A LABOUR-LED council has voted against exiting the body representing Scotland's local authorities, despite eight others led by the party quitting.

North Lanarkshire took the decision to remain in Cosla at its full council meeting yesterday.

An eighth Labour council, West Dunbartonshire, confirmed it planned to leave the umbrella group at a special meeting earlier this week and will give the organisation 12 month's notice of its intention to quit.

Several other large Labour-run councils, many in the west of Scotland, also intend to leave.

One of West Dunbartonshire's concerns was that it could have to stump up a higher share of Cosla's costs in the future if it has fewer members. The issue over Cosla membership for many councils centres on a dispute over where power should lie within the organisation.