Clacks budget passed

A Clackmannanshire budget of £152.184million was approved earlier this month.

Spending for 2023/24 includes a £55.884m spend on the new Wellbeing Hub and £19.92m on the new Lochies School, which are both being built at the Pavilions site in Alloa West.

A key area of investment is £9.588m in the £214 m City Region Deal which includes Scotland’s International Environment Centre,

Alloa Innovation Hub, the Intergenerational Living Innovation Hub and Alloa Digital Hub.

Improving transport links, play parks and the regeneration of Alloa town centre are also highlighted in the capital investment programme.

And £91,000 will be used to increase payments to foster carers to ensure that children and young people can stay within their local communities.

Councillors also agreed to transfer £25.269m to the Clackmannanshire and Stirling Health and Social Care Partnership to support the care of older adults and people with a disability. It was also agreed to increase the council tax by five per cent, which will mean a rise of £67.19 for a Band D property in 2023/24.

Clackmannanshire Council pointed to inflationary pressures, but said the budget would allow it to continue to invest in a sustainable future.

“Difficult decisions”had to be made, the budget “aims to strike the right balance between affordability, sustainability and delivering the services that local people want and need, with the available funding.”

Council Leader Ellen Forson said:“we are making decisions which protect areas such as education, social work and health and social care which most people will understand. We are also mindful of the challenges faced by our communities, which is why tackling poverty and other social inequalities continues to be our top priority. We have not taken any decisions lightly, and in developing our budget for this year, we have listened closely to the feedback provided through the budget consultation process.”