Below are the budget proposals for Development Services that have been approved.
Environmental Services
Brown Bin Monthly
Estimated savings
2019/20
£000's |
Full-time equivalent |
| 166 |
6 |
Commentary
Service reverts back to original collection frequency of 4 weekly and on demand in the winter months.
Impact on Service (Including Provisional EPIA Assessment)
Initial EPIA completed – no impact on people.
CCTV Surveillance
Estimated savings
2019/20
£000's |
Full-time equivalent |
| 20 |
0 |
Commentary
Remove budget for additional CCTV cameras – purchased in 2017/18.
Impact on Service (Including Provisional EPIA Assessment)
Initial EPIA complete – no impact on people.
Removal of Pest Control Services
Estimated savings
2019/20
£000's |
Full-time equivalent |
| 10 |
1 |
Commentary
Current service provision ends thereby releasing the current budget for savings.
Council would need to direct service users to utilise private companies. There would be an impact on staffing.
Impact on Service (Including Provisional EPIA Assessment)
Full EPIA complete – low impact.
Service users will still have access to pest control albeit through private sector.
Smart Working, Smart Travel
Estimated savings
2019/20
£000's |
Full-time equivalent |
| 50 |
0 |
Commentary
This is a Council of the Future project linked to the modern and digital workstream. This links to the recently introduced travel hierarchy. It involves the introduction of pool cars to enable staff to use these vehicles for attending meetings or carrying out Council business instead of the Council paying mileage allowance.
The project itself is linked to our sustainability agenda will also make CO2 savings and reduce the number of claims made by employees. The project has introduced 60 vehicles in 2018/19 and the proposal is to introduce a further 30 pool vehicles in 2019/20.
Securing other grant funding from the Scottish Government will also see additional electric vehicles being introduced to supplement the existing fleet.
Impact on Service (Including Provisional EPIA Assessment)
Full EPIA complete – assessed low impact.
Transformation of Operational Services: Reduction in Street Cleansing
Estimated savings
2019/20
£000's |
Full-time equivalent |
| 200 |
3 |
Commentary
Option 1
Reduce budget associated with service - £200k and 3FTE
Impact on Service (Including Provisional EPIA Assessment)
Full EPIA complete – no impact on people.
Transformation of Operational Services: Remove Community Safety team provision
Estimated savings
2019/20
£000's |
Full-time equivalent |
| 60 |
0 |
Commentary
Remove Community Safety team provision in General Service's budget. Current service provision ends thereby releasing the current budget for savings.
Impact on Service (Including Provisional EPIA Assessment)
Full EPIA complete. Not assessed as this proposal will impact on people.
Transformation of Operational Services: Revised permit arrangements for vans
Estimated savings
2019/20
£000's |
Full-time equivalent |
| 160 |
0 |
Commentary
It is proposed that we introduce a free non-chargeable permit for those customers (householders) whose only means of transport is a works van, with regards access to the Council's Household Waste Recycling Centres. This would be done through an online application. It is proposed to offer between 5 and 10 permits per year.
Impact on Service (Including Provisional EPIA Assessment)
Full EPIA complete – low impact.
Transformation of Operational Services: Revised special uplift arrangements
Estimated savings
2019/20
£000's |
Full-time equivalent |
| 300 |
6 |
Commentary
Current service arrangement of one free uplift ends. Service reverts to chargeable service for all uplifts based on fees and charges policy.
Impact on Service (Including Provisional EPIA Assessment)
Full EPIA complete – low impact.
Waste Recycling Centres opening hours
Estimated savings
2019/20
£000's |
Full-time equivalent |
| 200 |
10 |
Commentary
The Council operates two Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRCs); one in west of the district at Roughmute, Bonnybridge and one in the east at Kinneil Kerse, Bo'ness. From a statutory perspective, the Authority has to be provide at least one Recycling Centre. There is an opportunity to maximise the use of the sites, by making the following changes to their availability whilst still providing a service:
- Each site will be closed to the public for two days per week
- Both sites will be open to the public at the weekends
- The current public opening hours are 8am to 8pm (April to September) and 9am to 6pm (October to March). This will reduce to opening times equivalent to 9:00am to 5:30pm all year round.
The changes described above will ensure that the public will continue to have access to at least one site per day and more importantly both sites will be available for public use at the weekends. An example of the proposed availability of each site is as follows:
| Day |
HWRC 1 |
HWRC 2 |
| Monday |
Open to Public: 9am to 5:30pm |
Open to Public: 9am to 5:30pm |
| Tuesday* |
Closed |
Open to Public: 9am to 5:30pm |
| Wednesday* |
Closed |
Open to Public: 9:00am to 5:30pm |
| Thursday* |
Open to Public: 9am to 5:30pm |
Closed |
| Friday* |
Open to Public: 9am to 5:30pm |
Closed |
| Saturday |
Open to Public: 9am to 5:30pm |
Open to Public: 9am to 5:30pm |
| Sunday |
Open to Public: 9am to 5:30pm |
Open to Public: 9am to 5:30pm |
* The sites will be closed to the public but remain operational for recyclate bulking
purposes.
Impact on Service (Including Provisional EPIA Assessment)
Full EPIA complete – low impact.
Design, Roads & Transport
Income Maximisation: SLA recharge for gritter driver services to Stirling & Clackmannanshire Councils
Estimated savings
2019/20
£000's |
Full-time equivalent |
| 10 |
0 |
Commentary
By income from a recharge service to adjacent local authorities, providing gritter driver services during winter, capitalising upon efficiencies from the Council's rationalisation of winter service route treatment of carriageway and footway network.
Service level agreements, currently developed to allow partnership working with neighbouring Local Authorities.
Impact on Service (Including Provisional EPIA Assessment)
Initial EPIA complete – no impact on people.
Income Maximisation: SLA recharge for Structural & Street Lighting Services to Stirling & Clackmannanshire Councils
Estimated savings
2019/20
£000's |
Full-time equivalent |
| 20 |
0 |
Commentary
Income generated from Service Level Agreements with other neighbouring Local Authorities for the provision of structural and street lighting support services, provided within current team capacity, to Stirling and Clackmannanshire Councils. This would be a recurring income, albeit at the same level.
We will work in partnership with adjacent Local Authorities to promote effective and efficient winter service plans
Impact on Service (Including Provisional EPIA Assessment)
Initial EPIA complete – no impact on people.
Income Maximisation: SLA recharge for traffic collection services to Clackmannanshire Council
Estimated savings
2019/20
£000's |
Full-time equivalent |
| 10 |
0 |
Commentary
Income generated from Service Level Agreements with other neighbouring Local Authorities for the provision of traffic data collection support services, provided within current team capacity, initially to Clackmannanshire Council. This would be a recurring income, albeit at the same level. The possibility of providing this service to other Local Authorities is currently being explored, therefore the level of income could increase, however this would be dependent upon the resources available to provide this service, whilst maintaining service provision within the Council.
Service level agreements will be developed to allow partnership working with neighbouring Local Authorities. These are currently drafted and subject to initial discussion.
Impact on Service (Including Provisional EPIA Assessment)
Initial EPIA complete – no impact on people.
Reduce taxicard budget overprovision
Estimated savings
2019/20
£000's |
Full-time equivalent |
| 28 |
0 |
Commentary
Reduce the Taxicard budget down to the level of current expenditure which will have no impact on service delivery.
Impact on Service (Including Provisional EPIA Assessment)
Initial EPIA – no impact on people
Reduction of bus subsidies (1)
Estimated savings
2019/20
£000's |
Full-time equivalent |
| 167 |
0 |
Commentary
This option would reduce the expenditure on subsidised bus services in 2019/20 (please also see Reduction of bus subsidies (2)). The savings would be delivered by a reduction of £352,000 (full financial year) on local bus service contracts, including those supplying Local School Bus Services to Children's Services , and would involve reducing service frequencies and/or days of operation. This, if added to option 2 will result in withdrawal of all bus subsidy.
Impact on Service (Including Provisional EPIA Assessment)
Full EPIA complete – low impact.
Notes
Upon the decision to implement the saving, the necessary contract notice periods will be implemented, and the savings noted above account for such notice periods within the financial year 2019/20. Should the decision be delayed or amended, then the saving to be achieved would require to be adjusted to take account of the contract notice and service change implementation periods.
Remove contribution to Bo'ness Community Bus
Estimated savings
2019/20
£000's |
Full-time equivalent |
| 10 |
0 |
Commentary
This is a non-recurring saving arising from additional sum allocated in 17/18 specifically to support the Bo'ness and Area Community Bus Association to run a service between Bo’ness, Blackness and Edinburgh, initially funding a 3 month trial (£6k) and purchase of a ticket machine (£4k).
This budget allocation was intended as a one off payment to assist the Community Bus Association to start their bus service, and it is noted that the Association submitted a small grants application for further funding in summer 2018, administered through Corporate & Housing Services. Any further application for funds for this organisation can be directed via the small grants scheme when it will be assessed against agreed criteria and along with other grant applications.
Impact on Service (Including Provisional EPIA Assessment)
Initial EPIA complete – no impact on people.
Transformation of Design, Roads and Transport: LED Lighting upgrade programme
Estimated savings
2019/20
£000's |
Full-time equivalent |
| 90 |
0 |
Commentary
The proposal involves replacing existing street lighting lanterns with modern LED lanterns. The roads and footways will be lit to a similar standard to that currently being provided and will comply with recommended British Standard lighting levels. The LED lighting will provide a reduction in energy consumption and carbon emissions and will increase the reliability of the Councils street lighting service.
Impact on Service (Including Provisional EPIA Assessment)
Transformation of Design, Roads and Transport: Reduce vacant posts within Design, Roads and Transport
Estimated savings
2019/20
£000's |
Full-time equivalent |
| 250 |
8.5 |
Commentary
The proposal removes a number of unused vacant posts identified within the Design, Roads & Transport establishment, no longer considered required to support service delivery.
Impact on Service (Including Provisional EPIA Assessment)
Initial EPIA complete – no impact on people.
Initial EPIA complete – no impact on people.
Transformation of Design, Roads and Transport: Removal of grounds maintenance nursery provision
Estimated savings
2019/20
£000's |
Full-time equivalent |
| 120 |
3 |
Commentary
Reduction in plant/labour and material costs such as the purchase of plants (plugs), and, watering and heating costs.
Impact on Service (Including Provisional EPIA Assessment)
Full EPIA complete – assessed low impact.
Transformation of Design, Roads and Transport: Remove flower bedding and hanging basket provision
Estimated savings
2019/20
£000's |
Full-time equivalent |
| 100 |
2 |
Commentary
Reduction in plant/labour and material costs such as
- nursery costs
- purchase of plants (plugs)
- watering costs
- purchase of baskets
- labour and vehicles/equipment required
Impact on Service (Including Provisional EPIA Assessment)
Initial EPIA complete – no impact on people.
Transformation of Design, Roads and Transport: Review Learning and Physical Disability Transport
Estimated savings
2019/20
£000's |
Full-time equivalent |
| 88 |
3 |
Commentary
A review of the Adult Day service provision by Social Work Services which will see a move from a centre based to a more community based service. As consequence the requirement for transport to and from the Adult Day Centres will diminish.
Impact on Service (Including Provisional EPIA Assessment)
Full EPIA complete – to be assessed.
Planning & Economic Development
Crematorium & Burials - Fees & Charges
Estimated savings
2019/20
£000's |
Full-time equivalent |
| 67 |
0 |
Commentary
As part of the Services for the Bereaved project, Burial fees have been increased by c12-13% to align Falkirk to the Scottish average and an inflationary increase of 3% applied to Cremation charges.
Impact on Service (Including Provisional EPIA Assessment)
EPIA to be completed.
Employment and Training Unit Service Review
Estimated savings
2019/20
£000's |
Full-time equivalent |
| 57 |
0 |
Commentary
ETU's savings are to be delivered from:
- ETU core revenue budget and
- the Council’s Fairer Falkirk Fund (administrated by Corporate and Housing Services).
The savings will be delivered primarily through reducing and re-focussing activities on:
- people furthest from the labour market
- supporting agreed co-investment for European Social Fund (ESF) and Fair Start Scotland
- providing an employability support service to those with multiple barriers to employment including health conditions, disabilities and no or low skills.
Impact on Service (Including Provisional EPIA Assessment)
Full EPIA completed – medium impact.
Reduce FCT property maintenance budget
Estimated savings
2019/20
£000's |
Full-time equivalent |
| 20 |
0 |
Commentary
Small reduction in repairs to buildings which will not affect their operation and, therefore, have no impact on users.
Impact on Service (Including Provisional EPIA Assessment)
Initial EPIA complete – no impact on people.
Services for the Bereaved - General Expenditure
Estimated savings
2019/20
£000's |
Full-time equivalent |
| 44 |
0 |
Commentary
Revenue budget projected over recovery of Non-domestic rates (£26k) and other miscellaneous variances (£18k) targeted in 19/20. No impact on staff or public/customers.
Impact on Service (Including Provisional EPIA Assessment)
Initial EPIA complete – no impact on people.
Services for the Bereaved: Mercury Abatement - savings following upgrade
Estimated savings
2019/20
£000's |
Full-time equivalent |
| 52 |
0 |
Commentary
Relates to emissions from Crematorium. New plant investment reduces/ removes CAMEO burden sharing scheme payments, to potentially net income.
Impact on Service (Including Provisional EPIA Assessment)
Initial EPIA complete – no impact on people.
Transformation of Planning & Economic Development: Business Gateway Saving
Estimated savings
2019/20
£000's |
Full-time equivalent |
| 26 |
0 |
Commentary
Reduction in support to local businesses in the Falkirk area with indirect impact of reducing new start and growth sector opportunities.
Impact on Service (Including Provisional EPIA Assessment)
Full EPIA complete – assessed low impact.
Transformation of Planning & Economic Development: Income from capital Sustrans & Planning Obligations
Estimated savings
2019/20
£000's |
Full-time equivalent |
| 97 |
0 |
Commentary
Income from capital to staff revenue costs.
Impact on Service (Including Provisional EPIA Assessment)
Initial EPIA complete – no impact on people.
Transformation of Planning & Economic Development: Staff Reduction within Planning and Environment
Estimated savings
2019/20
£000's |
Full-time equivalent |
| 26 |
0.5 |
Commentary
Savings arising from vacancies in the Planning and Environment Unit.
Impact on Service (Including Provisional EPIA Assessment)
Initial EPIA complete – no impact on people.