Auchenharvie and Kilwinning Academies have seen a reduction in funding for much-needed refurbishment.

North Ayrshire Council confirmed that investment in the two schools and Auchenharvie Academy has dropped from around £8million to £6million - after money was found to plug an overspend in the Health and Social Care Partnership budget.

Back in February, councillors agreed to transfer a projected underspend of £4.1million in the 2015/16 revenue budget to the capital programme to allow investment in the schools.

A further amendment meant that this programme would top £8million.

But at last week’s full council meeting, Irvine West Councillor Ian Clarkson questioned the administration on where £2million had been found to fill the overspend.

The SNP Group’s Deputy Leader, Councillor Alan Hill, confirmed that this underspend had been used which meant a reduction in the money available.

He said the council had a good track record of sound financial management and that the Health and Social Care had been asked to report on measures to get its budget back on track. 

Councillor Hill added that there would, unfortunately, be less funding available to spend on improvements to the schools mentioned, but that he would seek further expenditure on the schools projects and funding became available. 

Speaking after the meeting Councillor Clarkson said: “I was incensed at this, as it had been agreed, when we were setting the budgets, that Irvine Royal Academy, along with Kilwinning Academy and Auchenharvie in Stevenston, would benefit from the underspends.

“I then asked if the works at these schools would still go ahead, and was told that it depended on any underspend.

“We were not told, or indeed even consulted, that Irvine Royal had “lost out” on money being used on the fabric of the school.” 

The Labour councillor added: “It is hypocritical for the SNP to agree a budget, then turn turtle, and use this money already agreed, for something entirely different, but we have found over the last few years that this is how they work. 

“They are so scared of the public finding things out, that they go to great lengths to hide what is really happening. It is a dangerous web to weave.”

Councillor Joe Cullinane helped lead a campaign with Kilwinning Academy’s Parent Council to receive more investment in the school.

He said: “I am absolutely dismayed that the much needed investment in Kilwinning Academy, Irvine Royal Academy and Auchenharvie Academy that we secured at the budget in February has been partially overturned just one month later by the SNP administration.

“It is a kick in the teeth to all who campaigned for investment in Kilwinning Academy and the vast numbers in the community who backed that campaign.

“This calls into question the democratic process of setting our budget when the administration can ride roughshod with budget decisions in a manner which is not transparent. The projected underspend in the council’s budget that we agreed to transfer for the schools wasn’t lower, the cabinet have just decided to divert cash towards a budget overspend that should be the shared responsibility of the council and the health board.”