Councillors also agreed to increase Council Tax by 15.61%, meaning a Band D household will now pay £1576.77, equivalent to £4.08 per week.

This level means Falkirk has the tenth highest Council Tax in Scotland, of those local authorities which have set their budgets.

As part of the council’s Financial Strategy, steps are also being taken to maximise revenue from a range of fees and charges to help sustain essential services while keeping costs fair for residents and businesses. To support this, increases were approved that include a 10% increase on parking charges.

A £231m capital investment programme for the next five years was also approved, which will deliver significant improvements across the area that will benefit residents and businesses.

Included in the total is the £15m of additional investment funded from 1.5% of Council Tax. This investment has been ringfenced as follows:

• £3.8m will extend the roads resurfacing programme, improving an extra 180,000 square meters of roads for safer, more durable roads. This includes a £200k allocation for road safety measures at primary schools.
• £3.5m will replace the B805/50 Blairs Canal bridge, ensuring a safe, reliable crossing for all vehicles, including HGVs.
• £1.6m will be invested into the expansion of Carrongrange school into a 5 to 18 campus, creating a centre of excellence for specialist education.
• £1.5m will be used to improve the learning estate, focusing on priority repairs to roofs, mechanical and electrical systems, and other key building components.
• £815k will support flood prevention in areas such as Maddiston, Letham, and Westquarter, with further investment in the gully replacement programme.
• £150k will go towards the renovation and protection of the B-listed Bo’ness Town Hall’s decorative lantern cupola.

In addition to these investments, £500k has been allocated to the Regeneration Fund, with an anticipated £800k from the Place Based Investment Programme.

This funding will support the identification and delivery of key projects in Bo’ness and Camelon and Tamfourhill, helping to revitalise local economies and support economic growth.