NORTH Ayrshire Council will set its budget for the upcoming financial year next week, so we've broken down some of the key points from the proposals that are due to be finalised.

Councillors still have to decide and agree on the plans at Wednesday's (March 1) meeting but the local authority has already made clear its priorities in what is being branded as "one of the most challenging budgets faced in recent times".

NAC said two of the key priorities when setting the budget will be "supporting communities and helping to tackle child poverty and the cost-of-living crisis".

Meanwhile, documents released ahead of next week's meeting state: "The approach to the budget programme continues to focus on minimising the impact on communities, services, and the workforce.

"It is apparent that this approach will get more challenging over the medium term."

Here are 10 important takeaways from NAC's 2023/24 budget papers.

* * * * * * * * * *

Council tax

Council tax - the annual fee covering things like rubbish collections, street cleaning and other services - is set to rise by five per cent from April 1.

The council said this increase "would sit well below the current inflation rate of more than 10 per cent" and that "significant efforts have been made to keep any increase as low as possible".

This will mean a rise of around £46 over the year for properties in band A, £53 for band B, £61 for band C, £69 for band D, £90 for band E, £112 for band F, £135 for band G, and £169 for band H (all excluding charges for water and sewage).

Fees and charges

Council fees and charges are also proposed to increase by five per cent.

This includes costs for taxi licences, certificates, permits, planning applications and other services.

Social housing rent

The biggest council tenant rent increase in more than a decade has already been agreed.

A rent rise of £4.99 per week for 2023/24, or 6.42 per cent, was recommended at a meeting of the local authority in February.

A rise of five per cent was recommended for garage sites, lock-ups, service charges and gypsy/travellers sites.

Christmas lights

Among the proposed budget savings yet to be approved is a reduction in the level of financial support offered to community groups for Christmas light displays.

The council is proposing to save £35,000 this year by axing the majority of its funding assigned for Christmas lights.

Decriminalised parking enforcement (DPE)

DPE will be introduced in North Ayrshire - giving the council the authority to impose parking fines as opposed to police - but charges at a number of car parks across the region will not be brought in following significant public protests.

An amended motion was passed to scrap the introduction of charges at nine town centre car parks.

Food waste bags/brown bin uplifts

Among the potential cost-cutting measures leaked late in 2022 was the possible introduction of charges for the collection of garden waste in North Ayrshire.

It was planned that this could bring in around £554,000 - although it appears this idea has been scrapped.

Among the proposed budget savings yet to be approved, we could yet see changes to one aspect of garden waste collection.

The bags for food waste liners, which are currently provided by the council for free, may now cost people in North Ayrshire with "cease free food waste liners" listed as a proposed budget saving - which would save the council £22,500.

Plugging the budget gap

One of the main points which North Ayrshire Council have highlighted throughout this process is the budget gap they need to plug - over £10 million.

The council tax rise will go some way to filling this gap, while it is also proposed that the council uses its reserves to tackle this financial challenge.

Although this is not a long-term solution, it will help protect residents from greater financial impact during this period of significantly increased costs.

Despite this, savings and cuts of around £5.120 million will still be made, as they look to balance the budget.

Teachers and school crossing patrollers

It was also feared that teacher numbers would reduce as part of proposed cuts - as well as crossing guards from North Ayrshire schools facing the axe.

However, the council has now confirmed that crossing guards will be maintained.

The Scottish Government has made it a requirement that teacher levels across the county are maintained at their 2022 levels of 1,434.

And support staff numbers also must be maintained at 2022 census levels - so it seems school teaching staff cuts are not on the table.

School meals

While council fees and charges are due to rise by five per cent, this increase won't apply across the board.

"Recognising the importance of a nutritional meal to our young people", the council said, it is proposing that there will be no increase to the price of a school meal.

Venues staying open

Causing uproar across North Ayrshire, budget proposals were leaked that would have seen both the Arran Outdoor Education Centre and the Harbour Arts Centre in Irvine closed - for savings of £387,240 and £49,000 respectively.

However, in recent weeks, it has been confirmed that neither building will face the axe, and will remain as valuable assets to the people of North Ayrshire.

Community backing helped emphasise the importance of both venues - though the council criticised this information being leaked in the first place for causing "unnecessary concern".