WEE County councillors heard that there still has not been any formal notice from their Stirling counterparts regarding the controversial withdrawal from shared social and education services.

At the full council meeting last week, local elected representatives were told that the first time council leader Les Sharp heard about the issue in September was when he was asked for a comment by a newspaper on the back of a Stirling Council press release.

The two councils embarked on shared services almost five years ago, but there has been a “serious lack of trust” since the news that Stirling would pull the plug on the partnership.

And since Stirling has not given any formal notice, Clackmannanshire Council has now decided to go ahead and inform them that as of March 31, 2017 the current arrangement for education and social services will end.

Council leader Les Sharp said: “We will make Clackmannanshire better by bringing services back to [the county].”

SNP councillor Ellen Forson said she was disappointed by the Stirling decision and her view was echoed by many. She added that the Wee County needs to “take control of the situation” and give Stirling notice, with Craig Holden adding that it was “ironic” Clacks has to do so.

Labour leader Bobby McGill said: “The impact on services is worrying for me. I don’t think any of us are happy.”

Many of the members agreed that the positive is that Clackmannanshire will have the chance to deliver good services on its own. However, following the meeting, opposition leader Mr McGill told the Advertiser that the Wee County will have to continue working with Stirling.

He said: “We’ve got to work with them.

"We still have a number of areas where we do work with them.”

“I know we weren’t happy how they went about the way they finished up without any discussion.

“I was complaining for two-and-a-bit years now about lack of meetings on shared services.”