Less posturing, more deal-making

THE oldest game in politics is the annual negotiation between governments and local authorities over cash. Last year, the new SNP government tried a new tack: offering councils a package deal. In return for freezing council tax and introducing the SNP's flagship policies, such as free school meals, the councils would get extra cash; plus be freed of all the onerous rules that allowed Holyrood to ring-fence what local authorities do with their budgets.

But the path of true love never does run smooth, and councils are squaring up to the Scottish Government over next year's budget. Under the "concordat" between the two parties, the councils have the right to come back each year to discuss any financi...