Councils in Scotland are still waiting for the Scottish Government to pass on £155 million in coronavirus funding from Westminster.
Alison Evison, president of local government body Cosla and an Aberdeenshire councillor, told MSPs that ministers had promised to hand over the cash this month.
The Scottish Government previously faced questions after the UK Government announced an additional £1.6 billion of support for councils south of the border, with £155m earmarked for Scotland under the Barnett Formula.
After a campaign by councils and trade unions, Finance Secretary Kate Forbes confirmed at Holyrood last month that “every penny” would be made available.
But, before further decisions on its distribution could be made, she said she required more details from Cosla on “the funding pressures its members are facing, so the money can be spent fairly in the areas of greatest need”.
Giving evidence to Holyrood’s local government committee on Wednesday, Councillor Evison said that Scottish local authorities had an estimated funding shortfall of £100m for the period to the end of June, even after the promised £155m was taken into account.
Asked if councils had been given the £155m yet, she said: “No, unfortunately councils have not received this money.
“When we had our leaders’ meeting a couple of weeks ago the priority of council leaders was for the funding to be received without delay, as quickly as possible.
“Unfortunately, we have not received it yet, but we have had an assurance that we will receive it during the month of June.”
Councillor Evison added that Cosla had a meeting scheduled with Ms Forbes later on Wednesday.
After the evidence session, the Scottish Government said the first “instalment” of the money was due to have been made on Wednesday.
However, Labour MSP Sarah Boyack said: “The delay in passing on funds has only deepened the financial crisis that councils face and the funding that will eventually be made available is now too little and too late.
“By digging their heels in and prevaricating, the Scottish Government has ensured that this money will only go to help repair the damage to council finances that the delay has caused.
“The true cost of the intransigence of the Scottish Government can be seen in the huge financial difficulties our councils are facing.”
Graham Simpson, Scottish Conservative communities spokesman, said: “First the SNP made them fight for the money and now, for unknown reasons, they still haven’t handed it over.
“Some local authorities barely have any reserves left thanks to the SNP’s botched approach to funding.
“This is a totally unacceptable situation, the SNP government must hand over these missing millions to councils now.”
A Scottish Government spokesman said: “We have been working closely with Cosla and local governments since the beginning of the pandemic and have committed over £300 million of additional funding for Covid-19 measures, on top of the local government finance settlement of £11.4 billion from this year’s budget.
“The payments of the local government consequentials worth £155 million are being made to councils in June alongside the weekly general revenue grant payments.
“The first instalment will have been received today.
“In addition, following agreement with Cosla, we are also front loading the normal weekly grant payments by £300 million to ease local authorities’ cash flow problems.”
