Below are the Tranche 1 projects being taken forward, each with a defined scope and moving into detailed development.

Governance, legal and assurance foundations needed to support shared and collaborative services across partner councils.

The Governance workstream will create a clear and consistent framework for how decisions are made, how risks are managed, and how shared service models are designed and approved. This will give officers, elected members and partners the confidence to develop and deliver collaborative services in a way that is lawful, transparent and accountable.

The project will explore different shared service models, identify legal and governance risks, and set out how those risks can be managed. It will also consider the implications for elected member oversight and for employees affected by new operating models. The main outcome will be a practical governance framework and supporting tools that enable the wider Transformation through Collaboration programme to progress at pace and with assurance.

The aim is to assess and design a shared Internal Audit and Fraud service for Falkirk and Clackmannanshire Councils with the goal of strengthening assurances, protecting public funds, and ensure both councils can continue to meet their statutory and Best Value duties in a sustainable way.

The project will explore whether a more integrated operating model can improve capacity, resilience and consistency across both councils. It will consider different options, including maintaining current arrangements, full integration, or alternative delivery models, and assess how each would support effective audit coverage, fraud prevention and investigation.

The main outcome of this work will be a fully costed business case. This will set out the preferred operating model, the benefits and risks, and the resources required to deliver a strong, modern Internal Audit and Fraud service that supports transparency, public confidence and improved outcomes for communities.

Greater collaboration between Falkirk Council and Clackmannanshire Council already exists in emergency planning and resilience, but current arrangements are informal and limit the benefits that could be achieved through a more integrated approach. Small teams, duplication of effort and challenges in maintaining sustainable 24‑hour response arrangements mean that existing operating models are increasingly difficult to sustain as risks become more complex.

The aim of this workstream is to explore the feasibility of a shared Resilience and Emergency Planning service that strengthens capacity, improves resilience and delivers more consistent support to communities. The work will assess how statutory civil contingencies duties and core resilience functions could be brought together to provide a more robust, coordinated and sustainable service across both councils.

The workstream will produce a fully costed business case setting out options for a future operating model, the benefits and risks of integration, and the resources required. This will support informed decisions about how best to improve emergency preparedness, response and recovery, while ensuring both councils continue to meet their statutory duties and support communities when they need it most.

This project aims to design and develop a shared Revenues and Benefits service across partner councils. The intention is to bring services together in a way that is simpler, more consistent and more resilient, while making better use of staff, systems and resources.

The project will explore how key functions can be integrated into a single operating model. It will focus on improving the experience for residents, ensuring fair and consistent decision‑making, and reducing duplication and costs across councils. Opportunities to improve digital services and increase automation will also be considered where this supports better outcomes.

The main output of this work will be a fully costed business case. This will set out the proposed shared service model, the expected benefits and risks, and the costs of implementation. The business case will support informed decisions about whether and how the shared service should proceed.