Ross Martin, CSPP Policy Director, was recently qouted in a piece for the Herald. In a piece entitled 'Job Losses avoided as councils set tax rates', Ross said:

Councils are having to face up to tough decisions but these budgets suggest this year they're going soft on that. They haven't quite got to the point where their budgets are forcing them to make real changes happen.

They'll be looking at a raft of individual areas, but have been squeezing gently and squeaked home with their budgets. They are still not being forced to do the stuff Glasgow has been doing, such as the creation of arms-length bodies, but by next year they could be forced into that position.

Some councils, though, are being a bit brave about not filling some posts in preparation for 2010/2011.