The Verity House Agreement is a partnership agreement between the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA) and the Scottish Government “setting out our vision for a more collaborative approach to delivering our shared priorities for the people of Scotland.” It was published on 30 June 2023 and forms the first part of the new deal with local government.

The agreement can be found on the Scottish Government website.

Read the New Deal with Local Government: Verity House Agreement

Under the Verity House Agreement, COSLA and the Scottish Government have agreed three shared priorities:

• tackling poverty;
• just transition to net zero; and
• sustainable public services

The Scottish Government committed to completing certain strands of work by the end of September 2023 and the Deputy First Minister wrote to the Committee on 3 October 2023 to update it as follows

Improved engagement on budgetary matters:

• Pre-budget engagement, at both official and political level, is well underway, and will continue, in preparation for the Scottish Budget in December.

A Fiscal Framework between local and national government, of which regular budget engagement will be a key part:

• Constructive further discussions took place in July and August, with options for different approaches being considered by COSLA, including at the COSLA Convention on 29 September.
• Further work is expected up to the Scottish Budget with a view to reaching agreement as soon as possible.

A shared programme of activity underneath each of the three priorities:

• This will focus on the period between now and the next Scottish Council Elections in 2027.
• Wide-ranging and constructive discussions have taken place between local and national government officials throughout August and are continuing to be taken forward in key areas by policy leads.
• Early conversations have taken place with Audit Scotland and the Accounts Commission Scotland to explore their role in this work.
• Further work is expected over the coming months to deliver a robust shared programme with an outcomes and accountability framework as soon as possible.

Progress towards agreeing the fiscal framework and the outcomes and accountability framework has been slower than hoped. The Committee continues to monitor developments and intends to consider both frameworks when they become available.

Further information, including links to relevant meeting papers and correspondence can be found below.