Published on:
19
December 2016
Local residents and community groups are being asked for their views on officer saving proposals as part of the Council's very challenging budget setting process.
The consultation is now open online on ClacksWeb, and face to face meetings with key stakeholders and service users will also take place. Clackmannanshire Third Sector Interface (CTSi) will also assist with the facilitation of targeted service user consultation, including an event at the Bowmar Centre on 12th January 10am-2pm and 3pm-7pm. The consultation runs until 20th January 2017.
While significant savings have been made in the past few years, the Council is now having to make extremely difficult budget choices in the face of decreasing funding, and is facing a funding gap of £26.6m over the next three years.
Substantial savings which will impact on a number of services will have to be made, and officers have put forward a number of proposals to help balance the Council budget with councillors making the final decisions at a budget meeting early next year.
Council Leader Bobby McGill said: "Councils throughout Scotland find themselves in really difficult financial times, and here in Clackmannanshire we're going to have to make some really tough decisions to deal with the difference between the funding we receive and the services we currently deliver.
"Officers have put forward some draft proposals for budget savings and this administration has already decided against some of the proposals put forward by officers. As councillors we'd like our local communities to give us their views on these remaining proposals. That feedback will then be presented to all councillors who will face the challenge of setting a balanced budget."
The Council is required by law to provide certain services like social work, education, planning and environmental health. It also provides or subsidises a wide range of other non statutory services.
Council tax bills for the year 2016/2017 will also see some changes. The Scottish Government has introduced a new scheme to increase the amount of council tax collected for properties in the higher bands of E-H. Affected residents will receive a letter with more details.
In addition, for the first time in 10 years, councils will be able to increase council tax across all bands by up to 3% to raise additional income. This decision will also be taken by councillors at the budget setting meeting.
The savings proposals can be viewed on ClacksWeb where you can also complete an online survey. The consultation runs until 20 January 2017. Staff in your local council office can help you with this if you don't have access to a computer. You can also give your views to your councillor or community councillor, or write to Budget Consultation, Clackmannanshire Council, Kilncraigs, Greenside Street, Alloa FK10 1EB.