Scottish executive angers councils

The
Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (Cosla) has accused the
Scottish executive of showing “a lack of trust” over its proposals
to ring-fence the funding of free personal care.

While
welcoming free personal care, Cosla is critical of ring-fencing,
claiming that one-third of all the resources the Scottish executive
gives to councils have strings attached.

Cosla is
calling for an urgent meeting with the executive to discuss real
partnership arrangements.

The
Cosla statement came on the day that first minister Henry McLeish
announced that the executive intended to support all the
recommendations of the care development group with a package worth
£125m for the first year.