Falkirk Council set to consider assessment of local government reform options
Falkirk Council is preparing to consider an assessment of local government reform options which include the creation of a single Forth Valley council.
The assessment would look at various options, ranging from keeping the three existing councils to creating a single council that would cover Forth Valley.
Falkirk, Clackmannanshire, and Stirling councils will make their own decisions based on which option best meets the needs of its communities.
The three councils are currently working together through their Transformation through Collaboration programme. The Scottish government’s Programme for Government highlighted that the learning from this collaborative programme could help inform future reform.
The proposed appraisal would research each option, looking at the benefits, risks, financial implications, and outcomes for communities.
If the appraisal is approved, it would be funded through the Scottish Government Invest to Save funding which has already been awarded to the trio of councils for their Transformation through Collaboration programme, and it’s intended to be completed by the end of 2026.
Clackmannanshire and Stirling councils are considering similar proposals, and no decision has yet been made on changing the current council structure or implementing shared services.
The meeting will be held at Grangemouth Community Education Unit on Thursday, October 8 at 12pm, or after the scheduled Executive meeting if it runs past noon. The council’s committees Youtube channel will be livestreaming the meeting.
Consideration of an appraisal comes after the Scottish Government shared its first step in its Programme for Government 2026 to 2031 on Tuesday, September 1. Further details for local government were then issued on Monday, September 21.
The initial proposal looks at replacing the country’s existing councils with between six to 10 regional authorities and 120 to 160 community authorities. The government has stated that this is the beginning of a discussion, and not its final position.
Kenneth Lawrie, chief executive at Falkirk Council, said: “This is a significant discussion for elected members about the future shape of local government in Scotland, but it is still at an early stage.
"An independent appraisal would allow us to properly assess the different options and what they could mean for Falkirk's communities and the services they rely on. It would give elected members evidence to consider as the national discussion develops.”