Plans to rejuvenate Falkirk town centre with the development of a new arts centre and council headquarters will be brought back to the table within six months of the election if the SNP win a majority, the party has said.
With 16 candidates standing, the SNP is the only party fielding enough people to claim a majority on the 30-strong council and form an administration.
Launching their manifesto ahead of the local government elections on Thursday, May 5, the party said it is putting communities at the heart of its plans for recovery.
The manifesto highlights the group's achievements over the last five years as a minority administration, including 10,000 new iPads for school pupils; a new, state-of-art CCTV hub, and an almost doubling of nursery provision.
It also notes the frustration the group has felt when outvoted by the Labour and Conservative groups joining forces, something the manifesto says was "opposition for opposition's sake."
In particular, the SNP group was bitterly disappointed that they failed to get through their plans to create a new council headquarters and arts centre in Falkirk town centre, in a bid to rejuvenate the town.
Their manifesto pledges to bring that project back to the table within the first six months of the new council term, replacing rundown 1960's buildings at the end of Falkirk High Street with new build offices, a theatre, studio, retail space, cafe and council advice hub.
Other pledges include free breakfast clubs for primary pupils and a pilot to look at providing free breakfasts in secondary schools.
SNP Group Leader and Leader of Falkirk Council, Cllr Cecil Meiklejohn said she was proud to launch the manifesto with policies "which will benefit every individual, community and business within our area".
She said: “These last few years have been some of the toughest we have faced, and we still face some tough choices.
"But we have an opportunity to build on what we have started, and key to our success will be ensuring that our policies and direction begin with that which is most important: our people and our communities.
“Big decisions need to be taken, and soon, if we are to realise the full potential of what our plans mean.
"Our town centre project will be brought back to the table, and with the backing of residents and businesses, this will transform our towns and bring benefits right across the district.
“Standing alongside this talented and committed group of candidates on a manifesto filled with opportunity, I am confident that we can deliver for the people of Falkirk district as a strong and dedicated majority SNP administration.”
To see the full SNP manifesto, please click here.
