As a result, the council has launched its annual public budget engagement, seeking opinions and feedback from residents through the Budget Conversation to understand the services that matter most to them.

The local authority has launched its annual round of public budget engagement, seeking opinions and feedback from residents through the Budget Conversation to understand the services that matter most to them.

With no increase expected in Local Government core funding from the Scottish Government for the next three years, the Council now needs to find a way to bridge a gap which is almost double its annual roads and land services budget.

Convener of Stirling Council’s Finance, Economy and Corporate Support Committee, Councillor Margaret Brisley, said: “This time last year we were looking at a funding gap of £29m but that was over the next five years.

“Now, with everything that’s happened in the past year, including the significant increases to inflation, we’re facing more than half that figure just for the year ahead. That’s £17m, which is the equivalent of paying for 331 social workers for a whole year. That’s the real value of the gap we’re facing.

“These budget pressures mean we will have to continue to find ways to save money while protecting your key services, transforming how we work and generating more income.”

She added: “This is why we need to hear from you: what are your needs and priorities? What services matter most to you and what are your ideas for how we can bridge the budget gap and continue to deliver for you and for Stirling?

“Everything you tell us will help inform our decisions, so please join the conversation and have your say.”

Paper copies of the survey will also be available in Stirling Council Libraries and Customer First.