Falkirk Council has revealed its three-year £100 million spending programme to improve communities and services in the region.

The budget will see existing projects continue, while new ones will be able to start.

Spending plans for between 2016-2019 include:

• £33.5m progressing the plans to bring more than £400m investment and 6000 jobs as part of the ambitious Tax Incremental Finance scheme (TIF) over the next 25 years

• £16.2m for a replacement for Carrongrange school

• £2.1m for improvements to Denny Town Centre

• £9.8m on roads and lighting improvements

• £4.2m flood protection plans in Grangemouth

• £3m investment in business property

• £1.8m on creating additional cemetery space

• £5.2m on improvements to schools including hall extensions and kitchen upgrades.

In addition, the council has approved an £81m housing budget, which will upgrade existing homes and add new housing to the local area.

-- Advertisement --

Over 5,000 properties will be upgraded as part of the local authorities commitment to meet national housing and energy standards in the next year.

This includes:

• Re-roofing, roughcasting and other external improvements (£8.7m)

• Upgrading of electrics (£2.3m)

• Kitchen and bathroom replacements (£2.2m)

• Replacement heating systems (£2.2m)

• Estate landscape improvement works (£0.5m).

An additional £3.4m will be spent on building 82 new homes in Stenhousemuir, Denny and Falkirk; while £6m will be allocated to continue to 'buy-back' around 80-90 former council properties, helping to meet the demand for council housing.

Council Leader Craig Martin said: "These projects and improvements are vital to the area and need to be progressed.

"Our revenue budget allows us to function on a day to day basis covering costs such as wages, supplies and materials and is under a great strain and therefore we have to invest in our assets and infrastructure to ensure the area continues to thrive for residents, businesses and visitors alike.

"The Council's revenue budget is facing real financial difficulties, and capital investment decisions impact on the revenue budget either through loan repayments or the costs of running our assets. 

"This capital programme has been prepared to ensure a balance is struck between continued investment in assets and infrastructure and making sure that the revenue budget is not put under further pressure."

Overall, the council revealed that around £25m of savings will have to be found in the next year to allow it to continue to provide local services and balance its £330m net revenue budget.

(LM/JP)