Deadline approaching on important budget survey
Time is running out for residents to have their say on proposals to help bridge Stirling Council’s estimated £12.25 million budget shortfall next year (2026-27).
Article Source: Stirling Council
Last Updated: 27 January 2026 14:06
More than 2,000 people have already taken part in the survey that sets out potential ways for the council to raise more income, make savings and deliver services differently.
The closing date for the survey – which is live on the Engage Stirling website, with paper copies available in libraries – is midnight Sunday 1 February.
The consultation continues the council’s Big Conversation with its communities about how it negotiates the ongoing and unprecedented financial challenge impacting local government in Scotland.
main reason for this is that the council’s funding and income is not meeting the rising costs needed to deliver its vital every-day services, from educating children and young people, to maintaining a vast road network, or collecting and recycling household waste.
bridging a similar shortfall last year through an 8.8% increase in council tax and a range of savings totalling £7.7 million (mainly efficiencies), the council and other local authorities across Scotland must make further difficult decisions this year to balance their budgets.
More than 70% of the council’s revenue budget comes from the Scottish Government. Its draft budget was published on 13 January, providing councils with greater clarity on their financial position for next year.
Stirling Council Leader, Cllr Susan McGill said: “To have secured over 2,000 responses to the survey in less than three weeks is hugely encouraging and I would like to thank everyone who has taken part already.
“While we’re still assessing the full implications of the Scottish Government’s budget, it’s clear we will still face a significant budget gap next year.
“The feedback we receive on the proposals – to save money, raise more income and do things differently – in the survey will help inform the final decisions made when we set our budget. It will also support our ongoing work to deliver better, more efficient services for people across Stirling and ensure the council’s long-term financial sustainability.
“If you haven’t done so already, I would urge you to have to your say in the survey before the deadline of midnight Sunday 1 February.”
Some of the proposals are listed below with more details on the Engage Stirling website.
Raising more income:
• Parking charges
• Garden waste permit
• Housing licensing
• Increase nursery fees for non-statutory childcare
• Burial charges and fees for lairs.
Reducing services:
• Clothing grants
• Reduction in the additional support for learning inclusion team
• Youth participation
• Support for learning assistant time
• Educational psychology service
• Bus services.
Changing the way we do things:
• Primary and nursery school meal
• Review of further smaller schools and shared headships across small schools and nurseries
• School transport
• Reduction in transport, overtime and venue related costs in the music tuition service
• Dimming street lighting pilot.
The council will continue to engage with its staff, trade unions, local partners, service users and other key stakeholders, during the remainder of the budget-setting process.
To see the full list of the proposed savings and take part in the online survey, visit: engage.stirling.gov.uk/en-GB/projects/big-conversation-26-27
with the proposals in the survey, the council has also developed proposals totalling £4.3m, to deliver more efficient services ranging from removing vacant posts, ensuring better use of digital technology, and making better use of council buildings and offices.
The findings from the Big Conversation will be presented to elected members for consideration and to help inform their decisions when they set the budget in late February 2026.
Background
All councils receive two types of funding: revenue and capital. Revenue funding is mainly used to pay for the daily running costs of operating services, including staff salaries, and covers things like nurseries and schools, social services, household waste and recycling.
funding is used to buy, maintain or improve assets such as buildings, infrastructure or equipment. For example: new paths, improvements to roads and bridges, new buildings and schools, and major long-term investments such as the Stirling Studios development at Forthside.
This budget consultation is about how we spend the revenue funding. The council’s total revenue budget this year (2025-26) is £325.6 million. More than 70% of this comes from the Scottish Government and non-domestic rates, 20% from council tax and 8% from council housing rents.
For more information, please visit www.stirling.gov.uk/bigconversation
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