Bailie Cllr Gerry McGarvey

🌳 Do you have an interest in countryside access? Would you like to get involved in how it is managed locally?

The Stirling Area Local Access Forum is looking for new members and would love to hear from you.

See here for more details: ➡️ stirling.gov.uk/SALAF

Amidst all the chaos of trying to do all those “last minute things” go “get it right” for Monday, take care of yourself, gift yourself some you time to relax and look after your own well-being…all shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of thing shall be well…

Yes, it’s looking brutal for local services.

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Nothing says 2024 quite like a (by) election!

Stirling Council By Election - Scottish Labour select David Wilson to stand in Dunblane and Bridge of Allan - Stirling Labour In the forthcoming Stirling Council By election on 25 January 2024, Dunblane and Bridge of Allan Labour Party members have selected Local Government IT expert David Wilson as their candidate. David knows how crucial Local Government services are to our communities and wellbeing and that high quality...

Stirling Council elected members and partner agency colleagues at Stirling Railway Station yesterday creating a presence, drawing support to the 16 Days of Activism campaign, and inviting support to commit towards the elimination of Gender Based Violence.

More information available in the links below:
https://www.who.int/campaigns/16-days-of-activism-against-gender-based-violence/2023 #:~:text=The%20global%2016%20Days%20of,th%20December%2C%20Human%20Rights%20Day.

https://www.stirling.gov.uk/safety-and-antisocial-behaviour/gender-based-violence-support/16-days-of-activism/

(The 16 Days of Activism is a global campaign which calls for the elimination of Gender Based Violence (GBV) against women and girls. The campaign was launched by the Centre for Women’s Global Leadership in 1991 and takes place from 25 November to 10 December every year.

The campaign highlights a number of significant dates, including:

International Day Against Violence Against Women (25 November)
International Women Human Rights Defenders Day (29 November)
World AIDS Day (1 December)
International Day of Persons with Disabilities (3 December)
The Anniversary of the Montreal Massacre (6 December)
International Human Rights Day (10 December)

Supporting this campaign aligns with the Scottish Government’s Equally Safe priorities which highlights the need for agencies across Scotland to work together to tackle Violence Against Women and Girls.

For 2023, the national theme for the campaign is “Imagine a Scotland without Gender Based Violence”. This theme encourages activities focused on engaging with young people and more work with education settings in response to challenging issues in these areas.)

It has never been a secret that this has been one of my primary concerns.

'Unease': National Care Service plans criticised by SNP-commissioned research Scottish Government plans to centralise adult care have been dealt a blow after research commissioned by SNP ministers concluded a feeling of…

I am delighted to be part of Forth Valley Indian Association's Diwali function today in Alloa Town Hall.

Happy Diwali.

Here's a first look at today's Observer front page.

Honoured to have been invited to represent Stirling Council in today’s Remembrance Sunday Ceremonies in the City, and lay a wreath on behalf of the people of Stirling at our Cenotaph to commemorate in gratitude the sacrifices made by our citizens on our behalf.

Reminder that tomorrow's Remembrance Sunday service will take place at 10.45am at the Church of the Holy Rude. This will be followed by a procession to the Cenotaph.

Information about the arrangements: https://www.stirling.gov.uk/news/remembrance-sunday-service-arrangements-confirmed/

REALLY important that folk engage with this to get a sense of the magnitude of the cuts Stirling Council decision-makers face.

No decision have been taken on any of the savings proposals and the survey aims to find out from residents affected by savings what the impact would be on you and on your community.

Please help inform the budget process by completing the survey.

The full list of savings is on the survey itself, but they include:

* Close or reduce council-managed community centres.

* Stop the annual mowing of rural road verges, reduce grass cutting or increase space for pollinator spaces.

* Closure of some libraries.

* Reduction in budget for events and festivals.

* Removal of the ‘road-end’ waste collection policy.

* Stop the greenspace ranger service.

* Reduce spending on maintenance at buildings and facilities.

*Removal of the community grant scheme.

* Reduce free, confidential and impartial accredited money, debt and benefit advice to residents.

* Change the operating models (opening times and capacity) at some nurseries.

*Increase non statutory childcare fees.

* Reduce or stop the play, creche, play and out of school care service.

* Reduce teachers in the additional support needs outreach team.

* Removal of the P5 swimming programme.

*Reduce the primary school week for pupils.

* Close some or all public toilets.

There are no easy options only tough, if not brutal decisions to be made, which absolutely no-one wants to make…so please participate and indicate your least palatable choices to try to plug the £13 Million hole in our finances.

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=729124892586583&id=100064672364443

📝 Council has launched an online survey for residents to have their say on proposals to bridge an estimated £13 million budget gap in the next financial year.

News story: stirling.gov.uk/news/stirling-council-launches-online-survey-on-budget-saving-proposals

Survey: engage.stirling.gov.uk

Very positive chats at the Big Conversation in Callander last night…and there are more taking place…

BIGGEST thanks to Paul Goodwin for inviting me to be part of Kippen FC's Awards Ceremony and Fundraiser this evening - and giving me the opportunity to meet and eat alongside football legends Jimmy Bone and David MacPherson.

Looking forward to joining friends and Kippen FC supporters at this awards ceremony and fundraising event tonight.

Kippen FC Awards & Speaker Fundraising Night Join us for a fantastic night of celebrating Kippen FC achievements, inspiring speakers, and raising funds – it'll be a blast!

We must be doing something right.

Hat tip to Stirling Council Housing Service staff throughout the organisation.

91% of Stirling Council tenants satisfied with housing services A new survey has found that 91% of Stirling Council tenants are satisfied with their housing services – almost 10% higher than the Scottish local authority average.

That was a "Wow!" and magical day out!

Stirling Science Festival ignites the imagination | Stirling Council Stirling Science Festival transformed city into a hub of curiosity during the school October break, boosting brainpower, wellbeing and the local economy.

Delighted to be a part of this tribute.

Former provost's name will live on in village's new housing development A former provost will have his memory honoured with a housing development named after him in the village where he lived.

Have your say…

Project: Have a say in the future of your place To help us start the process of producing the new Local Development Plan (LDP), we want your views to inform the preparation of an Evidence Report. This is an initial information gathering stage that will lay the foundations for the new LDP. You c...

Extremely pleased and honoured to be invited to the naming and opening of this property development in Plean and visit the legendary Clansman.

Former Provost honoured at new Plean housing development | Stirling Council The memory of former Stirling Provost Tommy Brookes will live on in a new housing development in his beloved Plean.

Biggest thanks to my wonderful Liverpool hosts during .

I’ve loved the city since my time living in L8 during the 1980s, and it is a joy to see how it develops incrementally year on year…

Special hat tip to Liz, Nigel, Chris, Lana, El, Ash, Zeus, Odin, Rudi (…can’t fail…) and Pablo.

You all made an oul’ nostalgic rover feel welcome and very much at home.

Thank you. Leaving wasn’t easy.

In my Liverpool Home and The Leaving of Liverpool A video I made in tribute to the most famous city in England outside of London. The very beautiful city of Liverpool. In Music, Liverpool has produced more N...

Great meeting with Care Experience Champion, Terry Galloway, at

Delighted to have played a part in progressing the case for experience of being looked-after towards being considered a Protected Characteristic.

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At yesterday’s Full Council.

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Delighted to have been part of the celebrations recognsiing Stirling Council's groundbreaking innovative practice in Housing.

Huge congratulations to our brilliant Housing Team who scooped the Scottish Government Delivering Excellence Award at the COSLA Excellence Awards 2023 last week.

The accolade was for the innovative Healthier Homes project, which involves environmental sensors being installed in a growing number of our Council homes to monitor air quality, temperature and condensation.

That information is then available to the tenant and the Housing Service maintenance team, so that any issues such as dampness, mould and condensation can be resolved quickly. The data also identifies the least energy-efficient homes and allows improvements to be made, such as using solar technology.

Not only did the project scoop a top award at the COSLA ceremony in Crieff last night, but, most importantly, there has also been really positive feedback from tenants on how the tech is helping them and the service they receive.

Well done Stirling Council’s Housing Service’s Teams.

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10232239257791272&id=1447508964

Hoping our team do well tonight, bur making the nominations is itself a mighty achievement.

Stirling Council’s housing service in running for national award Stirling Council’s housing service is in the running for a COSLA 2023 Excellence Award in recognition of an innovative project that improves the health of homes and tenants.

IT'S BACK!

The mightily popular Black Bull Gartmore Quiz Night IS BACK, TOMORROW Wednesday, 27th September at 7pm.

There may be some spaces available, so check if you can be in it to win it!!!!

Our Housing Service being acknowledged and recognised is itself an honour.

🏠 Stirling Council's Housing Service is in the running for a COSLA 2023 Excellence Award in recognition of its Healthier Homes Project.

The Healthier Homes project sees environmental sensors installed in a growing number of council properties. These monitor air quality, temperature and condensation, with the information being available to both the individual tenant as well as the Housing Service’s maintenance team.

The project is a finalist in the Service Innovation and Improvement category. The team will find out if they have been successful at the ceremony which takes place on Thursday 28 September.

Full information: https://www.stirling.gov.uk/news/stirling-council-s-housing-service-in-the-running-for-national-award/