Stirling Council asks public to make their feelings known on next "difficult" budget

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Stirling Council is continuing its Big Conversation with residents about how it tackles another significant budget shortfall next year (2025-26).

The council must plug its budget gap in 2025-26 despite making up a shortfall that eventually amounted to more than £18 million in the current financial year. These were delivered by savings across council services, the use of one-off reserves and increases to fees and charges.

Residents will be able to share their views on the next budget in two surveys, the first which launched this week on the Engage Stirling website. Paper copies will also be available in libraries.

The questions in the first survey are based on the feedback the council received in last year’s Big Conversation, which saw more than 3,400 people participate in an online survey, and almost 700 people attend 24 events across the council area.

People said they wanted more opportunities to tell the council about the services they valued, what they liked and disliked about service delivery, and how the council could do better and be more efficient. They also expressed their views on raising council tax to raise income and help bridge the budget gap. The first survey will allow people to have their say on these areas, with a closing date of November 17.

The second survey will be published in early 2025 following the Scottish Government announcement of the annual local government finance settlement in December. It will run for around a month will include detailed savings proposals to address the estimated shortfall which residents will be able to feed back on.

Just over 71 per cent of overall funding to support Stirling Council’s 2024-25 budget comes from Scottish Government grant and business rates, with the other 29 per cent from council tax, housing rents and council reserves.

Stirling Council Leader, Cllr Margaret Brisley said: “The financial environment for local government remains hugely challenging and councils across Scotland will be facing similar budgetary pressures over the coming months.

“Despite making over £45m of year-on-year savings since 2014-15, we will need to make more difficult decisions this year and continuing this big conversation with residents will be a crucial part of this process.

“The first survey is based on the feedback we received from residents last year. It will be your opportunity to tell us about the services that are important to you, the areas where you think there should be greater focus and your ideas to generate income or transform the ways we work.

“You will also be able to give your views on things like changes to council tax levels and see what this would mean for you and making up the budget shortfall.

“Your feedback will help inform the decisions made on next year’s budget and how we deliver services in your community. Please continue this big conversation with us so we can negotiate this unprecedented challenge together.”

To take part in the online survey, visit: https://engage.stirling.gov.uk/en-GB/projects/the-big-conversation-2025-26

Paper copies of the survey are also available at Stirling Council libraries. Ask library staff for more details.

For more information, including on a breakdown of how the council is funded and how it spends its money, visit www.stirling.gov.uk/bigconversation

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