Following a successful six-month pilot scheme, funding has been allocated to create a more responsive and customer-focused estate management service which will clean and tidy communal areas, tackle unkempt gardens, littering and fly-tipping. Additional staff will be recruited to the service as part of the investment.

The decision was approved at May’s meeting of the Community Wellbeing and Housing Committee.

Convener of the committee, Cllr Gerry McGarvey, said: “Regular maintenance of our council housing developments improves the quality of homes for our tenants and creates communities that people are happy to live, work and settle in. This instils a sense of community spirit among residents who hold their neighbourhoods in high regard.

“Our successful pilot programme showed a strong desire from council tenants for this work to continue and be expanded – and I’m pleased we are making this additional investment. This shows our commitment to make our neighbourhoods more appealing and recognises the needs and challenges faced in different areas across Stirling.

“Having clean and tidy neighbourhoods bring longer-term benefits by reducing the amount of time that properties remain vacant. It also fosters pride encouraging residents to take more care and responsibility of their local environment.”