Big Conversation

Stirling Council its continuing the Big Conversation with residents about how it tackles another significant budget shortfall next year (2025 to 2026).

The council must plug a budget gap in 2025/26 despite making up a shortfall that eventually amounted to more than £18m in the current financial year (2024/25). This was delivered by savings across council services, the use of one off reserves and increases to fees and charges.

Since 2014/15, the council has made £45m of year-on-year savings.

The council’s recently approved medium term financial strategy underlines the scale of the financial challenge it faces over the next five years, with an indicative budget gap of £12.9m in 2025/26, rising to £51.3m by 2029/30.

In 2024/25, just over 71% of overall funding to support Stirling Council’s delivery of services comes from the Scottish Government grant and business rates, with the other 29% generated from council tax, housing rents, and council reserves.

Our total budget for day-to-day and running costs (known as "revenue") is £319.1m in 2024/25. See below for a breakdown of where our money comes from and what we spend our money on.

The council faces this unprecedented financial situation due to external funding pressures, rising costs and inflation as well as increasing demand for services. These financial challenges are mirrored at local authorities across Scotland.

The Council’s budget engagement is intended to encourage communities, individuals and stakeholders to share their priorities and provide feedback on the potential impact of proposed changes to services. 

It is part of a long running dialogue with communities on the stark choices facing local government in delivering services and a balanced budget.

The latest budget engagement from the Council was delivered over two phases.

The first from phase was carried out in October and November 2024 and the second ran from December 2024 until February 2025.

The Council received 4,323 responses in total.

The first phase included a general survey of the community which generated 751 responses.  A dedicated version for children and young people was also published, which generated 67 responses.  

The second phase, seeking feedback on specific proposals, launched on 19 December 2024 and closed on 2 February 2025. It generated 2,780 responses.

A separate survey for children and young people was also promoted through schools,  generating 725 responses. A full report is published on the Council’s ‘Engage’ platform on both phases.

Information and data from our 2024/25 engagement is also available to read by following the link below.