The cash will kit out offices on the first floor of the main stand for a waste company ... who could use a 'get-out clause' to quit the building after two years.

Oran Ltd is based in Alloa, but hopes to move to Falkirk before the end of the year.
It is understood 40 staff will transfer to the new facility and the company hopes to create 60 more jobs.

Falkirk Council will lease the space from Falkirk Community Stadium Ltd (FCSL) and, after the refit, sublet the premises to Oran for its new headquarters.

Approval for the project was given by councillors at a closed doors meeting last Friday.

This week it was revealed Mervyn Jones, the chairman of FCSL who, in a surprise move last month tendered his resignation, has been persuaded to stay on until a strategic review of the stadium company has been completed.

Welcoming the Oran move, council leader Linda Gow said: "This is excellent news for the area. The stadium company doesn't have the money to carry out the refit, but this has worked out well and will complete that part of the stadium."

The council is a partner with Falkirk Football Club in FCSL and the proposal was initially due to be debated at a meeting of the policy committee on August 12. However, Councillor Gow moved that it be taken in private at a special meeting of the full council when financial aspects could be discussed.

Falkirk-based Alchemy Inns currently operate a function suite, decked out as an indoor marquee, in the area marked out for the new offices.
Bosses have been given notice to quit by the end of this month, although they had verbal assurances from FCSL officials that they could stay until April 2009.

At last week's private meeting, SNP group leader Councillor David Alexander moved that council officials compile a report on the losses suffered by Alchemy Inns and others because of the new tenants. But his amendment was defeated.

The council has already revealed that the cost of the refit would be recouped during the first five years of the 10-year lease.

But Mr Alexander was unhappy that the latest report allowed Oran a 'get-out clause'.

He said: "The private report confirmed there is a two-year break clause to allow Oran to move out of the stadium and into the Falkirk Gateway if they wish, something which was not in the original report."

Yesterday (Wednesday), Councillor Gow said it was hoped the review would be completed shortly and discussed at a special council meeting next month.

Mr Jones said he was staying on in the chairman's role until that work was carried out, adding he had been asked to do so by both the council and the football club.

He said: "I had tendered my resignation but this was not to do with this but another issue which is between me and the board.

"It is important the strategic review is carried out and proposals made to ensure the stadium is completed, the whole development is viable and the loans the council have given are completely repaid."