At yesterday's Executive meeting Councillors agreed in principle to make 133 council-owned buildings available for transfer to communities. Where transfers are not possible the intention would be that the buildings close over the next two years on a phased approach.

To inform the process ahead of a final decision by Councillors in February 2023, an online public survey will be launched before Christmas - followed by face-to-face meetings early in the New Year.

The aim of the consultation is to ask residents for their views on how buildings could be transferred, through Community Asset Transfer or other models of delivery, and if there are any equality issues that need to be addressed.

At the meeting Councillors also agreed that the outcomes of both the survey and in-person conversations will be taken to a full Council meeting in February.

If agreed at Council, the proposals would see around 15% of the Council’s existing floorspace removed, save more than £3m per year, and play a significant part in helping the Council to reduce its carbon footprint.

It would also allow the Council to use its limited remaining budget to concentrate and prioritise investment on improving schools, care homes, libraries, sports centres, and a small number of offices.

Support for communities

Many Council buildings are old and inefficient and would require significant investment, cited in the report to be in the region of £200m, to bring them up to standard to avoid unexpected closures - work the Council simply cannot afford to undertake.

To assist the community to take on the buildings listed in the report, which includes community halls and sports facilities, Councillors agreed in principle that a £6m fund be set up to invest in improvements such as roof repairs, boiler replacement and solar panel installation.

An amendment to the fund was agreed that would see the support package also used to help community groups retrofit buildings to make them more energy efficient and in turn contribute to the reduction of area-wide emissions.

A final addition to the report recommendations was approved that will see a Councillor Policy Development Panel established to consider a future model for delivering leisure services in Falkirk. Membership of the panel is still to be agreed but it is expected the first meeting would follow the final decision on the SPR report by Council next year.

It was also agreed that the potential closure of four swimming pools within secondary schools would be taken to the Education, Children and Young People Executive following an equalities impact assessment.

Speaking at the meeting, Councillor Cecil Meiklejohn, Leader of Falkirk Council, said: "The Council is under severe financial pressure, with a £67m budget gap to be bridged over the next four years, 50% of which needs to come this year. This position means that we need to quickly address the fact we have too many poor-quality buildings, because it is simply unaffordable to maintain the existing large deteriorating estate.

“We will now go out and speak to the community about what help we can give them to take on some of these buildings and run them for their local areas. It will also help us identify where extra mitigation is required to help support groups with protected characteristics. This should include much better use of our valued schools estate.

“If these proposals are ultimately agreed next year they would generate significant savings, reduce our carbon footprint, potentially empower our local communities, and allow us to invest in better schools, care homes, libraries and leisure facilities."

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