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Stirling Council publishes 2024-25 draft budget with proposals to bridge £16m shortfall

Following the recent ‘Big Conversation’ consultation, Stirling Council has announced its 2024-25 draft budget with the press release below.

We have also received a copy of an open letter by Dunblane Community Council criticising the consultation and pleading that more could have been done to avoid such swingeing cuts. Read that Dunblane Community Council Stirling Council Budget Cuts 220224.


Press release:

Stirling Council has published its draft budget for 2024-25 which includes a number of savings proposals to address a shortfall of over £16m.

Councillors will consider and make the decisions on the budget at a special meeting of council next Thursday (29 Feb).

Stirling Council, like all other local authorities in Scotland, is facing an unprecedented financial challenge for a number of reasons including funding pressures, rising costs and inflation and increasing demand for services.

The savings proposals to plug the gap have been informed by feedback from residents who took part in the council’s ‘Big Conversation’, an important exercise featuring an online survey and a series of drop-in events across the council area.

More than 3,400 people participated in the online survey on nearly 50 savings proposals. The results are now available to view on our Engage Stirling site, as well as the Big Conversation webpage.

Almost 700 people attended 24 events across the council area between August and December last year, which included eight larger events where members of the public could talk directly to services.

The budget reports, including the revenue budget and proposed capital programme, as well as the administration motions, can be downloaded here.

Stirling Council Leader Cllr Chris Kane said: “The budget-setting process has been hugely challenging for everyone involved, with mounting financial pressures forcing every council service to propose savings proposals to help achieve a balanced budget.

“No one wants to be in a position to be proposing cuts like these; but this is our financial reality, with rising costs and demand for delivering services. While it doesn’t make it any less painful, we are certainly not alone with councils across Scotland having to make very difficult choices.

“I would like to thank everyone who took part in our ‘Big Conversation’ on the budget that started back in August 2023, whether that was taking part in the online survey, coming along to the drop-in events or writing to us on a number of issues. Your feedback, ideas and suggestions have been invaluable and have helped inform the proposals put forward.

“There will be no easy choices at next week’s budget meeting of all councillors, but it’s critical we keep Stirling Council on a firm financial footing to continue delivering the local services we all rely on.”

You can watch the budget-setting meeting and to find links to the agenda papers on the council’s online broadcasting platform.

For more information, including the equality and socio-economic impact documentation for the council’s 2024-25 budget saving proposals, please visit stirling.gov.uk/bigconversation

Why does Stirling Council have an estimated budget shortfall of over £16m?

The council’s budget gap for 2024-25 was estimated to have been around £13million at the end of last year, a figure highlighted in our Big Conversation with residents. This has increased to due to new and ongoing financial pressures.

In Stirling Council nearly 79% of the budget comes from a Scottish Government grant and our share of the Government’s non-domestic rates or business rates, with the rest raised from council tax.

On 19 December, the Scottish Government published its Local Government Settlement for 2024-25 – the annual funding award for councils – which included funding for a potential council tax freeze.

COSLA, a cross-party organisation that is the voice of local government in Scotland, calculated this amounted to a cut in core revenue funding (the money used to deliver key services like bin collections, education and roads maintenance) for councils of £62.7m for 2024-25, meaning the funding offered for a council tax freeze only equated to a 2.8% rise. Last year, Stirling Council raised council tax by 7%.

An independent report published this month by the Institute of Fiscal Studies shows funding available to Scottish councils will only go up by 1.8% in real terms next year, coming at a time when councils continue to face a perfect storm as demand for services increases along with the price of delivering them.

The report on the council’s budget says that once ring-fenced grants and new funding which come with spending commitments were removed, the council’s core grant allocation from the Scottish Government for 2024-25 decreased by £1.295m from last year.

It also highlighted that the Scottish Government draft budget provides £147m for the council tax freeze across all Scottish local authorities, with the council’s provisional share amounting to £2.923M, equating to a 4.9% increase in Council Tax.

More information

For more information, please visit stirling.gov.uk/bigconversation

Coming Soon – LOCAL PLACE PLAN CONSULTATION

As announced in the Blane Valley Bulletin (Jan/Feb 2024), the community council and community development trust will be launching a community consultation in the Spring. Over the course of 2024, the results of the consultations will be developed into a “Local Place Plan” for submission to Stirling Council’s development planning for the next decade.

Why should we do a local place plan?

As well as guiding Planning, an important by-product is evidence of community priorities and community support for various projects. This can help all sorts of community groups access grant funding without conducting onerous research of their own. More information will be shared through social media, and the dedicated web page here.

Are there any questions that you or your group would like included in the survey?

Please let us know by 10th February 2024, or as soon as possible.

Email contact@strathblanecc.org.uk or scdt@strathblane.online or use the Contact form

[Apologies these email addresses were broken in the Blane Valley Bulletin article!!]

Time running out to take part in Stirling Council’s online budget survey

Stirling Council logo

More than 2,400 residents across the Stirling Council area have already have taken part in an online survey on proposals to bridge Stirling Council’s estimated £13 million budget gap.

All residents are encouraged to have their say in the survey – the easiest way to share views on the Council’s budget-saving proposals – before it closes on 30 November.

The survey, which launched on 9 November, has attracted some of the highest levels of responses ever on the Council’s Engage Stirling platform.

It is a key part of the Council’s Big Conversation with residents at how it addresses its budget shortfall, which will continue over the coming months.

The survey is opportunity for residents to feedback on the impact of individual savings proposals or increases to charges. There are options for each proposal and if you object to the option due the impact on you, you can explain why in the question that follows.

The information gathered will help councillors make decisions when setting the council budget early next year.

The Council must plug its budget gap in 2024-25 despite making significant savings of around £6 million in the current financial year.

The majority of Scottish councils’ funding comes from the Scottish Government. In Stirling Council nearly 79% of the budget comes from a Scottish Government grant and our share of the Government’s non-domestic rates or business rates, with the rest raised from council tax to support the budget.

Stirling Council Leader, Cllr Chris Kane said: “The huge number of participants shows the impact of these proposals for everyone across Stirling.

“They make for stark reading and highlight the painful decisions we will have to make as we face with this unprecedented financial challenge, a situation mirrored at other councils across Scotland.

“I would like to thank everyone has taken part in the online survey so far. Your feedback on these proposals will help inform on what we do next as we continue our Big Conversation with residents. If you haven’t had your say in the survey yet – please do so before the deadline on Thursday 30 November.”

Residents can also learn about the proposals and the Council’s challenging financial situation at the latest Big Conversation drop-in events, with staff from various services in attendance at each one.

Cllr Kane added: “We’ve had increasing numbers of people coming along to the drop-in events and I hope they have proved helpful and informative. Our staff look forward to discussing any of these issues with you at the remaining sessions.

“It’s important we keep the open dialogue with each other going so we can negotiate this challenge together and continue delivering the services that our residents and communities value the most.”

A selection of the proposed savings or increases in charges are listed below:

  • Close or reduce council-managed community centres.
  • Stop the annual mowing of rural road verges, reduce grass cutting or increase space for pollinator spaces.
  • Closure of some libraries.
  • Reduction in budget for events and festivals.
  • Removal of the ‘road-end’ waste collection policy.
  • Stop the greenspace ranger service.
  • Reduce spending on maintenance at buildings and facilities.
  • Removal of the community grant scheme.
  • Reduce free, confidential and impartial accredited money, debt and benefit advice to residents.
  • Change the operating models (opening times and capacity) at some nurseries.
  • Increase non statutory childcare fees.
  • Reduce or stop the play, creche, play and out of school care service.
  • Reduce teachers in the additional support needs outreach team.
  • Removal of the P5 swimming programme.
  • Reduce the primary school week for pupils.
  • Close some or all public toilets.

More details and the full list of proposals can be found in the online survey on the Engage Stirling platform. Paper copies of the survey area also available at Stirling Council libraries.

See below for dates and times of the remaining round of Big Conversation drop-in events:

  • Bannockburn High School – Wednesday 22 November, 6pm to 7.30pm
  • Dunblane High School – Monday 27 November, 6pm to 7.30pm

Strathblane Community Council resumes after 2023 election

The newly-elected Strathblane Community Council members held their inaugural meeting on Monday 12th June, 2023. Ian Denvir of Stirling Council performed the formal steps of inauguration and election of office-bearers.
New Strathblane Community Council inauguration 12 June 2023

Left to right : Rob Davies (Roads), John Gray (Planning), Pamela Lee (Treasurer) , Kate Ramsden (Vice Chair), Julie Hutchison (Chair), Andy Thompson, Grace Edmonds (Secretary) and Graeme Kemsley, with Ian Denvir (Stirling Council)

Julie Hutchison will continue as Chair with Kate Ramsden as her Vice-chair. Grace Edmonds remains as Secretary and Pamela Lee is the new Treasurer. John Gray will continue as the Planning correspondent. Andrew Thompson, Rob Davies and Graeme Kemsley complete the membership. Rob has agreed to be Roads correspondent and Graeme joins John in the Planning group. Andy and Julie are representatives on the board of Strathblane Community Development Trust. Grace is representative on the Village Club committee. Julie is delegate to the Mugdock Country Park Management Committee.
Ideally there would be 11 seats filled on the community council. We plan to co-opt a couple of members who served in the last term – volunteers to help with the work of the community council are always welcome to get in touch.

Community Council elections 2023 – nominations close Wed 19th April 2023

** Community Councillor nominations must be received on paper at Stirling Council by 4pm Wednesday 19 April 2023 **
Approximately every four years, people interested in improving their communities are invited to come forward as Community Councillors to represent the community’s views and work with others to improve their area. If you are 16 or over and live in the community you want to represent, you are eligible to become a Community Councillor.

Hands up If you want to make a difference to your community

Nominations for the 2023 election are now open. The nomination form must be printed and filled in with signatures of two residents in support, so if you are interested to stand, don’t wait until the deadline! More information at https://www.stirling.gov.uk/…/residents-urged-to-stand…/
**UPDATE** Stirling Council has arranged online drop-in sessions to give more information about Community Councils and the election:

Community Council Election 2023 information drop in sessions are for anyone who would like to know more about Community Councils, becoming a Community Councillor and the Election process. Just drop in with any questions you have and we will do our best to answer and provide any information needed. Please find below the MS Teams link, times and dates for each session planned: If you have any issues or are unable to log on please contact us via ccelections@stirling.gov.uk

 

Meeting Date: 12 April 2023 11:30-13:00

Click here to join the meeting

Meeting ID: 316 475 795 038
Passcode: Nm9vbq

Download Teams | Join on the web

Learn More | Meeting options

 

Meeting Date:  12 April 2023 18:00-19:30

Click here to join the meeting

Meeting ID: 373 345 544 165
Passcode: hRwayo

Download Teams | Join on the web

Learn More | Meeting options

 

Meeting Date: 14 April 2023 09:30-11:00

Click here to join the meeting

Meeting ID: 366 025 078 383
Passcode: PU4gns

Download Teams | Join on the web

Learn More | Meeting options

 

Meeting Date: 17 April 2023 11:30-13:00

Click here to join the meeting

Meeting ID: 357 679 217 841
Passcode: hhiH6N

Download Teams | Join on the web

Learn More | Meeting options

 

 

 

Campsie Road houses – second appeal REJECTED by Scottish Ministers

The second appeal by Gladman to build 70 houses along Campsie Road has finally been decided. There has been a lot of highly technical dispute between Gladman and Stirling Council on the correct method of calculating housing supply. If there is a shortfall, then the balance tips in favour of developments, even ones that don’t comply with teh Local Development Plan. However, the Scottish Ministers have decided that, even one took the most extreme calculation possible, the balance would not tip far enough to allow this particular proposal.  The main objections that could not be overcome were

  • the impact on the setting of the village and the green belt landscape, and
  • the major expansion that would result and the dependence on car journeys out of the area that the development would entail.

More information is on our webpage here.  Gladman could still appeal to the Court of Session, we understand. However, it seems that they would have to overturn the Reporter’s opinion on quite a few issues.

Spring has arrived in Strathblanefield

Spring is on the way, and so a number of local groups have been busy out-and-about in the area:

On the 26th of February Fergus from Loch Lomond Fisheries Trust lead a group litter picking:

2 members of staff and 3 volunteers worked between Station Road and the sewage works. A total of 9 bags of littler were collected along the banks of the Blane Water. The majority was gathered on the right-hand bank – where the river flows through the floodplain after high water. Most of the rubbish was plastic bottles (as expected) and glass bottles of wine, vodka etc. A large quantity of the litter was old plastic bags hanging from tree branches and old tennis balls. 
2 individuals worked between the West Highland Way at Dumgoyach Bridge and Quinloch. They collected a whopping 20 bags of litter. A lot of this rubbish was similar to what we are finding further upstream, which will ultimately wash down into the Endrick Water and Loch Lomond. This highlights the upstream battle to combat litter entering our waterways and into the ocean. More bags of litter were collected from the roadsides by the Edmonstones, totalling 40 bags from this litter pick event alone.
There is still a large quantity of litter along the Blane Water around Dumgoyne. We hope to have a group helping us collect this litter within the next few weeks. However, if there are any interested volunteers in the local community please get in touch with myself at fergus@llft.org.uk. We would also welcome volunteers for tree planting!
You can also follow LLFR on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LochLomondFisheriesTrust
On the weekend 5th and 6th of March The Strathblane Wildlife Sanctuary volunteers planted well over 1,200 native trees including hawthorn, scot’s pine, oak and alder.  The types of trees were specifically chosen for their suitability with the ground, and with the hope that they will provide shelter and sustenance for the wildlife in the area.  The volunteers were thrilled with the support from local families and businesses, and a lot of new faces came along to help. If anyone is interested in joining the mailing list or wants more information on the group you can contact them on strathblanewildlifesanctuary@gmail.com, or on FB : https://www.facebook.com/Strathblane-Wildlife-Sanctuary
Finally, the Strathblane Community Volunteers have been out litter picking and plan to do many more as, unfortunately, the area badly needs it.  On the 9th of March the group cleaned from Milndavie Road to the old Country Club entrance.  You can follow them on FB to be kept up-to-date with when the next litter-pick is planned: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2152097601492579

Community Council March meeting MONDAY 7th, 7.30pm, Village Club

The March meeting of The Community Council will be in the Village Club, 7.30pm this Monday (7th March). Agenda now on our website. Everyone is welcome! https://strathblanecc.org.uk/…/02/March-2022-agenda-.pdf

Community Council Meeting 7 Feb 2022, 7.30pm.

Community Council Meeting 7 Feb 2022, 7.30pm.

The monthly meeting of the Community Council is taking place on Zoom again this month.

Agenda Items: Resilience Plan update, Parking Issues in and around the village, Planning updates

More details on our Meetings page.

Everyone is welcome to join. To receive the Zoom link, please message us via FB or email us on contact@strathblanecc.org.uk

The late Philip Graves

Philip Graves, RIP

With great sadness we learned of the death of our long-serving community council member, and former Chair, Philip Graves. Philip served the community enthusiastically and generously over many years in many ways. Philip contributed to the work of the community council and other projects even throughout his recent long illness.

Our deepest sympathies to Sue, Alastair and Catriona, and all who will miss Philip.

Strathblane Community Council