Thursday March 19th 2026
Glasgow City Chambers
Written by Local Democracy Reporter, Catherine Hunter
Proposals to close a funding shortfall of almost £34 million in health and social care services across Glasgow have been approved.
Members of the Integrated Joint Board (IJB) met earlier today to discuss £3.8 million worth of savings options as well as a £10m “service provision” programme to cover the budget gap.
The board, which receives its funding from the council and NHS will also take £10.5m from its reserves.
Included in the savings options presented to members of the IJB was the review of intensive services, merging of host family services, realigning adoption services, a review of care home management structure as well as alcohol and drug services.
The cost of non-residential services will see a rise of 4.8% but there will be no increase to aids and adaptations or blue badge administration.
With the IJB forecasting a funding deficit of £103m over the next three years, the board has received reports on the Service Prioritisation programme to meet the deficit.
The design of a ‘service prioritisation’ programme is already under way, with the unions’ warning it seeks to “slash jobs and services across the city”.
They said homelessness, children and older people services are all in scope. In the upcoming financial year (26/27), it is proposed the programme will save £10m.
Glasgow City Council has already committed to covering a forecast £56m overspend on homelessness services. Councillors also agreed to provide an extra £5.4m to the IJB when they set the council’s budget last month.
Speaking about the budget, councillor Jon Molyneux said: “I have some concerns around the budget today.
“The first being around service prioritisation. We are agreeing £3m of cuts that we know but we are also agreeing £10m of an actual £20m that we don’t know.
“We should all be able to account to the public for our decisions and actions and give reasons for the decisions we make.
“I can understand the justification is about financial necessity but not knowing the actual impact does make it more challenging. I think it is important to recognise that.”
Chairman Councillor Chris Cunningham said he appreciated the points made in relation to service prioritisation.
Councillor Cunningham said: “The fact is that the programme is subject to ongoing review and that review is something that is integral to the programme.
“There will be reports coming to the board at every meeting in terms of progress.”
Fears that social care charges will continue to increase and impact the most vulnerable residents in Glasgow have been raised by a local councillor.
It comes as members of the Integrated Joint Board (IJB) met yesterday to discuss £3.8 million worth of savings options as well as a £10 million “service provision” to help bridge a funding shortfall of almost £34 million.
Following the meeting, councillor Lana Reid-McConnell said more funding was needed from the Scottish Government to match “increasing demand” and “rising costs”.
Councillor Reid-McConnell said: “The funding situation continues to be desperate, resulting in Glaswegians not receiving the health and social care services they need, when they need them.
“The city is still facing a huge funding gap in the coming years and after years of cuts, the services in our city are beyond struggling to cope and staff are feeling increasingly overwhelmed.
“The Scottish Government hasn’t answered calls from Glasgow IJB and COSLA for an increase in funding required to match increasing demand and rising costs. I hope the next Scottish government seeks to meaningfully engage and adequately funds local health and social care boards.
“Without this, social care charges will continue to increase, the mental health crisis will be exacerbated and the most vulnerable in our city will wait longer for services that do not meet their needs.
“We need to do more to protect social work, community, specialist and preventative services or we will only add to the growing demand on the NHS and emergency services. Glaswegians deserve more.”
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