Stirling Council have released information on their annual budget engagement process.
The local authority has launched its annual round of public budget engagement, seeking opinions and feedback from residents through the Budget Conversation to understand the services that matter most to them. With no increase expected in Local Government core funding from the Scottish Government for the next three years, the Council now needs to find a way to bridge a gap which is almost double its annual roads and land services budget.
Join this year's budget conversation by telling us what is important to you through our quick survey. We want as many people to take part so please spread the word about the survey in your community. The Conversation will close on Friday 16th December
Access the survey on Engage Stirling. You can also fill out the survey via Stirling Council Libraries or order a paper copy of the survey by calling our Customer First Contact Centre on 01786 404040. You can also request alternative formats by emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
This will be the first Extravaganza in three years and the Dunblane Development Trust can’t wait to bring this community event back for everyone to enjoy! We’re keeping it local and we’ve got a packed evening for you.
Order of Events Reverse Christmas Storytelling Pods Map of Events
The High Street will be closed to traffic between Charisma and the gold postbox from 5pm - 8.30pm on Thursday 1 December and shops, businesses, cafés and food outlets will stay open late. So lots of opportunities for everyone to enjoy a bit of socialising, some late-night shopping and the chance to buy your tea from one or more of the many fab local eateries!
At 5.30pm Santa will arrive on his sleigh accompanied by his elves and, with help from six primary school children, will switch on the lights of a giant Christmas tree* at station plaza and start the event. Youngsters visiting Santa in his grotto are being invited to bring a tin or packet for Start Up Stirling in a reverse Christmas (read more here) and, in return, will be given a lasting memento made here by the dedicated teams at Creative Dunblane. Mrs Claus will be joining us for the first time ever (at the library) and there’ll be Alpacas to (at the gold postbox)!
This is the Year of Storytelling and we’ll have several Storytelling pods along the route in various locations including the Library. Local authors will be reading excerpts from their books to children, teens and adults and a variety of storytellers will be telling traditional and festive tales to young folk too.
Різдвяна феєрія в Данблейн Четвер, 1 грудня
There’ll be a Winter Wonderland at Dunblane Christian Fellowship and other churches will be open too for you to enjoy music and more. There’ll also be a Nativity Trail in shop windows and lots more going on throughout the evening.
And throughout all of this, we’ll have a wonderful selection of talented musicians and performers who’ll be entertaining us throughout the evening, including Rubber Chicken Theatre, the Rosenethe Singers, Boys’ Brigade band, Dunblane Cathedral Handbell Ringers and Dunblane Shanty Crew. And we very much hope that we’ll be joined by some Ukrainian singers on the night so that we can enjoy hearing a traditional song or two from their homeland.
Then at 8.30pm the Pipes & Drums of Queen Victoria School will provide a heart-stirring full stop to the Extravaganza as they march through the town and bring the event to a close. We’re so looking forward to this special evening for everyone and do hope you can join us!
We are very grateful to Barty’s for sponsoring the giant Christmas Tree this year. If anyone would like to support the work of the Dunblane Development Trust Town Centre group please get in touch with DDT for sponsorship opportunities
You’ll see this Extravaganza QR code on publicity soon. This, the webpage to which it leads, will be updated on a regular basis as details become confirmed so please keep checking so you don’t miss anything. Download this article
Donations can be made at www.leightonlibrary.org.uk
Article from the Herald 09 October 2022
Winter volunteer scheme for communities
Stirling Council is launching a pilot project that will enable groups of residents to support their community during wintry weather conditions.
The Community Winter Volunteer scheme will give people the tools and help to clear snow and ice on local footpaths that are not currently treated by the Council.
Applicants and groups will be provided with safety clothing and the necessary equipment, including shovels, snow pushers, grit spreaders, high-vis clothing, PPE and grit.
Full training will be delivered by the Council to volunteers to carry out the tasks and ongoing support will also be available.
Each group will elect a Team Leader and a Deputy Leader, who will liaise with the Council's Roads Service.
The initiative was approved as part of the Council's Winter Service Policy for 2022/23 at a recent meeting of the Environment and Housing Committee.
Convener, Cllr Jen Preston said: "During the winter months the Council has to prioritise the areas it grits, focusing on routes that pose the greatest risk to public safety if not treated.
"This pilot project will empower communities to clear snow and ice from local footpaths as and when needed, in addition to the gritting carried out by the Council which will remain at the same level as previous years.
"There is a fantastic community spirit across Stirling and we know there is a desire from groups and individuals to pitch in for their own neighbourhoods and communities over the winter to help the most vulnerable.
"Any community groups or residents who would like to get involved or want to know more about the scheme, please get in touch as soon as possible."
A number of other local authorities employ similar schemes including Edinburgh, Falkirk and Aberdeenshire.
The Roads Service will monitor the operation and effectiveness of the pilot and a report will be brought back to a future meeting of the committee.
For more information on the pilot and to apply, please head to the Stirling Council website.
A recording of the committee meeting can be viewed here: https://stirling.public-i.tv/core/portal/home