Councillors agreed the revenue and capital budget for the next financial year, with decisions informed by the views of residents who took part in the Big Conversation survey.

A £10.7m shortfall in the £328.63m revenue budget was bridged by efficiency (£4.79m) and policy (£668,000) savings totalling £5.46m, along with an increase in charges to 5% (£175,000).

The remainder will be made up by an 8.75% increase in council tax, which will also provide additional support for the council’s revenue budget which funds the day-to-day running of vital services, from schools and nurseries to libraries and community centres.

Some of the new revenue spending commitments include £300,000 for grass cutting and community pride restoration projects, £120,000 for a law centre and for veterans support, £120,000 for the maintenance of civic and community assets, £100,000 for an eastern villages bus route and £100,000 for a swimming uplift to the holiday fun club fund.

Around 3% of the council tax increase will cover a reduction in funding to the council from the Local Growth Fund and support social care services in the community via the Health and Social Partnership.

The additional £3m spend (per year over the next two years) on the area’s roads infrastructure means a total of £8m will be invested in this service area over the coming year – a 60% increase. This is part of the £61.3m capital budget which funds long-term projects such as new roads, schools and buildings.

Major projects in a wide range of service areas will benefit from substantial investment in the capital programme, such as the completion of the new schools in Callander and Corbiewood, and the first phase of the new school build Durieshill, as well as the flood alleviation scheme in Bridge of Allan.

Other projects to be approved in the capital budget are: £200,000 for public toilets in Drymen and Dunblane, £175,000 for playparks, £25,000 for cemeteries infrastructure and £50,000 for additional mobile CCTV.

Borrowing will also fund the construction of new padel courts at the Peak sports facility (£1.3m) and to support the transformation of children’s residential care (£1m).

Stirling Council leader, Cllr Susan McGill, said: “This budget will deliver significant new investments in the services that matter most to our communities, drive growth and help restore civic pride across Stirling.

“While setting a budget in the current financial climate for local government is hugely challenging, I am proud we have managed to address a significant shortfall whilst committing to additional spending in priority areas for residents such as roads, footpaths and the maintenance of our cherished public spaces.

“We have had to take some difficult decisions to do this, including increasing council tax, but these have been necessary to ensure we can deliver better outcomes for everyone across Stirling and invest in the area’s future.”

The council’s Big Conversation survey with residents ran between 6 January and 1 February 2026. Almost 2,700 people gave their views on potential ways for the council to raise more income, make savings and deliver services differently.

Cllr McGill added: “The feedback from residents in the survey informed our final decisions in the budget, whether that was rejecting or accepting savings proposals or where we should target our resources. Thanks again to everyone who took part. 

“It’s really important we maintain this ongoing dialogue with our residents, staff and partners so we can continue to meet the needs of our communities, navigate the challenges ahead and secure the council’s long-term financial sustainability.” 

The policy savings accepted in the budget included a tariff increase to on and off-street parking, ceasing to staff Bannockburn Enterprise Hub, maintaining changes to the library services in Drymen, a street lighting dimming project and an £8 increase in the Garden Waste Permit to £60.

The savings proposals rejected included a reduction in the door-to-door accessible transport service, a review of clothing grants, and reductions to the ASN outreach team and the Educational Psychology Service.