Welfare reforms and rising populations could result in cuts to core local authority services and compulsory job losses, council officials have warned.
Tightening budgets combined with the introduction of a new Universal Credit benefit system mean councils are entering “the territory of making hard decisions”, Holyrood’s Local Government Committee has been told.
The committee was taking evidence on the impact of the Scottish Government’s draft budget for 2014/15 from representatives from Aberdeen City, Midlothian and Falkirk councils.
Also addressing the committee was Unison Scottish organiser Dave Watson. He told MSPs that local authorities had borne the brunt of budget cuts, while spending on day-to-day services was suffering because of the focus on capital spending.
This meant councils were increasing less able to carry out the kind of preventative work they had previously been able to do.
In some parts of Scotland it is a “luxury” if home care staff have 15 minutes to spend looking after someone, Mr Watson added.
