CUTTING all local authority funding to community councils (CCs) makes "no sense" and would hit the groups working hardest to mitigate the effects of budgets cuts in Clacks.

That was the damning message issued by the Wee County's Joint Community Council Forum in response to a proposal to terminate their funding.

Released on the Alloa CC Facebook page on Thursday, January 21, the message pointed out just how much responsibility CCs have taken on for work previous carried out by the council.

The statement read: "Community groups and development trusts have been formed to run council owned community halls and sports centres.

"Grounds maintenance, including grass cutting, pest control, dog control, refurbishment and replacement of street furniture, litter control and even winter gritting has been subsumed into community activity.

"The CCs have been at the heart of this activity encouraging and co-ordinating volunteers, bidding for and winning external sources of funding, trying to involve and galvanise their communities.

"It is particularly disappointing therefore this year to see the financial base of the CC's being threatened."

CCs provide the most local level of statutory representation in Scotland, bridging the gap between councils and the communities they represent.

Local authority funding for each CC in Clacks varies, but many receive relatively small amounts of money.

Despite that, Clackmannanshire Council's Budget Engagement 2019-20 document, released in January, proposed to "cease funding to Community Councils" as a money saving measure.

The document added that the council is currently facing a budget shortfall of around £11million, and noted: "It is now almost impossible to find savings which will not impact on individuals and communities."

Addressing the local authority's severe financial difficulties, the Joint Community Council Forum's statement read: "The budgetary position in Clackmannanshire has reached calamitous proportions and this round of proposed cuts comes at the end of a string of similar years."

But the group went on to estimate that the potential savings from proposal would only amount to £5,000 – and reiterated its position the cut would not be worth it.

A spokesperson for Clackmannanshire Council said: "No decisions have yet been taken.

"These are officer options which will be part of budget engagement process, which will then inform the decision making of councillors at the budget meeting."