NORTH Ayrshire Council looks set to get three extra councillors as the final recommendations from the Scottish government were published.

And Saltcoats and Stevenston will be split into two separate wards with three councillors serving each town.

Published last week, the report and recommendations did not match those of the council.

Some councillors voiced their displeasure over the fact that there would be increases, which will now come into play in next May’s local elections in May.

In real terms, there is very little change to the majority of the council wards with Kilwinning, Dalry and West Kilbride, Kilbirnie and Beith, North Coast and Cumbrae and Irvine West staying the same. Irvine East and Ardrossan and Arran will lose one councillor each.

There will be a new ward in Irvine East which will have three councillors and could cause a headache for the main political parties over who they will choose to represent them in the election for seats in the area’s biggest town.

North Ayrshire Council as a whole is disappointed in the final outcome and released a statement saying that it will be writing to the minister to say this.

A spokesperson said: “We are disappointed in the minister’s decision and will be writing directly to him. Every single councillor in North Ayrshire opposed these proposals, as did many community groups. The council believes that this undermines the locality planning approach which is a key priority for both the Scottish government and the council.

“Community planning partners – including the council, NHS, Police Scotland and Scottish Fire and Rescue – agreed to align their work around the six localities of North Ayrshire. But these proposals mean council wards will be significantly different to our localities and will see some members working across more than one locality.

“The treatment of Arran is particularly disappointing. Community groups in Arran successfully lobbied to get one or two-member wards included in the forthcoming Islands Bill – it had previously stated that it would not allow one-member wards.

“As a result, ministers chose to delay boundary changes for the other islands’ authorities but, despite being the driver for the change, Arran will not receive these benefits as it has been excluded from this approach.

“We feel very strongly about this and will be advocating for further redress for Arran through the Islands Bill.

“While we are disappointed with the minister’s decision, elected members will continue to work hard to represent North Ayrshire communities and our six Locality Partnerships.”