Big Conversation

Read the equality and socio-economic impact documentation related to each of the Council’s 2024-25 budget saving proposals.

Please note any financial figures in these documents reflect the maximum budget saving for each proposal considered. The finalised costs associated with the proposals can be found in the motions that are part of the draft budget reports in the agenda papers.

Thank you to all who participated in our budget consultation on Engage Stirling. The results of the survey are available to download below.

Stirling Council, like other Scottish local authorities, is facing an unprecedented financial challenge.

The Big Conversation saw the council engage with residents and communities early on in the 2024-25 budget-setting process about the council’s budget gap, which is now estimated to be over £16m, and the difficult decisions the council would face as a result.

This important exercise allowed the council to gather more information on the potential impacts of cuts to address this shortfall, to help inform decision-making.

More than 3,400 people participated in the online survey on nearly 50 savings proposals. The results are now available to view on our Engage Stirling site and can be downloaded here.

Almost 700 people attended 24 events across the council area between August and December last year, which included eight larger ‘market-place’ events where members of the public could talk directly to services.

The council also received a large volume of correspondence and communities have come forward, showing the strength of feeling about Stirling’s public services and concerns for local government funding.

The majority of Scottish councils’ funding comes from the Scottish Government. In Stirling Council nearly 79% of the budget comes from a Scottish Government grant and our share of the Government’s non-domestic rates or business rates, with the rest raised from council tax.

As well as providing the Council with valuable feedback, residents who took part in ‘Big Conversation’ have provided ideas and suggestions, and also helped to bring together people in communities who are motivated and passionate about ensuring local needs are met.

We would like to thank everyone who completed the survey, came to an event, or took time to write to us – your feedback has been invaluable and will help inform decisions made about the budget.

If you attended an in person event and would like to leave feedback about it you can use the form below.