THE cost of music tuition or the hiring of parks could be revised in Clackmannanshire by the end of the year.

A supply and demand analysis will be carried out on the local authority’s pricing structure, after it was revealed that 40 per cent of pupils ditched learning an instrument following a hike in charges that emerged out of the budget in March.

While the council looked to recover the full costs associated with teaching provisions for non-SQA students, it has lost out on around £41,000 of income instead, according to Labour group leader Councillor Dave Clark.

The North Ward representative tabled a motion calling for the review at Kilncraigs last Thursday, June 28, and was heartened to receive cross-party support.

It follows a public uproar over the increased charges in music – which is now as expensive as private one-to-one tuition.

Hiring the West End Park in Alloa or the Cochrane Park in Alva have also tripled in costs and as the Advertiser reported in May, the John Evans Funfair skipped the Hillfoots town for the first time in 50 years as a direct result.

The charges jumped from £100 a day to £300 – with fun fair organisers explaining hiring the space in the small village became as expensive as securing a park in the city of Glasgow.

Cllr Clark’s motioned called for the supply and demand analysis to be brought to the debating chamber in October.

A fundamental concept in economics, this type of study looks at how much a product or service is desired by buyers at a certain price and what the market can offer at various rates.

Ultimately, it is the backbone of market economy theories and looks to allocate resources in the most efficient way possible.

Pitching his idea, the Labour leader said his party asks that some “thought is put into” the pricing of music tuition and park hire charges with the motion adding: “… as council notes that the public has raised questions about its Pricing Policy…”.

SNP Council leader Cllr Ellen Forson confirmed the figures relating to music tuition were accurate and said her party would support the idea.