Clacks will shave budget
Clacks councillors are seeking the help of the public as they bid to slash millions of pounds from their budgets.
The SNP-led authority is holding a series of public meetings to seek views of savings options drawn up by officers and get ideas from council tax-payers.
The budget gap facing the council in financial year 2018/19 is currently expected to be around £13.1m.
Over the last seven years the council has slashed its budget by 30 per cent and says there is no sign that the pressures on public sector spending will let up for the foreseeable future.
And they add that with demand for some key services increasing and various significant demographic pressures, it is increasingly challenging to make savings which will not impact on residents and communities.
The council is legally required to set a balanced budget.
An online consultation opened last month on its website and over 300 responses have already been received.
An Audit Scotland report recently highlighted Clackmannanshire as one of the local authorities which was at risk of running out of reserves within two to three years if they continue to use them at levels planned for 2017-18. Around 20 councils had to draw on £79million of cash reserves to keep things going, double the number who resorted to that in the previous year.
Public meetings will be held in January in Alloa, Sauchie, Tullibody and Alva when the public can give their views on the council’s budget face to face.
The results of the consultation will be put forward to councillors who will make the final decisions at a budget meeting early next year.
Chief executive Elaine McPherson said: “Council officers are putting forward a number of options to make significant savings, some of which are very challenging and will represent a real change to the kind of services the Council has historically delivered. I would encourage residents to read over the draft savings options and have their say so that we can share these views with the councillors before they make the final decisions.”
Council leader Les Sharp said: “The savings options have been put forward by officers and no decisions have been made on them. That’s why it’s important that our residents give us their views, so that all councillors can hear what they have to say when the time comes to make the difficult decisions to balance the budget and protect essential services.”
The savings proposals can be viewed on the council website, where locals can also complete an online survey. The consultation closes on February 2. Staff in Clackmannanshire Council offices can also help those who don’t have access to a computer.
The meetings are taking place as follows: Cochrane Hall, Alva, January 9, 6-8pm; Bowmar Centre, Alloa, January 10, 6-8pm; Sauchie Hall, January 15, 6-8pm; Tullibody Civic Centre, January 18, 6-8pm.
It’s important our residents give us their views so that all councillors can hear what they have to say -