Volunteers in Falkirk interested in helping to save council buildings from closure are being invited to find out more at a series of in-person meetings this month.
The public meetings are being held in addition to an online survey asking residents across the district for their views on what should happen to the 133 buildings that Falkirk Council is planning to close or transfer out of its ownership over the next three years.
The council says that it owns too many buildings that are in a poor state of repair and it needs to get rid of them to help save money and make all of its properties more energy efficient.
Read more: Falkirk residents asked for ideas to stop council running out of money
Many of the buildings targeted are community and leisure facilities and the council hopes that at least some of the buildings will be taken over by volunteers through a community asset transfer.
A council spokesperson said: "These events will help us gather information on those who are expressing an interest in potentially taking on properties for use as well as informing on the background/rationale to the whole review.
"We will also have an opportunity to explain what’s involved in transfers and help outline what would be involved next.”
Buildings that could close include Bo'ness Recreation Centre, which figures show cost the council nearly £700,000 to run in 2020/21.
If there is no interest in transferring ownership, the buildings will close and the council is looking for feedback about how best to relocate any activities.
The council says that the consultation is "not about stopping services" but rather "finding potential new ways to deliver them".
It would like to find out how many people are willing to manage properties and what support they will need to do so.
The council hopes people will be inspired by the success of asset transfers that have already happened for venues including Westfield and Tamfourhill Community Halls, Woodlands Games Hall and Denny Men's Shed.
But it has acknowledged that volunteers, however willing, will need a huge amount of help and support to take over buildings, which include all of the council's community halls and several leisure facilities such as Stenhousemuir Gym and Carron Gymnastics Centre.
Councillors agreed a £6 million fund to help members of the community take on buildings which, the council says, could be used to invest in improvements such as roof works, windows and new boilers or energy efficiency works.
It also promises that "professional and technical support" will be available.
In addition to the in-person meetings, which start on January 10 and include a mixture of daytime and evening events, there is also one on-line event on January 25.
Slamannan Library: 10 Jan 2023, noon - 2pm.
Braes High School: January 10, 7-9pm.
Bonnybridge Library: January 11, noon - 2pm
Denny High School: January 11, 7-9pm
Langlees Primary School: January 12, 7-9pm
Grangemouth Library: January 16, noon - 2pm
Falkirk Library: January 17, noon to 2pm
Hallglen Primary School: January 17, 7-9pm
Stenhousemuir Library: January 20, noon - 2pm
Bo’ness Academy: January 24, 7-9 pm
Online event: January 25, 7-9pm
The online consultation looking for people's views on the 133 properties involved closes on January 20.
