The Scottish Executive is to be asked to help fund a feasibility study into merging frontline services at Stirling and Clackmannanshire councils.

Stirling councillors approved proposals last week to apply for £125,000 to fund a six-month study, which will be published in March 2007. Members at Clackmannanshire will discuss the same report today (Thursday) and vote on whether to apply for the funding. The merger is expected to save the two councils a total of £4m. The two councils have been discussing merging various services since 2002 and, in June this year, the two chief executives published a report proposing merging many frontline services.