STIRLING COUNCIL STILL TO DECIDE

There were furious scenes at the meeting of Stirling Council on Thursday evening (24th May). Labour councillors were accused of “bottling” a vote to elect the Leader of the council, and of cynically manipulating procedures in order to hang on to power.

Labour were in control of the administration until the election on 3rd May. Following the election, Labour have 8 councillors, SNP have 7, Conservatives 4 and Liberals 3.

Liberal and Labour have made an informal alliance. At the meeting of the council on 17th May, Labour and the Liberals forced through the election of a Labour provost. However, the election of the Leader of the council, and the election of all the other executive and committee posts, was deferred.

With Labour and Liberals controlling 11 votes out of 22, they have the benefit of the provost’s casting vote for procedural matters but not for appointments to the various council posts including Leader. In the event of a tied vote the decision would be made by a cut of the cards.

At yesterday’s meeting (24th May) the Labour-Liberal alliance deferred the vote for the Leader and all the other posts, leaving the council’s administration in chaos. Until these posts are filled every single decision, from the most important to the most minor, will have to be decided by a meeting of the full council. Labour and Liberals intend to make the council meet every Thursday at 10.00 in the morning.

The leader of the Conservative group at Stirling Council is Cllr Alistair Berrill. He says that Labour and the Liberals are playing games at the expense of the people of Stirling. “The council’s business is set to grind to a halt. A large modern council cannot function by meeting every week to take every single decision. Labour and the Liberals know this perfectly well, but the effective running of the council is clearly less important to them than desperately clinging on to hope of power and allowances.”

He added, “The ironic thing is that the one piece of business they insisted on forcing through last night was approval of councillors’ expenses. The Conservatives made a formal proposal that councillors’ expenses should not be paid until this mess is sorted out, but Labour and the Liberals voted it down.”

Cllr Berrill added a prediction. “Election of the Leader of the council has been formally deferred until 28th June. However, there will be other meetings before that date. If one councillor happens to be absent due to sickness or other commitments, I am sure that once again Labour and Liberals will manipulate the Standing Orders to bring forward the election as urgent business, and force through their nomination. So much for democracy!”

A MISSED OPPORTUNITY BY THE SNP

At Thursday's meeting of Stirling Council, the first since the elections, Liberal councillors joined with Labour to elect Labour's Margaret Brisley as provost. Together the Liberals and Labour accounted for her eleven votes. Conservative nomination Cllr Tony Ffinch received four votes. If SNP councillors had supported the Conservative nomination, Labour could have been defeated, but the SNP abstained.

Speaking after the meeting, Conservative group leader, Cllr Alistair Berrill said, 'This was an opportunity missed for the people of Stirling. The Liberals are propping up a failed Labour administration, whose main achievement has been to give Stirling the second highest council tax level in Scotland, yet one of the highest levels of customer dissatisfaction.'

He continued, 'I was surprised and disappointed on Thursday night. First the Liberals joined this discredited and demoralised Labour administration. Then the SNP group lacked the political courage either to put up a candidate of their own or to support ours. Only the Conservatives were prepared to stand up to Labour.'

Deputy group leader Cllr Neil Benny added, 'The fight isn't over yet. At this Thursday's meeting we have to elect a new Leader of the council, and the new Labour-Liberal alliance isn't certain of getting enough votes to win.'

DUNBLANE COMMUNITY COUNCIL

The minutes of the Dunblane Community Council meeting which was held on Monday 2nd April can be read by clicking here. Read all the updates concerning CCTV, parking, zebra crossings, grass cutting, and the Dunblane Development Trust.

BRIDGE OF ALLAN COMMUNITY COUNCIL

Minutes from the Bridge of Allan Community Council meeting held on Tuesday 17th April can be read by clicking here.Read all about the updates concerning the proposed Kildean - Stirling University link road, the latest issues concerning the proceeds from the sale of the Museum Hall, and an insight into the restoration of the fountain in Fountain Road.

CALLUM CAMPBELL ELECTED

Callum Campbell has been elected to Stirling Council, representing the Dunblane and Bridge of Allan ward.

"I am delighted to have been elected by Dunblane and Bridge of Allan residents to represent them on Stirling Council. The Scottish Conservatives received the largest number of first preference votes in this ward, and I look forward to serving on Stirling Council on behalf of those people who voted for a new direction and a better community" Callum Campbell said.

"I would particularly like to thank my agent and campaign manager, Euan Wallace, for the immense amount of time and effort that he has put into this campaign. I would also like to thank all those local individuals who contributed greatly to our efforts in getting our communication leaflets to all the electorate in the ward.

"There is plenty of work which needs to be done, and it starts now".

DON'T GAMBLE - VOTE CAMPBELL !

As the final days of the election campaign fast approach, Callum Campbell has been urging Dunblane and Bridge of Allan residents to ensure that they vote Scottish Conservative on 3rd May.

"The Scottish Conservatives have an enviable track record in local government. My election campaign has involved listening to residents over the last 12 months, and understanding what they want from Stirling Council. Only the Scottish Conservatives can beat Labour in Stirling.

"I am the only candidate standing that actually lives in Bridge of Allan and already takes an active part in the community. Because there are 2 Scottish Conservative candidates standing in ward 3 my colleague Hugh McCrea, a resident in Dunblane for 25 years,and I can represent and work for local residents. Only by voting Callum Campbell as your first preference and Hugh McCrea as your second preference will you get a strong team which can fully represent the ward and keep Stirling's finances under control"

On May 3rd - Don't gamble, vote Campbell!

ANNABEL GOLDIE VISITS STIRLING

Photograph shows L to R Callum Campbell (LG candidate Dunblane and Bridge of Allan), Cllr Tony Ffinch, ( Trossachs and Teith) Helen Scott (Stirling East) Annabel Goldie, Bob Dalrymple, Lesley Stein (Castle) Neil Benny ( Stirling West) Mary Kenyon (Trossachs and Teith)

• Scottish Conservative Leader lends support to Bob’s campaign
• An SNP vote will lead to “a bitter and messy divorce”

Annabel Goldie visited Stirling today to follow up her “State of the Union” address, in which she warned that Scotland would pay a heavy price for the failures of the Lib-Lab pact, if it resulted in an SNP-led administration.

Visiting the Robert the Bruce monument at the Bannockburn Heritage Centre, Annabel said:

“Alex Salmond’s consistent political rhetoric about his opponents is to dismiss them as “London-led parties”. Presumably he said that sitting in his office in Westminster. He makes outrageous comments suggesting that those who oppose independence are by implication anti-Scottish. If you vote SNP, you get a bitter and messy divorce.

Here in Stirling, the real opposition to Labour is Bob Dalrymple, the Conservative candidate. The Scottish Conservatives want to make devolution work. We stand for delivery, not divorce.”

Bob Dalrymple added:

“It’s a pleasure to welcome Annabel back to Stirling constituency.

“As the second-placed party last time, Stirling’s voters know that the best way to get rid of Labour is to vote for the Scottish Conservatives. Only we can beat Labour in Stirling, so people don’t have to choose between more of the same Labour failure on one hand, and splitting apart the UK on the other. The Union has served Scotland well for 300 years, and a Conservative vote will protect it.”

ACCESS ALL AREAS?

>(Above, l to r) - Bob Dalrymple Stirling Conservative candidate for Holyrood, Neil Benny Stirling Conservative council candidate for Stirling West, Murdo Fraser, Deputy Leader of the Scottish Conservatives.)

Conservative Scottish Parliamentary candidate Bob Dalrymple and Council candidate Neil Benny today showed the way to prevent the reopening of Murrayshall Quarry in Cambusbarron, and issued a rebuke to the SNP for playing party politics over the issue and misleading the public.

Stirling’s Conservatives have discovered Hanson Ltd, who plan the new super-quarry do not in fact have access rights to the area.

Following conversations with Tarmac Northern Ltd, the Conservatives have established that the only access point is owned by Tarmac, which has no intention of sub-letting it to Hanson. Therefore for Hanson to start the super-quarry, Stirling Council would have to give planning permission for a new access point to be built.

Contrary to statements from the SNP and Stirling Council, the mineral consent for the whole area was in fact granted in 2001 following a national review of mineral consents. The relevant consent provides specifically that the access to the quarry should be along Polmaise road only.

Bob Dalrymple commented:

“While the SNP has postured, Stirling’s Conservatives have actually got some work done, and found a way forward that would address genuine local concerns. We have spoken directly to the site’s owner and operator Tarmac who have told us ‘As responsible landowners and quarry masters we will always listen to and take on board the genuine concerns of local residents. We have no intention of allowing our access to be used to reopen this quarry’.

Bob continued
“Provided Stirling Council doesn’t allow a new access point, there will be no super-quarry.

“I know there is an election on, but the SNP really has to learn that showboating in the press is no substitute for actually getting things done.”

Stirling West Conservative Council Candidate Neil Benny said:

“The SNP’s Scott Farmer has been seeking to stoke local anxiety over this matter purely for electoral advantage. The SNP should have done what any sensible public representative would have done – checked the facts first!

“The Conservative approach has been to examine the facts and then speak directly to the key landowner, namely Tarmac Northern Ltd., to get the truth. Tarmac already owns and operates another quarry at Denny, which is why they closed Murrayshall in the first place. Apart from removing a quantity of loose stone in the interests of safety from Murrayshall over the summer, they clearly have no need to reopen this quarry.

“This issue is too important to be the victim of SNP sensational media spin. The facts speak for themselves and we intend to tell the story as it is.”

CONSERVATIVES FOCUS ON EDUCATION

(Above, Left to Right- Hugh McCrea, Neil Benny, Callum Campbell, Mary Kenyon, Bob Dalrymple, and Cllrs Alistair Berrill and David Lonsdale)

Conservative candidates for next month's council elections today highlighted their plans for education in a Conservative administration. Attacking Labour's failure on education, they highlighted the fact that if Conservative alternative budgets had been adopted schools would be £1.7million better off.

Conservative candidate for Stirling West Neil Benny said "Labour has cut spending time and again on Stirling's children, not only this £1.7million, but also on cleaning and other frontline services . So much for "Education, Education, Education".

Conservative candidate for Teith and Trossachs, Mary Kenyon, said, "It's terrible the way that Labour has treated education in Stirling, especially rural schools.
The threatened closure of Lochearnhead Primary should worry all parents in Stirling. The Labour administration has openly targeted all small, rural schools for possible closure. Only a Conservative administration can save rural schools."

Launching their plans for an education system with more independence for teachers and more money for frontline services, Cllr Alistair Berrill, Conservative Education spokesman and candidate for Forth and Endrick said, "the Conservatives can succeed where Labour has failed. We will deliver an education system that gives teachers the freedom to teach and puts pupils and their parents at the centre"

CALLUM CAMPBELL'S ELECTION ADDRESS

Callum Campbell has launched his election address which will be delivered to all residents in the Dunblane and Bridge of Allan ward between now and the election on May 3rd. In his address, Callum notes the response by residents to his recent survey and highlights the fact that under a Labour led administration, Stirling residents pay the second highest council tax in Scotland. Callum said:

"Stirling council currently has 22 councillors. 10 are Scottish Conservative, 11 are Labour and only 1 is SNP. Only the Scottish Conservatives can realistically challenge this Labour-led administration. In order to make a change and ensure that you don't wake up to the same poorly managed Stirling Council on 4th May,vote for the team that is determined to deliver improved services and improved efficiency.

"My goal is to ensure that you get value for money from your council tax. It is time to put and end to waste and profligacy and introduce a new era of efficiency. By electing me and my colleague Hugh McCrea on 3rd May, it needn't be that way. Don't Just hope for a better council...Vote for it!"

Callum's election address also outlines the Scottish Conservatives local government manifesto for Stirling. The manifesto is centred around 5 key areas including Tackling Ant-Social behaviour, Delievring Value for Money, Succeeding in Education, Promoting Civic Society and Providing a Greener, Cleaner Stirling. The address also includes some background information about Callum and his family, and background information about his team candidate Hugh McCrea from Dunblane.

Callum also states his desire to restore pride to Bridge of Allan and Dunblane and cites the disgrace of the longstanding saga of The Museum Hall, the crumbling war memorial, the state of the local roads and the decaying public sporting facilities including the neglect of the tennis courts at Keir Street.

"Only the Scottish Conservatives will restore pride to your villages and towns once again!" Callum said.

Callum's election address will be landing on your doorstep soon.

A CLEAN SWEEP BY THE CONSERVATIVES

‘It’s time to Bin Labour's Rubbish policies’ – say Stirling Conservatives’
Stirling Conservative’s team of Council candidates today outlined their plans for real improvements to waste collection in Stirling District.

In week two of the campaign they are focusing on everyday issues that affect local people.

Bridge of Allan candidate, Callum Campbell, said, “People are fed up with Labour’s failure on basic services. Having your bins and recycling box emptied on the allotted day isn’t exactly rocket science, but after spending £2.5 Million on new equipment this Council still fails to deliver.

Yet in Stirling, no Labour Councillor takes any blame. Instead they blame the management, the equipment and even blame their own workforce. We say it’s a lack of leadership by Labour’s failed Councillors, pure and simple.”

Conservative Candidate for Stirling West, Neil Benny said, “ Everywhere I go, almost every elector I meet has his own horror story of failure of Stirling Council’s basic services. And this on the back of the latest figures showing that refuse collection is costing £170 per year per household – the highest in Scotland!

Hugh McRae, Conservative Candidate for Dunblane said, “Labour is running scared on this issue. I have floods of complaints about late collections with some people waiting up to three days for a collection. On top of that it’s costing us an arm and a leg.”

The recently launched Conservative Manifesto, “Don’t just hope for a better council – vote for it”, lays out plans for an expansion to the waste service to include more recycling. It also lays out plans for a Conservative Administration to lead on service delivery issues, with more front line staff given the responsibility to deliver.



Conservative Parliamentary candidate, Bob Dalrymple said, “These are the bread and butter issues that Tories are fighting for across Stirling and across Scotland. It is services like waste collection that people write to me about and Labour's failure can be reversed by a Conservative administration in Stirling".

STIRLING COUNCIL MANIFESTO LAUNCHED

Local Tories have published their Stirling Council manifesto, setting out the priorities for change that a Conservative-run Administration will implement.

The policy programme is the most comprehensive and ambitious the local party has produced. It contains 30 objectives and commitments across five key themes, namely:

• Real value for your money
• A cleaner, greener Stirling
• Ensuring educational success
• Reducing anti-social conduct
• More public say in council affairs

The document, entitled Don’t hope for a better Council – Vote for it, has been published by the 11-strong team of Tory council candidates after extensive consultation with residents and community groups throughout the district.

25,000 copies of a summary of the manifesto will be delivered through letterboxes locally in the run up to May 3rd.

Cllr Alistair Berrill, candidate for Forth & Endrick Ward, said:

“Local residents now pay the second highest council tax in Scotland, up from 18th highest eleven years ago. Yet satisfaction levels are falling and several council services have been cut back.

“Local Conservatives believe the council can and should deliver in a far more effective and positive manner, for those who use, pay for, and provide services. We are concentrating on what the priorities should be, not just for a Conservative-led Administration, but for any Administration.

“The top priority that residents have identified for us is to install a new financial discipline in Stirling Council, ensuring value for money. Conservatives will bring the council’s finances under control and end the massive deficits of recent years, which have led to hefty rises in Council Tax. This will particularly benefit those on fixed and modest incomes, such as local pensioners and young families.

“We have also set out the action we will take to make our city and district cleaner and greener, to combat anti-social behaviour, strengthen parental involvement with schools, and do more to nurture our local civic society.”

Neil Benny, candidate for Stirling West, added:
“It is not always a lack of money that is the problem, but the priorities pursued by the current Labour Administration that are wrong. Residents are paying a lot more in tax, but feel they are getting less in return.
“The Labour Party has run Stirling Council for 11 years. It is clearly time for a change of Administration, and Conservatives are best placed to deliver that.
“Local residents needn’t hope for change. On May 3rd they can vote for it.”

The Conservative manifesto commitments include:

Real value for your money: A Conservative-run Stirling Council will
 Install a new fiscal discipline in Stirling Council, so that it lives within its means. The council’s finances will be brought under control, bringing to an end the large financial deficits witnessed in recent years and which have led to hefty rises in council tax;
 Maintain council assets such as schools, roads, and community halls, in good condition. Letting them fall into disrepair only costs more in the long run and is a false economy;
 Listen to new ideas and strengthen the role of local communities in determining the quality of services to be delivered, such as grass cutting, street sweeping and toilet maintenance. Local communities will be able to propose new ideas for improving services directly to council committees, such as the introduction of voluntary roads inspectors or speed monitors.

A cleaner, greener Stirling: A Conservative-run Stirling Council will
 Build a recycling service that allows you to recycle more and different materials;
 Lead by example on energy conservation, beginning by reducing its own energy consumption;
 Make our streets, parks and open spaces cleaner and safer, with an expanded street sweeping, litter picking and grass cutting service;
 Examine the feasibility of providing discounted Residents Parking Permits for those with less polluting cars;
 Review the effectiveness of the area’s flood prevention and drainage systems, and implement necessary improvements.

Ensuring educational success: A Conservative-run Stirling Council will
 Support a diversity of education provision and popular smaller primary schools;
 Encourage parental involvement and school boards;
 Give headteachers more say in managing their schools, especially over discretionary spending (they can’t even hire a local plumber to fix a leaking tap at the moment!);
 Aid schools which want to establish their own trust funds, in order to tap their alumni network of former pupils;
 Strengthen links between schools and local firms as part of the Determined to Succeed enterprise initiative;

Reducing anti-social conduct: A Conservative-run Stirling Council will
 Establish a more visible presence of community wardens on our streets, to help combat vandalism, graffiti, dog fouling, and littering;
 Use its presence on the Police Board to argue for more police officers on the beat, and to support the recruitment of special constables;
 Oppose police force merger, as it would make the police less accountable and undermine local community policing;
 Expand the number of officials who have enforcement powers over litter and dog fouling;
 Establish an enhanced grants scheme for community councils, to help them fund local activities and youth projects;
 Create a junior community wardens scheme, to strengthen young peoples’ civic engagement and awareness of the effects of anti-social conduct.

More public say in council affairs: A Conservative-run Stirling Council will
 Cherish and nurture voluntary endeavour and public service;
 Support democratically-elected local institutions like Community Councils, rather than usurp them through costly Area Forums;
 Support local commerce where it wishes to create Business Improvement Districts;
 Reform the council’s committee system to make the Administration more accountable and allow residents and local communities to propose new ideas.

CALLUM STEPS DOWN FROM SCHOOL BOARD

Callum Campbell, the Tory candidate for Bridge of Allan and Dunblane in the forthcoming Stirling Council elections, is stepping down as Chairman of the Bridge of Allan Primary School Board with immediate effect.

“As we are now quickly approaching the local council elections on May 3rd, it is important that I step down now to ensure that there is no conflict of interest as the Board is apolitical.” Callum said.

Callum, whose daughters Chloe (10) and Harriet (8) both attend the school, was elected as a Parent Member of the school board in 2004, and duly elected Chairman in 2005.

“I have thoroughly enjoyed my time serving on the board, and have had the opportunity to work alongside highly dedicated individuals who have given up plenty of their spare time to volunteer and work for the benefit of the school as a whole.

“The school has gone through a major transformation over the past year, achieving highly encouraging comments from the school inspectors in January. Much of the credit for this goes to Head Teacher Lina Horsburgh and her team who have worked very hard over the last 12 months. The children and parents have also played their part too.

“It is sad to be saying farewell, but I know that I am leaving the board in capable hands. Yvonne Walker, currently Clerk to the school board, will be acting as interim Chair until the new parent council known as FAST (Families And School Together) is expected to be formed later in May.

“I hope that I will still be able to work closely with the school in the future wherever and whenever I possibly can.”

BRIDGE OF ALLAN COMMUNITY COUNCIL

The minutes of the meeting held in February by the recently reformed Bridge of Allan Community Council can be read here. Les Ferguson is the new Chairman of the Community Council.Click here to read minutes

LOCAL HUSTINGS

The Bridge of Allan Community Council have arranged a local hustings which will provide a great opportunity for local residents to come and listen to the various local candidates who are putting themselves forward for election on 3rd May to stand for Stirling Council. Callum Campbell and Hugh McCrea will be presenting the Scottish Conservative's Manifesto for Stirling Council. Callum said

"I am grateful to the Bridge of Allan Community Council for arranging the local hustings. It will give local residents the opportunity to get to know a bit more about the candidates and what they stand for. I for one will be putting across our message that the Scottish Conservatives are both willing and capable of bringing Stirling's finances under control so that we can put an end to residents experiencing hefty council tax increases year after year."

The hustings will be held at 7.30pm on Wednesday 18th April at the Allan Centre. All are welcome and are encouraged to attend.

CONSULT?........INSULT!

Conservative Holyrood candidate, Bob Dalrymple, today described Stirling Council’s Labour Administration’s latest proposal for a new road crossing of the River Forth as: ‘Yet another example of the insensitive and deceitful way Labour operates. Coming hard on the heels of the Back O’Hill Road scheme scandal I uncovered just a year ago, I am astounded that this Council have tried to slip a major capital proposal through with the minimum of publicity and that the consultation period ends THIS WEEK on Friday 16 March. This is government by stealth.

Stirling Council and the Scottish Executive should immediately extend the consultation period until after the elections in May so that all concerned can have proper opportunity to fully consider these proposals.

How can representatives, newly elected after 3 May, possibly represent the wishes of their constituents when an important matter such as this is waived through in a rush at the end of a Council term ?

This is just another example of the contempt this failed Labour Council and failed Labour/Liberal Executive exhibit for the people of Stirling’.

The proposal is part of the draft TACTRAN Regional Transport Strategy, but has only just been published by Stirling Council as part of a proposed alteration to the Structure Plan consultation, which ends on 30 April.

TONY BLAIR'S ACHIEVEMENTS 10 YEARS ON...

An excellent article by Simon Heffer appears in today's edition of the Daily Telegraph. It summarises extremely well and very succinctly just what 10 years under Blair's leadership means for those of us who live in the UK...
Click here to read the full article.

STIRLING COUNCIL CUTS TOURISM FUNDING

Stirling Council’s Labour administration have voted to cut support to tourism by half.

At last week’s budget meeting Labour forced through £2 million of cuts to services, despite increasing Council Tax levels. £100,000 of those cuts were for support to tourism.

Cllr Alistair Berrill, along with other Conservative opposition councillors, voted against the cuts. He says he is concerned about the damage to Stirling’s important tourism sector. “Labour haven’t explained the detail of how they plan to introduce these very severe reductions. However, they have indicated that a number of Tourist Information Centres are likely to be affected, including those at Aberfoyle, Dunblane, Drymen, Pirnhall and Tyndrum. We don’t yet know whether these centres will have to close outright, but my fear is that they will. This is likely to cause tremendous damage to tourism outside the City of Stirling, particularly to smaller businesses.”

Cllr Berrill goes on to condemn the administration. “These cuts are so short sighted. I would like to know whether their impact has been fully thought through and costed. For Stirling Council £100,000 is a relatively modest amount, particularly when you see the huge sums they squander every year on unnecessary bureaucracy. Yet it represents half of their annual funding for Visit Scotland and Tourist Information Centres. If the local economy is damaged as a result, then the saving to Stirling Council may prove small consolation.”

STIRLING COUNCIL EDUCATION CUTS

At last week’s meeting of Stirling Council, the Labour Administration voted through a package of educational cuts for the second year running. Despite an increase in the Council Tax of 1.8%, Stirling’s schools will once again be feeling the pinch, says opposition Education spokesman for the Scottish Conservatives Cllr Alistair Berrill.

“Last year Labour slashed almost £1 million from the Education budget. This year the cuts total over £700,000. They are taking £227,000 from pre-school education, £381,000 from primary and secondary schools, and £100,000 from primary school closures.”

There is confusion over the £100,000 for primary school closures, which Labour have coyly referred to as their “review of primary school provision and arrangements.” As far as Scottish Conservative Cllr Berrill understands, this can only mean the proposed closure of Lochearnhead Primary School. But, he says, “they haven’t yet approved the closure, which is to be discussed at the meeting of the Executive on Tuesday (13th February). They seem to be jumping the gun in voting through the cuts before the closure has been approved.”

Cllr Berrill believes that, year on year, these cuts to front line services must begin to damage the quality of our children’s education. “Labour voted down our budget, which would have preserved full funding to schools. We had proposed making reductions in headquarters administrative costs, which would have safeguarded the money going into schools. Yet, once again, Labour have shown that their instinct is to remove money from where the impact will be felt the hardest.”

STIRLING SETS SECOND HIGHEST COUNCIL TAX IN SCOTLAND!

With just three out of the 32 Scottish local authorities still to set their budget for 2007/08, householders in Stirling district look set to be charged the second highest Council Tax in the country this year.

An Alternative Budget proposed by Conservatives at yesterday's meeting would have meant no increase in Council Tax this year - the fourth year in a row that local Tories put forward plans involving no increase in tax.

With the rise in government grant, coupled with an end to Labour profligacy, the Tory proposals would also have meant more funding for roads, grass cutting, street sweeping, flood prevention, community halls, wardens, and gritting.

Labour councillors used their majority to vote down the Tory proposals, instead imposing a 1.8 per cent increase in council tax.

Commenting afterwards Tory finance spokesman Cllr Paul Nelson said:
"The tax increase levied by Labour for the coming year is more modest than we have seen before, thanks partly to Tory pressure and partly to the increase in government grant. But few will be fooled by it. Labour's track record in Stirling suggests that should they be re-elected in May they will simply revert back to their high tax agenda once again.

"Stirling has gone from having the eighteenth highest to fifth highest council tax over the past decade. That dismal record is set to deteriorate yet further, with local householders facing the second highest tax in the country over the coming year.

"It's not always a lack of money that is the problem, but the priorities pursued by the current Administration that are wrong.
Residents are paying a lot more in tax, but feel they are getting less in return."

"The traditional Labour orthodoxy that higher council taxes lead to improved services has been turned on its head by this Administration.
Even their own Residents Survey shows public satisfaction with council services has declined."

"Our alternative proposals would have brought tax relief to local people on fixed or modest incomes, such as pensioners and those with young families, for whom the council tax has rapidly become a sizeable part of the household budget.

"The fact is that the current Administration doesn't have a revenue problem - it has a spending problem. That's why they've lifted Stirling into the 'top tax league', way above councils of a similar size or profile. They claim they can't afford not to increase the council tax, but the truth is it's Labour councillors we can't afford!"