As a Council, we are committed to listening to the views, concerns, and aspirations of our residents, so that we can work together to provide the best possible public services for our communities and people.
We’ve built our priorities around increasing community influence and participation, so that everyone can have a voice and our resources can be used where they will have maximum effect.
This is particularly important given the significant financial challenges, we, like all other Local Authorities, are facing. In the next financial year alone, current projections indicate that we will need to cut more than £4m from our £210m budget.
We launched the Big Conversation approach in 2018 to put you at the heart of our budget and financial planning and your response to this engagement programme has been fantastic, helping shape the next stage of the budget process and informing the tough but necessary decisions that will be made by Councillors at our Budget setting meeting scheduled for 21st February.
Rather than seek feedback on specific individual proposals as we have in the past, the changed process this year has been through a process of open dialogue where we have genuinely asked for ideas from members of the public, community groups, Council staff and trade unions.
In the meantime, this document outlines what you have told us so far about what’s important to you, how you think we can transform how we work, where we can make savings, where we might generate income, and how we can work better together.
We will be holding further public sessions in the run-up to the Budget to feedback what you have told us and to engage your views on how we can improve the budgetary process in the coming years. All of the valuable feedback you have provided will be considered in detail by elected members as we determine the 2019/20 Stirling Council Budget.
Thank you for your continued interest and engagement.
Scott Farmer Danny Gibson
Stirling Council Leader Stirling Council Depute Leader
We launched the Big Conversation to spark an open, honest and ongoing dialogue that would put you, our public, at the heart of our budget/financial planning and would allow us to work together to identify how we could make savings, generate income and transform how we work, while providing the services you need, when, where and how you need them.
Hundreds of you have already taken part in the #BigConvo and you have made more than 800 suggestions through our public survey, and the 70 community events and discussion sessions we have held across the area. Your input has been invaluable, allowing us to identify the themes and issues that are important to you, and this document details what you told us.
How do we reduce costs and increase income?
How do we reduce demand for services?
How do we tackle inequality and make Stirling a fairer place?
How can we all work better together?
Your responses were then categorised into 8 key areas:
Care
Schools and Learning
Parking and Transport
Assets
Technology, Innovation and Smart Working
Partnership and Shared Services
People doing more for themselves
Events
There is more information on your ideas and suggestions in each category on the following pages, most of which focus on ideas for the 2019/20 budget cycle. Your longer-term ideas and suggestions are also being developed. All the suggestions you put forward have an individual reference number so that we can let you know what happened to your idea, if you’d like.
Improving housing options for young care leavers and increasing early intervention and prevention were the most popular suggestions. Participants thought that improved housing for young people would reduce the expense of costly B&B’s, which would then improve the mental health of the young people. The need for more affordable and smaller housing was also highlighted. Comments included:
“We need to build more affordable houses to allow young people to be homed and supported by the relevant services.”
Also mentioned was the lack of small and affordable housing in some of Stirling’s rural areas, as well as a lack of public transport. In general, respondents thought that support and early intervention for young people would keep them in Stirling district and save costly external placements. Some suggestions for early intervention included supporting families and kinship, exploring befriending opportunities, community support, and more support for mental health. Participants suggested more funding should be available for foster care. Comments included:
“Need to support people in their family home, to support developing skills and meeting the protection need of children. Need to support people to be independent and not dependent on services.”
“We need to be able to intervene at early stage and target care to those in most need and who are without alternative resources.”
Encourage more connections with partners and social enterprises - Most respondents saw this as a positive idea, but there were concerns about the type of service provided. Comments included:
“Too many cars going about the area, but travelling time longer than time spent with client……not meeting the needs of the client…..could Councils not work together to reduce costs?”
Use means testing to look at contributions families can make to care costs - Most respondents didn’t like means testing as a way to increase contributions from families. Some, however, believed that contributions were necessary. Comments included:
“Careful means testing is, I believe, a necessity as many older people have attendance allowance, plus good pensions, which should be used for their own care.”
‘Means testing should NOT happen; families struggling financially.’
There was a general feeling that care services should be protected and the Council should continue to provide these services. It was also felt that Stirling Council could do more to support care provision by encouraging staff to volunteer more and by employing more mentally and physically disabled staff. Attendees also thought that there could be more provision for people with addictions, mental health issues, and learning disabilities. Rehabilitation and supporting people to be independent should also be priorities.
Virtual learning, more use of school buildings, and including adult learning were the most popular ideas.
Expand online learning and virtual classrooms - Participants were supportive of virtual teaching, but most were keen to limit it to senior pupils or pupils from rural areas, or those who were unable to attend school through ill health. Concerns included pupil behaviour and the impact of isolation on mental health. Comments included:
“Online learning could work well if it is a motivated bunch of pupils, e.g. a small number of 6th years taking a specific (scarce) subject.”
“Need to be careful to avoid everything going online. Can lead to loneliness and mental health issues.”
Look at school buildings and expand their use - The use of school buildings outwith school hours to raise income was a very favourable idea for income generation through night classes and the use of leisure facilities. Some highlighted lack of public transport as an issue for many pupils.
“There is demand for night classes locally e.g. European Computer Driving Licence (ECDL). Good to expand use of school buildings, e.g. for swimming.”
“There was a lot of interest in evening classes being available in the local High School which used to happen – Scottish Qualifications Authority qualifications, ECDL, leisure classes like cookery and languages etc. for people not able to go to classes during the day.”
Include adult learning in schools - Some sessions viewed adult learning favourably and it was associated with the additional use of school buildings. Most people saw adult learning as an evening event. Participants also had concerns regarding PVG checks and pupil safety. Comments included:
“Expand adult learning in the evening to make better use of class rooms and resources.”
In general, attendees viewed suggestions to develop learning and income generation favourably. Sessions highlighted that they want to see more teaching of life skills, practical learning and social skills with pupils having more work experience opportunities rather than the emphasis always being on exams. Attendees also wanted to see the additional support needs provision protected with greater support provided for primary schools.
Respondents were in favour of developing Park and Ride facilities, encouraging cycling and charging for parking motor homes.
Improve Park & Ride. Comments included:
“Encourage more people to Park and Ride, increase the evening and weekend runs to Springkerse and recognise it is not just a Park and Ride bus, but people’s only way to get to the industrial estate and the Peak. Develop more Park and Ride sites like at Christmas.”
Develop cycling round the city -This was a popular suggestion to reduce pollution and encourage fitness, although some thought roads would need to be improved and more cycle lanes created. Comments included:
“Create user friendly cycle paths in Stirling - in need of upgrading for health and safety of cyclists.”
“Developing cycling around the city would be amazing! Reduce pollution and improve health.”
Create paid-for facilities specifically for motor homes – This was suggested for income generation Comments included:
“Extremely in favour of paid for facilities for motor homes, and there should be more enforcement so they aren't using free sites and leaving their rubbish and waste behind.”
Increase parking charges – Participants questioned increasing parking charges, saying this might drive shoppers out of town. Concerns included a lack of parking within Stirling and its surrounding villages, poor public transport, and limited spaces for the elderly and infirm. Comments included:
“Parking is expensive enough and there is not enough of it.”
Reduce Car Usage - Many sessions suggested improvements in public transport because they felt excluded from everyday activities due to the lack of a reliable public transport service. Respondents also wanted better links with Forth Valley Royal Hospital and Glasgow hospitals. Comments included:
“Transport is a big issue for us; feel very disadvantaged and not connected to Stirling. Crianlarich has better links to Fort William and/or Glasgow than their administrative centre Stirling.”
“Poor bus service to Cambusbarron, Fallin, Callander, need better public transport.”
“Could smaller buses be used for less popular routes which would help services be maintained?”
The main ideas that people liked within the Assets theme are providing student accommodation, reduced grass cutting and more use of school buildings. Sessions were generally in favour of most savings and investment ideas within this theme. Participants felt that buildings such as schools, libraries and town community halls were underutilised, however, costs of using council buildings would need to be kept low in order to attract community usage. Participants also suggested energy savings in some council buildings with some sessions stating that lights were left on and rooms were too hot.
Create student accommodation from older buildings that can also be used for visitor accommodation in summer - Sessions felt that Stirling Council could exploit the need for student accommodation, particularly in the city centre. Private developers are building and offering student blocks where the Council could be upgrading older existing buildings and filling that demand. Comments included:
“More student accommodation in the City Centre would be positive for footfall and trade.”
“Stirling University is a huge draw and we currently have private developers offering student blocks……..Stirling Council could provide student accommodation which will generate income long term and can be used for holiday lets when students on holiday. “
Reduce number of grass cuts – potentially having more wildflower areas where feasible - Sessions were in favour of reducing grass cuts in favour of wild flowers. They mentioned that they would welcome areas of wild flowers, however, there would still be maintenance required.
“Wild growing - great if it is well managed.”
Make better use of the spaces in our schools to maximise income or reduce buildings - As mentioned previously within the Schools and Learning theme, sessions were in favour of using school buildings outwith school hours for evening classes and classes/events during the summer months. Comments included:
“More night classes to use space better.”
“Schools need to be used more in the summer and not just for maintenance. Adults should be encouraged to use school buildings more.”
There was a great deal of support for innovation and smarter working, with the proviso that the changes did not exclude certain sections of the community.
Have more services available online, reducing costs and increasing convenience - Participants wanted support provided to encourage older people to become more digitally aware, but there should always be an alternative to a technological option. Sessions also stated that some uses of technology such as automated services were not always helpful to customers as this increased anxiety and removed the face-to-face support and interaction that people sometimes require. Comments included:
“In favour of more digital solutions but mindful may not be so helpful for older people.”
“Ensure that the appropriate infrastructure is in place for smart working not just in the city centre but in the Rurals, for those of us who use technology and for tourists coming to the area, as this can often be a factor when choosing a destination.”
Use technology to create a paperless office - Participants were generally in favour of a paperless office and increased use of technology by staff as a means of making savings. Comments included:
“Cambusbarron Community Council is almost paper free - send out information electronically - huge screen and project all papers onto screen, saves money.”
“Equipment for staff to work in a range of ways, better systems to process work.”
Better use of technology in packages of care to reduce the number of carers needed to support an individual - Participants were less keen to see the use of technology in areas such as Care, although they could see certain advantages, such as reminders for appointments and visits. They believed that human contact was vital and should be maintained. Comments included:
“Technology cannot compromise the importance of face-face contact.”
Sessions felt that there are some areas where technology could create savings and efficiencies and allow people to be better connected to services, particularly people in rural locations. Rural areas do however, struggle with Wi-Fi access but it was thought that the new mobile libraries with satellite technology would be well used.
Participants also suggested that greater use of technology would be costly to procure and maintain, and therefore many of the ideas posed might be a false economy. Some attendees were keen to see more services online to reduce costs and increase convenience. However, respondents stated that the Stirling Council website is not always accurate and up to date. They also suggested that developing new technology was an option that might lead to the removal of staff instead of smarter working.
Most areas within the partnership and shared services received mixed responses.
Make the Library service more accessible, and maximise use – There was support for libraries to remain local to provide support and reduce isolation. Participants stated that some current buildings were not suitable for all members of the public such as a lack of disabled access in the Central Library. A few sessions did see a redesign as positive, particularly the sharing of services. Comments included:
“Keen to stress the benefits of a local library where people can meet and children come in and out - this is essential.”
“Libraries are intrinsic in the wellbeing and welfare of communities - especially rural communities. They are linked to early intervention and removal of isolation.”
Develop social enterprises in rural areas for services such as grass cutting - Areas that received a lot of feedback within the sessions were social enterprise and working with other local authorities. Participants saw developing social enterprise as a relatively favourable idea, particularly in rural areas where community support and involvement is vital. Comments included:
“Develop social enterprises in rural areas; however recognise some communities do not have the capacity. Could we explore existing community enterprises such as Stirling Community enterprises cutting grass and supporting people to get training which would help move positive destinations including jobs?”
“A social enterprise doing grass cutting is a great idea, and doubling up on jobs like waste, taking pothole pictures etc.”
Increased working with partner organisations, including other local authorities - In general, sessions could see benefits from services being shared to save costs and reduce duplication, however, they did think that more could be done to promote the services already provided. There was also concern that shared services may dilute provision and make it harder for people to get access to specialised services. Comments included:
“We need to get better at communicating what we have, what we do and the staff we have.”
Creating community gardens, encouraging community involvement; and offering training and skills in exchange for volunteering were popular ideas - It was generally felt that Stirling Council would need to remain a support to most community initiatives. Sessions identified that some communities do not have the capacity for volunteer support and sometimes the same people provide support across different initiatives. Participants suggested that many rural communities are already self-reliant and in some cases raise their own funds. However, they still require guidelines and support around civic space, disposal of litter, etc. There is also concern around health and safety and standards of cleanliness regarding the cleaning of public toilets and litter picking by locals. Comments included:
“More plants and trees everywhere. Possible to combat global warming, air pollution and improve people's mood.”
“Wind farm money in these communities is contributing to these already and encouraging community benefit and participation.”
“Speak to young people in business to get ideas.”
“Offering training and skills development for volunteering is a brilliant idea.”
“Concerns over public toilets being taken over locally. Daily running/cleanliness, and Health and Safety implications. Would welcome charge for usage to allow toilets to be maintained by Council.”
Events attracted a lot of positive suggestions. Ideas for more attractions, and marketing Stirling as a host for large-scale events were popular. People are generally keen to see Stirling having more family-friendly attractions, hold more events, promote itself as a wedding venue and develop its parks in order to generate more income. They also think that Stirling should be promoting its heritage more and making the most of the attractions it does have. Stirling is an ideal location for visitors and tourists but needs to create an infrastructure that can support additional attractions and events such as transport links, parking, public toilets, recycling and catering. There was some support for the introduction of a Tourist Tax – something that is not within the Council’s gift, but could be explored and supported if powers become available. Comments included:
“Pop-up shops to promote local products/produce. Develop game markets.”
“Market Stirling as a host for large scale events and concerts.”
“Must capitalise on the success of Runrig and other events.”
“We definitely need to do more for tourists but that includes the transport infrastructure between tourist attractions/destinations, including into Stirling.”
“We need to get better at promoting wedding venues, but all events in general!”
Develop a major visitor attraction to draw in visitors - Participants had mixed views on developing a major visitor attraction in Stirling. Some welcomed something new whilst others said Stirling already had a major attraction on the Castle and just needed to promote itself more. Comments included:
‘Could there be one big attraction which captures all the heritage of Stirling in one place?’
Introduce a Tourist tax to generate income for the area.
“Tourists come to Stirling, let's maximise the benefits. Many holiday destinations have a tourist tax.”