 http://www.lgcplus.com:80/images/aberdeen_logo_resized_70_tcm16-1228760.jpg Audit Scotland has identified almost £10m worth of fraud and errors across public bodies including councils. http://www.lgcplus.com:80/News/2008/05/audit_scotland_ids_10m_of_fraud.html;jsessionid=4E068FEA486AEC9926654BDF97A2F4C6 http://www.lgcplus.com:80/News/2008/05/audit_scotland_ids_10m_of_fraud.html;jsessionid=4E068FEA486AEC9926654BDF97A2F4C6 Simon Ellery 15 May 2008 11:13 http://www.lgcplus.com:80/images/moneycoins_resized_70_tcm16-149043.jpg