CLACKMANNANSHIRE Council has confirmed its ongoing commitment to fund the stray dog facility at Bandeath.

Councillors agreed at today’s meeting of the council to rescind the notice of intention to withdraw from the stray dog kennel partnership, subject to there being no increase to the council’s current funding contribution.

The formal notice of withdrawal was issued in December 2015 with a withdrawal date of 1 January 2017.

Alongside that formal notice, partners were advised that the council was fully committed to working with the other partners to identify a solution that can benefit all.

Officers are actively pursuing a reduction in the council’s contribution in order to achieve best value.

The council will also write to CoSLA, Scottish Government and Police Scotland following correspondence from Police Scotland stating their intention to exit the partnership.

Council Leader Bobby McGill said: “We are committed to working with our partners in Falkirk and Stirling Councils and exploring all options to ensure Bandeath Dog Shelter stays open.”

Bandeath stray dog shelter is managed by Stirling Council on behalf of the Bandeath stray dog kennel partnership, which includes Clackmannanshire Council, Falkirk Council and Police Scotland, for the temporary holding of stray dogs found in the three areas which have been picked up by either local authorities or by the Police.

It is located in Throsk.

Clackmannanshire Council took 41 dogs to the facility in 2015/16 and the cost to the Council was £23,384, equivalent to £570 per dog.

In relation to the other partners, Clackmannanshire Council uses the facility the least, however the council pays an equal share.

The council expects the number of dogs taken to a stray dog kennel facility in the coming years to reduce event further as a result of dog microchipping legislation.

This requires every dog to be microchipped to enable owner identification to be determined.

The council has bought microchip scanners to enable more owners of stray dogs to be identified and taken back to the owner, rather than taken to Bandeath.

The local authority expects to take less than 30 dogs to Bandeath in this financial year.