Scottish Local Government Finance Leaders Call for Reform to the Scottish Budget Setting Process

LONDON, May 2 — The Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy issued the following news release:

A multi-year approach to financial planning, greater transparency and evidence-based funding allocations must be foremost in the Scottish Government's review of its budget process, according to the CIPFA Scottish Local Government Directors of Finance Section (the Section) and Solace Scotland.

In response to the Budget Process Review Group's consultation, the Section, which comprises of directors of finance for Scottish councils, and Solace Scotland have also urged Holyrood to ensure an outcomes-based approach and to address the limited opportunities for thorough scrutiny, particularly following the implementation of the Fiscal Framework.

Chair of the Section and Director of Finance for Highland Council, Derek Yule, said: “This is an important opportunity to put in place the building blocks for a sustainable, fully scrutinised and outcomes-based budget-setting process. The current process does not adequately support longer term planning or appropriate scrutiny and we urge the Scottish Parliament and the Scottish Government to act on our recommendations as part of its review.”