Published on:
27
January 2022
Local people are being asked to give their views as part of the Council’s annual budget setting process.
The Covid-19 pandemic has shown why, more than ever, council services are essential to our everyday lives.
The Council continues to be at the forefront of the local Covid-19 response from providing 24 hour social care services every day of the year, critical childcare during lockdown, to ensuring the safe reopening and operation of schools, administering business grant schemes and supporting local testing and vaccine facilities.
As we build for a new future beyond the pandemic, working with our partners and a range of national organisations, our transformation programme Be the Future is already driving change that will transform local communities and our economy.
To inform the process of budget setting by councillors, we are engaging widely on two proposals which will affect the majority of residents in Clackmannanshire. These are the options of increases in both council tax rates and charges for Council services.
Council Leader Ellen Forson said: “Transforming our local economy and tackling poverty and inequality lie at the heart of our transformation programme and the work we are doing with our partners. This focus is more important than ever given the issues which have been exacerbated by the pandemic.
“Whilst our ambitions are firmly focused on building a strong future, the challenges of climate change and the impacts of the pandemic continue to loom large, and local government is not immune from the realities of dealing with rapidly increasing demands and costs within a context of constrained public finances. This means that while our focus is on transforming futures for our communities, we continue to face hard choices to ensure financial sustainability, and balance our budget, which is a legal requirement.
“We are only too aware that the pandemic and the rising cost of living is placing strain on our citizens and communities, therefore, we are asking for views on proposals to help shape upcoming budget decisions which will be made by councillors within the next 2 months. I would encourage residents to fill in the online survey – your views are a very important part of the decision making process.”
More details and a short survey are available on the Council website, and people can give their views until 20th February.
The results of the engagement will be presented to councillors before they make the final decisions at a budget meeting in March.