Stirling Council approves 2019/20 budget

Stirling Council approved a budget to safeguard vital services and protect the area’s most vulnerable people, which includes more than £25.5million of capital investment.Councillors met to decide the revenue and capital plan for the financial year ahead and committed to fresh spending on rural transport, school holiday meal provision, assisting credit unions, among other projects.Residents were at the heart of the budget planning via the Council’s Big Conversation, which saw more than 1,000 ideas received from both Council staff and the public, along with the staging of over 70 community events and a string of public sessions.Those ideas helped shape the proposals backed today, which include:Generating income from utilising capacity in Brucefield Children’s HomeThe removal of the 10% Council Tax discount on Second HomesA net increase in the contribution to the Clackmannanshire and Stirling Health and Social Care PartnershipA review of car parking charges and the introduction of parking charges at Castleview Park and RideA one-off £100k reduction in Stirling Business Investment Fund, to be added back over 3 years.The approval of budget, backed also by a Council Tax Rise of four per cent, will bring further investment across capital projects.These include:£4.6m for road improvements and modernisation£300,000 to enhance parks and play areas£1m for major flood prevention schemes£5.5 million for enhancing schools and the expansion of Early Learning and Childcare£600,000 for projects as part of the City Region DealOver the next five years, a gap of £32million is anticipated between what the Council receives in funding and revenue and the cost of delivering its services and this will be addressed through future budget setting.Cllr Margaret Brisley, Convenor of Stirling Council’s Finance and Economy Committee, said she was proud of the budget passed today, but also highlighted the need for future savings to be made.