Falkirk Council could be one of the closest battles in the local elections next month with just one seat currently separating Labour and the SNP.
In 2007 Labour gained two seats and struck a coalition deal with the Conservatives and independents to seize control of the local authority from the nationalists.
The deal left a single seat between the SNP and Labour, but this time round the nationalists are hoping to score enough seats to take control of the council back, without requiring to enter into a coalition with the Tories.
Last year the council agreed to £8.5m budget cuts as it, as well as every other local authority in Scotland, had to reign in its spending.
According to the council’s officials statistics, unemployment in the town and the surrounding area has risen since 2008, with more than 4792 without a job last March.
But, the latest figures show that number has fallen to 4702, although it remains just outside the top ten local authorities with the highest levels of unemployment in Scotland.
SNP is adamant that residents need to vote for change on May 3, while Labour has said its track record in dealing with such difficulties in recent years has proven it is the right choice for Falkirk.
IN DETAIL
More About Local elections 2012
- Scotland’s councillors get back to work as the dust settles on elections
- New coalition in Edinburgh sets out promises for next five years
- SNP fury as Labour and Tories strike coalition deal to run Stirling Council
- Voters go to the polls a week late to elect final three councillors
- Councils in Lothians strike deals after days of negotiations
- Councils across Scotland starting to take shape after days of negotiations
- Negotiations across the Lothians in the wake of local government elections
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