Latest news with #FalkirkCouncil
Daily Record
2 days ago
- Business
- Daily Record
Historic burgh buildings to be sold by Falkirk Council after listed status secured
Denny Town House 'means a lot to the community' councillors heard as sale finally agreed Falkirk councillors have approved the sale of of Denny's Town House, which will now go ahead after a year-long wait to get listed building status. The decision to sell Denny's former burgh buildings was made by Falkirk Council' s executive in April 2023, when they asked for conditions to be added that would guarantee the building's historic features were preserved. But the sale was halted when a Labour councillor made an application for listed building status. Bonnybridge & Larbert councillor Jack Redmond, with the support of Denny councillors Alf Kelly and Brian McCabe and concerned members of the community, made the application in March 2023. Cllr Redmond said: "The motivation behind seeking listed status was simple: to ensure that any future redevelopment of the Town House respected its unique heritage features. "I was concerned that, without protection, key elements such as the stained-glass windows and elegant staircase could be at risk from unsympathetic alterations or even demolition. In October 2024, Historic Environment Scotland (HSE) finally agreed that it should be classed as a C-listed building, due to its local significance. According to HES: "Denny Town House is a good example of a purpose-built municipal building that has remained largely unaltered since it was built in the earlier 20th century". Opened in 1932, it was designed by Denny burgh architect Robert Wilson, of Strang and Wilson, in the Scots Baronial style, to house a court, council chambers, burgh offices and public library. For decades, it served as a meeting place for the Burgh Council, until 1975 when Denny & Dunipace became part of Falkirk District Council. Most recently, it was used by Falkirk Council as a base for social services but its closure was announced in May 2021. While Falkirk Council was waiting to have the status of the building established, the building was taken off the market until earlier this year. This week, Falkirk Council's executive approved its sale for £205,000 to Mannish Khanna and Sean Harkins, subject to planning permission being granted. Councillors were told that the sale will also save Falkirk Council annual maintenance costs of around £42,000. According to the report, the highest bid of £225,000 was rejected as it was made on condition that it was not listed. Cllr Redmond said that this strengthened his belief that listed building status was vital to preserve the building. He said: "While I understand that there may have been a modest financial difference between offers, I believe that preserving a building of such significant historical and architectural value outweighs that by some margin." SNP councillor Paul Garner warmly welcomed the fact that the historic aspects of the building will be preserved while it is developed into flats. Before moving the report, he said: "Can I just say how much this building means to both the community of Denny & Dunipace and myself, being born and bred in the town. "Some of my earliest memories are of my late mum taking me into the Town House to pay the council rent. "I can still see the old wooden counter and the wooden clad walls in my head and more recently with the Gala entourage getting their photographs taken in front of the marvellous staircase and the windows. "It truly is a stunning building and one that means so much to the community." The cash will go to Denny & Dunipace Common Good Fund, as the building had originally belonged to the burgh of Denny & Dunipace.
Daily Record
2 days ago
- Business
- Daily Record
Grangemouth community demand 'less consulting, more action' from Falkirk Council
The draft of a new masterplan for Grangemouth will now go to public consultation but the public want to see changes soon Falkirk Council chiefs say they have heard 'loud and clear' that people in Grangemouth want them to 'stop consulting and start doing'. Members of Falkirk Council's executive agreed this week to launch a consultation on a new 'spatial vision and masterplan' that they hope will guide the transformation of the town over the next 20 years. Officers say the plan has been developed to tackle some of the key challenges currently affecting local residents, such as the closure of shops and businesses and a lack of high quality, family housing. But councillors made clear that Grangemouth cannot wait for change and that they want to see 'shovels in the ground' as soon as possible. Falkirk Council's head of growth, Michael McGuinness, told the meeting that he recognised that there have been a number of consultation exercises with the community in the last few years. "In engaging with our community, the feedback we've had is 'stop consulting, start doing'," he said. "They want to see changes happening in Grangemouth - that's a real concern." But Mr McGuinness said he believes that the draft plan they are now consulting on "will give us a really strong blueprint for allowing that change to happen". The main aims are: Make the town centre easier to walk and cycle around by improving paths and connections. Develop new housing in and around the town centre to bring more people into the area. Attract new businesses by offering better spaces and supporting mixed-use developments. Improve public spaces with more green areas, seating, and landscaping. As the industry in Grangemouth begins to transition away from fossil fuel-led businesses, the hope is that local people will start to see some of the benefits from an array of investment programmes, strategies and policies that have been introduced. Officers say that a masterplan is vital to pull together and oversee all of the changes that will inevitably affect the town over the next few years. But councillors questioned officers on the value of another consultation - which will cost £70,000. Director of Place Services, Malcolm Bennie, said the document would be crucial to attract funding for the ambitious plans that are being laid and make sure that everything happens "in a considered, planned way". Conservative councillor James Bundy asked how long it would take to see "shovels in the ground", once the final version of the document is ready. Mr McGuinness said that some projects are already ready to get underway as part of the Greener Grangemouth programme, which has funding from UK and Scottish Governments through the area's Growth Deal. "This masterplan leads directly to that so we'd expect to see some shovels in the ground next year but what scale is still to be determined." But Mr McGuinness did admit that masterplans were essentially a longterm commitment that can take "decades" to come to fruition and that funding will be a significant factor. "Our objective is to accelerate that as much as possible and bring forward as much investment into the town centre as we possibly can," he said. "This gives us a tremendous blueprint to do that." Councillors agreed that officers should progress with engagement on the draft masterplan. Once complete, the executive will be asked to approve the final version of the masterplan.
Daily Record
3 days ago
- Politics
- Daily Record
Report into 'what went wrong' with Falkirk primary school gets go ahead
Conservative councillors say they want to make sure there is 'accountability' as school will be closed for over a year A report looking at what went wrong and who was to blame for serious building defects that have led to a primary school being closed for more than a year is to be commissioned by Falkirk Council. Maddiston Primary was closed in February after work to repair damage from Storm Eowyn revealed that the mortar used in the school's construction was "significantly deficient". Since then, its 500 pupils have been decanted to three other schools across Falkirk district and members of Falkirk Council's executive heard today (Thursday) that the school will not re-open until at least August 2026. It is estimated that work to repair the school will cost around £5 million. A today's meeting, an amendment put forward by the Conservative group called for an independent report to be commissioned into what exactly went wrong, with its findings to to be reported to the executive meeting on Thursday, December 4. Members agreed that the review should examine: i. What went wrong in both the initial construction and subsequent maintenance of the Maddiston Primary School building; ii. Who within the Council was responsible for the decisions and oversight at each stage, including who signed off the original build; and iii What lessons have been learned to ensure accountability and prevent similar failings in future projects. Proposing the amendment, Councillor James Bundy said: "We believe that the council should take responsibility for what happened at Maddiston Primary. "We know that contracters were involved in the construction and they are the ones with the responsibility to build it but, ultimately, it was the council, 17 years ago, who had to sign off on that construction and since then have signed off maintenance of the building. "We just wanted to be sure that that responsibility has accountability." The report put forward by the SNP administration proposed a procurement strategy that will see the council continue to work with a specialist company, Hub East Central, to deliver the new facilities as quickly as possible. SNP councillor Paul Garner told members that a construction quality review is already being progressed and a separate root cause analysis is also ongoing, looking at what happened 17 years ago. He added that the administration was content to accept the Conservative amendment, which was was agreed without opposition. The SNP's education spokesperson, Councillor Iain Sinclair, added his thanks to all the teachers at Maddiston Primary and all of the host schools for "all of the incredible effort they have put in, accommodating this in what is a very difficult and challenging set of circumstances". He also said a "massive thank you" was due to the pupils and parents who have been impacted for all their patience. "This is an unprecedented set of circumstances and it's difficult for everyone but we're on the right track here." The Labour group leader, Councillor Anne Hannah, added her thanks, saying: "Clearly the level of defects that have been discovered in this situation are dreadful and the impact on the children and their families and the carers have been extreme." Despite the work, parents and carers have been told that part of the school campus will be available for younger pupils from August this year, with some in the extension and some in modular units that are already in place.
Daily Record
4 days ago
- Business
- Daily Record
'Lessons learned' on looking after buildings says Falkirk Council after Bo'ness report
Councillors want no repeat of 2019 when a report into a pool's 'serious structural failings' was ignored. Lessons have been learned about maintaining buildings properly, Falkirk councillors have heard, after an internal audit looked at why a report warning of "serious structural failings" in a swimming pool had not been acted on. The audit identified a 'lack of urgency' and 'a lack of documented communication' as just two of many issues that led to no action being taken to repair the pool in Bo'ness Recreation Centre's for five years after the warning was made. The findings of the investigation were reported to Falkirk Council's audit committee in April, but returned to councillors this week, as they wanted to see a detailed action plan and timeline. While it is too late for the centre, which is currently being demolished, members of the committee said they wanted assurances that there would be no repeat of the situation. Councillor Cecil Meiklejohn, leader of the SNP administration, thanked officers for the report which she admitted had been "challenging" and said it was time now to "look forward and to the lessons learned". She said it was important "not just for this building but going forward". Assets manager Paul Kettrick said the report had highlighted the importance of "effective communication" and making sure that actions that have been identified are recorded and then followed up. Members were told that the council now takes a "corporate landlord" approach to looking after its properties. A property compliance team and a new maintenance and facilities management team are now in place to ensure a greater focus on the condition of buildings. Councillor Anne Hannah, the leader of the Labour group, said: "The Strategic Property Review has highlighted again and again the problem of maintenance and we need to be assured that that is not going to be a continuing problem." Mr Kettrick said that with such a large property portfolio, maintenance will always be a challenge for the council but he was confident that a framework was now in place to effectively manage the risks. However, the Director of Place Services Malcolm Bennie had a warning for councillors. He said: "My impression is that Falkirk Council under-invested in its assets and kept too many assets, so that what funding was available was spread too thin. "The challenge to my service is to make sure that the compliance activity is undertaken and that we bring forward proposals and recommendations for funding. "Elected members also need to have cognisance of that when considering their budgets to ensure there is enough funding available for us to fully take forward the improvements that are identified."
Daily Record
5 days ago
- Business
- Daily Record
Falkirk Council urged to be more 'transparent' over cost cutting changes
Council officials must keep councillors and public informed as work continues to transform services Falkirk Council has been told it must be more 'transparent' about the efforts it is making to transform its services in a bid to save cash. External auditors from Audit Scotland say the council is making progress with its transformation programme - known as Council of the Future - but it stresses that it has to do better at reporting publicly on results. In the annual 'Best Value' report, auditors also say that reporting to elected members the results of transformation could also be improved, while engagement with communities in Falkirk should be more consistent. Some of the previous Council of the Future (COTF) projects were welcomed as modernising and efficient - such as the move from analogue to digital telecare, developing an online school payment system and introducing an online health and safety system for reporting workplace incidents. But others have been much more controversial and one of the biggest - the council's plans to change and shorten the learning week for pupils - was rejected by elected members after an outcry from parents. Rejecting the plans to change the school week meant that that the council's plans to save £26 million from the COTF programme over the five-year period to 2028/29 have been revised to £14.7 million. The Best Value report, which focuses on a different theme every year, was looking closely at how councils can transform operations to make savings without cutting essential services. Audit Scotland is clear that similar financial problems are facing every council in Scotland, noting that they have "never faced such a challenging situation". While demand for council services has continued to rise since the Covid-19 pandemic, funding has not kept pace. The auditor's report says that in Falkirk, the transformation programme has achieved savings and they are happy with how these are reported to the Council of the Future Board. However, it says there is a "lack of transparency as this information has not been published externally". Despite the success of the projects, other cuts to department budgets and a 15.6 per cent rise in council tax, the council still faces a £58.5 million funding gap between 2025/26 and 2029/30. According to the report, "the financial challenge remains significant and the council will need to be ambitious and radical to continue to respond to this challenge". In particular, it says much more work must be done in partnership with other organisations to achieve transformation and says that this has been "very limited to date". The Best Value report states: "The council therefore needs to be more ambitious and look at alternative ways to make more radical changes and generate further savings required to address the financial challenge." But while the report says the COTF programme is "well resourced and frequently monitored", it highlights how difficult it has been to make significant changes. In the 2025/26 budget, £10 million of recurring savings include savings from the Strategic Property Review and the closure of Blackness Primary School. But a proposal to radically change school hours in Falkirk - which would have cut time in the classroom for pupils - was rejected by councillors after an outcry by parents. Following on from that, February's budget paper included seven savings that were hastily introduced to help the council bridge its budget gap. But of the cuts totalling £1.2 million to be considered, just one was approved by members, amounting to £0.06 million, with councillors complaining about the lack of consultation and feeling that they did not have enough information about the impact the cuts would have on communities. Auditor Pauline Gillen told members that Audit Scotland recognised the difficulty councils, including Falkirk, are facing. She said: "Falkirk seems to be in a similar position to other councils, recognising difficulty in identifying projects and programmes that are truly transformational, rather than just looking for simple financial efficiencies." What is needed, she said, is projects that "shift the dial" and transform service delivery to make longer term savings. But she admitted that it was difficult for councils to deliver radical projects while maintaining day to day services. The Best Value report also highlighted uneven engagement with communities, noting: "The council engages with communities but it is not always clear how the engagement has influenced changes to service design." The risk, the report says, is that the council "does not identify and mitigate against potentially negative impacts of its transformational activities on communities". It recommends that: "The council should ensure community engagement is consistently factored into its decision-making processes where appropriate and should clearly document how engagement with communities has informed changes to services." Falkirk Council's chief executive, Kenneth Lawrie, accepted the recommendations and said that a new Community Engagement strategy would help ensure consistency. But he said there had been successes, in particular, with the council's Strategic Property Review, where he said the council has made "a really radical change" that has "engaged with communities and produced significant financial savings". Several halls and facilities - including Polmont Snowsport Centre, Grangemouth Stadium and several community halls - are now in community ownership. But the review also led to the controversial closure of Bo'ness Recreation Centre which was bitterly opposed by many in the community, despite the promise of new facilities being built in a new wing of Bo'ness Academy. Mr Lawrie acknowledged there is much more to do to get to financial stability and he said officers considered the report to be "fair and balanced".
