Considered one of the most challenging to set in the Council’s history, the budget was designed to help close a £25.9m budget gap and balance the books for the coming year.

Raising council tax by 7% was one of several measures taken by councillors at the budget meeting last Wednesday, 1 March.

The rise means an average Band ‘D’ household will now pay an annual council tax of £1,363.82, which is equivalent to a weekly increase of £1.72.

Last year, Falkirk’s Council Tax was the 5th lowest in mainland Scotland and £72 less than the Scottish average.

Yesterday, councillors were told the rise was a step in the journey to reaching the Scottish average but that there was some way to go.

Councillor Cecil Meiklejohn, leader of Falkirk Council said: “The money we raise through Council Tax accounts for only around 18% of our total budget. Any increase in Council Tax is extremely difficult, given the financial challenges faced by many of our residents, but we still have one of the lowest Council Tax rates in mainland Scotland.

“The budget approved yesterday has not been without its challenges. We have had to make some of the most difficult decisions in the Council’s history, set against a backdrop of external factors that are outwith our control. These include high inflation and interest rates, the rising cost of food and fuel along with increasing energy costs which has had a negative impact on the Council’s finances.”

Councillors also agreed to spend some of the Council reserves – effectively the money saved during the current financial year – on a range of proposals including:

• £1m on a Regeneration Fund to support infrastructure improvements in Falkirk Council’s five town centres and two pilot villages of Bonnybridge and Slamannan.
• £500k towards the successful Community Choices programme to ensure it continues for another year.
• £250k for the Household Support Fund to provide vital cash over the winter of 2023/24 to support 1,300 low-income households access food, fuel and other essentials.
• £250k for Climate Change to investigate sustainable energy solutions for the Council such as solar, wind farm or heat network opportunities.

Despite the difficult position, Falkirk Council’s Capital programme will still see £36.2m invested in services over the coming year:

• £6.7m in Children’s Services which delivers the likes of Education and Children’s Social Work
• £21.9m in Place Services which delivers several frontline services including Waste and Roads & Grounds
• £6.5m in Transformation, Communities & Corporate Services which includes IT and the delivery of CCTV
• £1.1m Adult Social Work which provides services that support adults and older people including the Mobile Emergency Care Service

Specific investments across services include:

• £2.6m in specific school improvements and extensions, with a further £1.5m across all other schools
• £3.9m on roads structural maintenance
• £3.1m Grangemouth flood defence scheme
• £1.6m for digital learning
• £1.2m participatory budgeting through Community Choices
• £1m for work starting on a new Falkirk Town Hall
• £0.7m for cycling, walking and safer routes
• £0.5m Changing place facilities
• £0.4m CCTV improvements
• £0.3m in Grangemouth Sports Complex

Cllr Meiklejohn said: “Our financial strategy approved in September set out a significant funding gap over the next four years which means we need to reduce costs and generate additional income.

“However, our budget also includes a £36.2m investment in 2023/24 across priority areas through our Capital programme. We are investing in school improvements and extensions, our roads network and empowering our communities through our Community Choices fund.”

An agreement was also made to bring two reports to committee - one on the future of the Royal Hotel in Slamannan; the other on signage to the Battle of Falkirk 1298 monument. In addition, the Council approved the allocation of £0.5m to “fund works to allow 20mph zones to be introduced”.