Big Conversation

Stirling Council's Big Conversation

Assessing the equality and socio-economic impact of 2024-25 budget saving proposals

Read the equality and socio-economic impact documentation related to each of the Council’s 2024-25 budget saving proposals.

Please note any financial figures in these documents reflect the maximum budget saving for each proposal considered. The finalised costs associated with the proposals can be found in the motions that are part of the draft budget reports in the agenda papers.

Budget survey results

Thank you to all who participated in our budget consultation on Engage Stirling. The results of the survey are available to download below.

What is ‘The Big Conversation’

Stirling Council, like other Scottish local authorities, is facing an unprecedented financial challenge.

The Big Conversation saw the council engage with residents and communities early on in the 2024-25 budget-setting process about the council’s budget gap, which is now estimated to be over £16m, and the difficult decisions the council would face as a result.

This important exercise allowed the council to gather more information on the potential impacts of cuts to address this shortfall, to help inform decision-making.

More than 3,400 people participated in the online survey on nearly 50 savings proposals. The results are now available to view on our Engage Stirling site and can be downloaded here.

Almost 700 people attended 24 events across the council area between August and December last year, which included eight larger ‘market-place’ events where members of the public could talk directly to services.

The council also received a large volume of correspondence and communities have come forward, showing the strength of feeling about Stirling’s public services and concerns for local government funding.

The majority of Scottish councils’ funding comes from the Scottish Government. In Stirling Council nearly 79% of the budget comes from a Scottish Government grant and our share of the Government’s non-domestic rates or business rates, with the rest raised from council tax.

As well as providing the Council with valuable feedback, residents who took part in ‘Big Conversation’ have provided ideas and suggestions, and also helped to bring together people in communities who are motivated and passionate about ensuring local needs are met.

We would like to thank everyone who completed the survey, came to an event, or took time to write to us – your feedback has been invaluable and will help inform decisions made about the budget.

Online form for your comments

If you attended an in person event and would like to leave feedback about it you can use the form below.

Where the money comes from

Where the money comes from 2023/24 £ (millions) % (percentage)
Scottish government grant and non domestic rates 203.5 69.0
Council Tax 59.1 20.0
Council Housing Rents 23.3 7.9
Use of Council Reserves 9.1 3.1
Total 295.0 100.0

 

Where the money is spent

 

Reference Where the money is spent 2023/24 £ (millions) % (percentage)
1 Educating our children and young people 128.4 43.5
2 Caring for adults 50.4 17.1
3 Council housing and homelessness 25.6 8.7
4 Maintaining roads and protecting the environment 12.0 4.1
5 Caring for our children and young people 11.8 4.0
6 Collecting and recycling waste 10.3 3.5
7 Libraries, supporting residents and communities 7.7 2.6
8 Economy, tourism, planning, sustainability and climate change 4.8 1.6
9 Environmental health 2.3 0.8
  Front-line Service Budgets totals 253.3 85.9
       
10 Maintaining office accommodation and public buildings 13.0 4.4
11 Professional support services - finance, legal, HR, audit, exec office 9.2 3.1
12 Digital, transformation, business planning and support 20.8 7.0
13 Organisational development, transformation and business planning 3.6 1.2
14 Corporate financing budgets 7.9 2.7
  Total Council Budget For Running Costs 295.0 100.0
Reference Where the money is spent 2023/24 £(millions)
1 Secondary School Education and Youth Services 41.310
1 Primary School Education 36.131
1 Additional Support Needs and Wellbeing (Education) 13.527
1 Early Years Education and Early Intervention 10.286
1 Balfron PFI and Stirling Schools PPP 19.380
1 Facilities Management 7.779
2 Health and Social Care For Adults 50.394
3 HRA Housing  23.276
3 General Fund Housing 2.317
4 Roads 7.404
4 Land 4.293
4 Fleet 0.205
4 Car Parking 0.161
5 Children and Families 11.795
6 Waste Collection and Disposal 10.259
7 Regeneration and Inclusive Growth 4.542
7 Community Wellbeing 3.160
8 Economic Development 1.013
8 Culture, Events and Tourism 0.755
8 Planning and Building Standards 0.603
8 Sustainable Transport 1.676
8 Climate Change and Sustainability 0.531
8 City Region Deal Delivery 0.247
9 Regulatory Services 2.263
10 Infrastructure Delivery 12.976
11 Professional support services - finance, legal, HR, audit, exec office 9.189
12 Digital and information technology services 8.003
13 Organisational development, transformation and business planning 3.610
14 Corporate financing budgets 7.931
  Total Council Budget For Running Costs 295.016
Reference Business Support Services Breakdown £ (millions)
11 Finance Services 4.109
11 HR 1.117
11 Governance (Audit, Legal, Democratic) 2.831
11 Chief Executive Office 0.405
11 Executive Office and Communications 0.466
11 Communities and Performance Management 0.176
11 Customer Services and Performance Management 0.085
12 Digital, Technology and Customer Service 8.003
13 OD and Change 1.643
13 Transformation 1.092
13 Business Planning and Performance 0.875
  Total 20.802
     
Reference Corporate Financing Budgets £ (millions)
14 Loan Charges 7.029
14 Service Concession - Schools PFI/PPP Accounting Adj -1.200
14 Scottish Government Capital Switch for 2023/24 Pay -2.073
14 Income from Investment Properties -0.725
14 Pension Fund Added Years Payments 2.065
14 NDR - Discretionary/Empty Property Relief 1.809
14 Valuation Joint Board Requisitions 1.026
  Total 7.931
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