Budget Consultation 2023/24 Priorities (Phase 1)

Phase 1 of the 2023/24 budget engagement took place between 6 December 2022 and 8 January 2023.

We asked you for feedback on the Council’s priorities and also what you like about living in Clackmannanshire and what could be improved.

We also asked about the issues that matter the most to you and how we should conduct future consultation and engagement activity.

We asked: What is the best thing about living in Clackmannanshire?

You said: The best things were

• our open and green spaces and parks;
• the quality of schools and education;
• Clackmannanshire people and communities and the good transport links.

Other things you told us you like are affordability of housing, access to supermarkets, roads and the proximity of Clackmannanshire to other major towns and cities.

We asked: What parts could be improved?

You said: Transport links; culture and leisure facilities; quality of schools and  education and open and green spaces and parks were the parts you would like to see improved.

Other aspects that could be improved included community safety, tackling anti-social behaviour and parking and enforcement; activities for young people; general appearance and maintenance of the area and local bus services.

We asked: What issues are you most concerned about personally?

You said: 

• Cost of living;
• anti-social behaviour;
• education and schools and
• leisure and sport.

These were however closely followed by

• crime and community safety;
• local environment;
• public transport;
• poverty and inequality and
• social care.

We asked: Are these outcomes the right ones?

By 2030 Clackmannanshire Council aims to deliver the following outcomes:

• Improved economic performance with more, better paid jobs and development opportunities for local people
• Sustainable health and social care and improved quality of life for our residents
• Improved choices and chances through raising attainment and skills development opportunities
• More services designed, developed and delivered in partnership, including with our communities
• Greater integration with our partners
• Greater resilience and independence within our communities to minimise the impacts of poverty and inequality
• Clear strategies and innovations which place Clackmannanshire in a leading role in meeting climate challenge

You said: Most of you (75%) said these outcomes felt right, however were ambitious and many of you wanted to see more detail on how these outcomes would be delivered.

Other suggestions you provided include:

• investment in social and affordable housing to meet families needs;
• making Clackmannanshire a safe and desirable place to live with a focus on community safety and diversionary activities for young people;
• improvement in roads and transport infrastructure including public transport (to access employment and services), active travel and cycle networks;
• improving health and wellbeing through leisure and sports (specifically the new swimming pool/hub) and
• improving education in the broadest sense including school infrastructure, attainment, positive outcomes beyond attainment and adult learning opportunities.

We asked: Are these priority themes the right ones?

The priority themes for Clackmannanshire Council as set out in Be the Future are:

Sustainable Inclusive Growth  

We will take steps to tackle poverty, inequality and the cost of living crisis.

We aim to maximise the opportunities for local people and businesses through our improved economic performance.

We will also establish standards, delivery models and strategies which allow Clackmannanshire to play a leading role in meeting the climate challenge and protecting our built and natural environment.

Empowering families and communities

We will place people at the heart of service delivery.

We aim to prioritise service users, family and community participation and leadership in developing and delivering solutions.

We will work in partnership to build individual; family and community skills in support of social and financial independence. 

Health and wellbeing

We aim to improve the environment, quality of life and ease of access to services.

Enhanced wellbeing will also provide greater participation opportunities as a consequence of improving economic performance in Clackmannanshire.

Delivering increased wellbeing also aims to promote equitable growth.

You said: Most of you (75%) said these priority themes felt right.

12% of you suggested other priorities which included

• providing services that help vulnerable people who need them most and doing more to raise awareness of these services;
• being more public facing for communities and members of the public;
• investing more in green spaces, parks and play equipment;
• delivering the new swimming pool;
• investing more in education, schools/outcomes for young people and
• supporting more people into, and back into, employment.

We asked: Regarding future consultation, what is your preferred way for engaging with the Council?

You said: Most of you (86%) stated a preference for online consultation/surveys followed by social media (52.1%) and public meetings (43%).

Other suggestions include using the Alloa Advertiser, putting information out with Council Tax bills, and making use of ‘you said we did’ functionality.

The Council is undertaking a 4-phase programme of engagement to shape its budget decisions for the next 5 years.

Phase 2 took place from 25 January 2023.