Stirling Council has managed to improve services despite budget cuts, it has stated in a report.
But the Labour-Conservative local authority’s publication was condemned as a “shameless embarrassment” by SNP group leader Councillor Scott Farmer, who accused the administration of self congratulation amid service cuts.
According to the report, the council has made progress across all its priority areas, with gains including more homes built, improved care for the elderly and vulnerable and better exam results among the lowest-performing secondary schools.
More nursery places and trained child minders have been provided despite the council managing a 12% reduction in Scottish Government funding, stated the report, and there has also been investment in road repairs and maintenance.
Other improvements, according to the council, included enhanced sports and leisure facilities and taking Kings Park into public hands.
Johanna Boyd, Stirling Council leader, said: “These are difficult times for residents due to the economic downturn and they need our support. Despite the cuts in our funding, we are strengthening and building the services they need.
“Our focus is on helping families, protecting the elderly and vulnerable, and regenerating communities, while creating the right conditions to attract more businesses and high-quality jobs.
“Progress has been good in many areas, but there is an enormous amount to do. Strong foundations are now in place and we are ambitious to speed up the pace of change.”
The council said it had made changes to the way services were targeted in order to “do more for less”; for example, taking a preventative approach through early intervention for families in need.
Extra workers had been taken on for important roles such as supporting vulnerable children and their families, and giving advice to tenants on effective budgeting and dealing with debt, the council stated.
In addition, measures had been taken to combat dog fouling, there had been investment in superfast broadband and Stirling’s development agency had been streamlined to attract new businesses and jobs.
The council said the community had been involved in decision making, with advisory groups set up to guide decisions on everything from business development to arts and culture.
Depute council leader Alistair Berrill said: “The partnership administration has made a solid start and our focus on the 18 key priorities is bringing real benefits across the area, in our villages and towns as well as the city.
“We are determined to see this progress continue by making Stirling a place where enterprise can thrive, where all our schools achieve excellent results and where residents have a real say in the sort of services they need.”
Mr Farmer, leader of the opposition, slammed the report. “Council workers are striking or working to rule in open revolt against their contemptuous treatment by this Tory-Labour administration and council services are being cut across the board,” he said.
“Yet this administration sees fit to spend precious council resources producing a report congratulating themselves on a job well done. Back in the real world, Stirling Council is being run into the ground and the taxpayers of Stirling are being short-changed.
“Instead of slapping each other on the back, the administration should be working to resolve the industrial relations disaster they have presided over and reinstate services such as brown bin collections and rural bus services they have cut.”