CLACKS is to lobby both UK and Scottish governments for additional funding to help recovery from the coronavirus pandemic.

At the first-ever virtual meeting of all elected representatives at Clackmannanshire Council last week, the leader of the administration confirmed she has joined others in calls for extra financial support.

Discussing a high-level strategic paper on the Wee County local authority's necessary recovery activity, council leader Councillor Ellen Forson confirmed further funding is required to respond to the pandemic.

The document detailed how Covid-19 expenditure is going to be "significantly greater" than the £1.9million provided by Scottish Government so far.

It is highly likely that the council's budgets for this year will need to be reviewed along with the Be the Future programme – a platform designed to help build sustainable services locally and much more.

Speaking of coronavirus funding, a council finance officer told the virtual Kilncraigs chamber: "Almost all of these funds are committed, however, we are in no doubt that the recovery effort will extend beyond June and that further costs would be incurred."

In proposing the paper tabled, Cllr Forson highlighted the pandemic has "undoubtedly" changed the council.

She said: "While this funding is welcome – it has allowed us to respond effectively, delivering initiatives like childcare hubs, virtual learning and free school meal payments.

"But moving forward, we will need further funding to allow us to deal with the recovery and I've joined other council leaders across Scotland to lobby both the UK and Scottish governments to this effect.

"There's no doubt these continue to be challenging times and it's likely that the response and recovery activity required will both be significant and will need to be sustained over a long period of time."

The council leader added she has seen many examples of people and groups supporting one another through creativity and kindness, saying she is hoping to build on that "local proactivity and positivity" by enhancing partnership working going forward.

Cllr Dave Clark, leader of the Labour group, agreed budgets will need to be redrafted.

He also raised worries over funding for the Clackmannanshire and Stirling Integration Joint Board, which oversees the area's health and social care partnership.

Cllr Clark added: "What we have is two public organisations starved of funds and we need to be cautious with our own funds here in the council.

"I think we need to be careful with the public purse, we need to be careful with the budget as we go forward because whilst we have got through the life and death period [of the pandemic] we are now beginning to manage the future and how we manage the budget is important."