That is one of the key messages from South Lanarkshire Council following a call for input from the Scottish Parliament ahead of the next Scottish Government budget.

The council has also stressed that the funding squeeze on local authorities is hitting vital local services and means they will be able to do less to support national priorities such as tackling poverty and child poverty.

Council Leader Joe Fagan said: “It is good that Holyrood politicians are asking us to explain how financial pressures are impacting locally. Now they must listen to what we have to say and understand exactly how tough life is for the council and our residents, and how much tougher it could get.

“According to Audit Scotland, funding for council has been cut by 4.2% in real terms in the last eight years, in stark contrast to a 4.3% increase in the Scottish Government’s budget.

“This has already weakened our ability to support local people, who – like us – are now having to cope with rising food, fuel, energy and other costs, with inflation now at 10% and predicted to rise as high as 18% next year.

“So our message is clear: councils cannot take any more cuts in our budget without severe implications for the people we serve and for local jobs.

“Instead, councils must be funded to continue to address the cost-of-living crisis, providing assistance and support across our areas to those who are struggling to meet the costs of living – money advice, support into employment, backing for the Living Wage, the Council Tax Reduction scheme and in many other ways.”

Councillor Fagan’s comments came as the council’s Executive Committee approved a formal response to the Finance and Public Administration Committee of the Scottish Parliament as part of its scrutiny ahead of the 2023-24 Scottish Government budget.

The Finance and Public Administration Committee indicated it was particularly interested in views on how the rising cost of living will impact on the Scottish budget and whether the Scottish Government’s proposals for reforming public services will deliver the efficiencies expected.

South Lanarkshire’s response also notes that there are areas of spend within council budgets that are “ringfenced” as a result of direction from the Scottish Government. Councils are looking for flexibility across all their budgets to allow them to make decisions locally reflecting the actual circumstances affecting councils and the needs of local residents.