Clackmannanshire Council seeks £18m of cuts by 2016

Clackmannanshire Council will have to make savings of £17.86m over the next three years

Clackmannanshire Council has said it will have to cut its expenditure by almost £18m over the next three years.

The local authority has agreed its funding following the Scottish government's settlement announced last month.

Savings of £17.86m will have to be met by 2016, with just over £7m of that needed in the next financial year.

The council said it was working to identify a range of options to achieve the cuts.

Council leader, Gary Womersley, said: "It is clear that this year this process is proving to be extremely demanding given the levels of reductions already made across the council.

"Whilst officer options have been produced, the key challenge will be for councillors to agree a budget which best balances the needs of Clackmannanshire as a whole."

Corporate approach

Councillor Womersley said the authority needed to assess how it could provide services in future years.

"There will also be a need for a shift in the approach in future years if the Council is going to have a sustainable cost base," he added.

"We intend to develop a corporate business transformation programme which will be critical in allowing the council to develop its budget proposals for future years.

"The council recently agreed its corporate priorities so that will provide clear direction in what are challenging financial times for all sectors."