Local Recovery has this week written to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Rt Hon Rachel Reeves MP, asking that she back Scottish communities in the upcoming autumn budget.

Since the Chancellor’s statement on public spending at the end of July, Local Recovery has been advocating for the UK Government to continue to support programmes like the Long-term Plan for Towns, Levelling Up Partnerships and community grants. This follows engagement across the party divides ahead of the general election.

Ten of Scotland’s towns have been due to receive financial support from the UK Government to address local priorities and problems, with a further four local authorities due to be supported through Levelling Up Partnerships – bringing all tiers of government together. Earlier this month, BBC News profiled the progress that has been made in Dumfries, one of the ten towns selected.

Concerns have also been raised that projects that were successful in the last round of the Levelling Up Fund – projects like the regeneration of Drumchapel’s centre, work to decarbonise public transport in Dumfries & Galloway and the Commercial and Low Carbon Infrastructure project in Ayrshire – may now not receive funding.

Local Recovery has made the case that many of these programmes align with the government’s policy commitments to driving growth, reducing regional economic inequalities and progressing towards Net Zero. While we recognise the Chancellor will have difficult choices to make for the coming year, now is the time to make sure communities are at the heart of the government's priorities.