Falkirk Council approves 'ambitious' spending plans

Image caption, Falkirk Council said the budget was ambitious while protecting frontline services

Falkirk Council is to focus on housing, local infrastructure and investing in the economy after approving its "ambitious" budget for next year.

The authority backed a three-year 拢75.5m spending programme, with another 拢115m marked for housing.

Proposals include a 拢10.2m Tax Incremental Finance initiative to spur economic growth in area.

The council said it had managed to preserve frontline services despite financial pressures.

However, the local authority has needed to put up rents and increase a raft of charges, including school meals and parking, in its bid to stay in the black.

Council tax was frozen for the sixth successive year, making the rate in Falkirk one of the lowest in Scotland with a band D level of 拢1,070.

Protecting services

Council leader Cllr Craig Martin said: "Facing up to a funding shortage of nearly 拢11m means that we have had to examine closely where our priorities lie."

"Frontline services have been prioritised and we continue to make efficiency savings across all areas of our work."

Growing the local economy has been one of the main priorities for the authority, with the council aiming to create over 5,000 new local jobs through the Tax Incremental Finance initiative.

It is also spending 拢1.6m on business property reinvestment to encourage economic growth and 拢4.15m on regeneration of Denny town centre.

Other spending plans include 拢12.3m going towards roads, bridges and street lighting improvements; nearly 拢1m on new parking near Falkirk High station to encourage greater use of public transport.

Councillors also plan to invest 拢8m on schools throughout the authority area, with an additional 拢2.9m put towards extensions to Antonine and St Joseph's primaries.

A new school will be built at a cost of 拢6m to replace the existing Carrongrange School.

Almost 拢1m will be spent on the restoration of the Kinneil Kerse landfill and 拢830,000 on providing additional internment space in cemeteries.

Local play parks are also to be upgrade at a cost 拢280,000, while 拢640,000 will be spent on flood prevention assessments in Grangemouth.

Councillor Martin added: "Fees and charges are rising across a number of areas but we have aimed to keep these as low as possible and in some cases, they will remain frozen.

"Overall it is an ambitious programme but one we feel that will deliver real prospects in the coming years."