Scotland's councils face a financially uncertain future, with significant challenges.

In real terms, funding to councils has decreased since 2013/14, by a greater amount than any other area of the Scottish budget.

Increasing amounts of council funding is ring-fenced to meet Scottish Government priorities. 

And this limits the flexibility of councils to determine how best to spend their money.

At the same time demand for council services is increasing. 

Councils are also addressing long-standing pressures, many of which have deepened since Covid-19. 

Councils urgently need certainty of funding, beyond the current one-year settlements from the Scottish Government.