Stirling Council’s 2023/24 budget has been approved, including a seven per cent increase in the council tax.
Among cuts to plug a £17million funding gap are the phasing out of school crossing patrols and closure of buildings including the Cowane Centre.
Other measures include scrapping the free special uplift for the over-60s, raising nursery fees for non-statutory childcare from £3.90 an hour to £4.50 an hour, changes to nursery provision in Fintry and Aberfoyle, reducing grants to a number of organisations and bodies, and slashing school meal choices.
At the council budget meeting yesterday (Thursday) Tory councillors backed the minority Labour administration to get the budget over the line, as did independent councillor and former Labour group member Ewan Dillon.
Opposition SNP councillors had presented an alternative budget, proposing a five per cent council tax rise, however failed to get any backing outwith their own members.
Council officials had said existing pressures had been made worse by the cost of living crisis, Scottish Government ringfencing and rising energy costs.
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During the debate, veteran councillor and finance convener Councillor Margaret Brisley said local government was “in danger of disappearing” and that councils should not be treated as “merely a delivery vehicle for Scottish Government priorities”.
Council leader, Labour’s Chris Kane, meanwhile, said he could “weep” over the budget presented and the cuts coming down the line, adding that it had been “horrendous and absolutely horrible”.
But he said the only difference between the Labour and the SNP budgets was “when the cuts will be made” and that “I hate absolutely every cut in here”.
SNP finance spokesperson Gerry McLaughlan described the Labour budget as a “shambles”.
- See Wednesday's Stirling Observer for full coverage of the Stirling Council budget setting meeting.
