Falkirk Council is facing a massive funding gap over the next three years and is seeking views on how this can be addressed.

A meeting of the full Council heard recently that there was an estimated shortfall of around £40m to be found across all services.

A wide ranging consultation is planned for the proposals and the report to elected members highlighted potential savings put forward by senior Council managers.

All services are being examined and proposals include charging, reducing or even stopping some services.  Options also include further reviews of the Council’s assets, purchasing goods more effectively and funding for partners.

Despite making more than £70m savings over the last eight years, a further £40m (around 12% of the Council’s spending) is still required.

No decisions have been taken to date and the results of the consultation as well as those of staff will form part of the budget process when elected members set a final budget in February 2015.

Councillor Craig Martin, Leader of Falkirk Council said: “This is an unprecedented shortfall in our funding and despite the efforts we have put into managing our budgets to preserve services, it is clear that the rising pressures on us will require substantial action.

“The demand for our services is at an all-time high and with our local population on the increase, this brings a greater strain on schools as well as care for the elderly.

“We are looking very closely at what our priorities are for our communities however it is clear that some services will have to be reduced or ended.

“We are looking for as much feedback on what residents think and this will help us collectively come to a better decision once these views are known.

“It is also clear that with around 60% of our budget spent on employee costs, it is likely that the number of employees will have to reduce also but discussions with trade Unions have still to take place in this regard.

“Given that Council Tax has been frozen for eight years and we are able to maintain the second lowest Council Tax in mainland Scotland, we have no option but to explore these proposals thoroughly.

More than 100 options have been put forward by senior Council officers, with more to follow over the coming months.  These include:

• A reduction in work carried out on flower beds, shrubs, hedges and hanging baskets could produce a saving of £145k;
• An introduction of day care charges for older people could generate £29k;
• Ending of breakfast clubs in schools could save £60k;
• Ending the supported shopping service and replacing it with voluntary support would save £125k;
• A review of community learning and development services could save £700k.

The survey will be available online and a separate internal consultation process is being put in place for employees.

The actual projected financial shortfall for 2015/16 is £7.8m, with further shortfalls of £17.4m in 16/17 and £15.2m in 17/18.

The full budget report can be accessed here