Council budget is cut by £20m

Education and health and social care will be hit with more than 100 teaching jobs to go in the next three years.

Union leaders described the cuts to schools as “a direct assault on basic education”.

But the council described the budget cuts as targetting resources to help those most in need.

Library opening times will be reduced, with a saving of over £200k being made in a three year period but the council insisted consultations would be made with service users before any final decisions.

Across other areas, the council will no longer be providing money to the Stevenston’s Evolution Skate Park, the warden service will be cut and payment from the council to Police Scotland for Campus Cops is to be stopped.

There were no objections to the tabled budget plan at yesterday’s (Tuesday) meeting of the elected members, where the plans were set out.

Willie Gibson, leader of the SNP-controlled authority, said: “The council has already delivered almost £50 million worth of savings over the last five years so there is no doubt that it is becoming more challenging every year to deliver a balanced budget.

“But we are resolute in our determination to target our resources at those areas of priority and helping the people who need it most. The budget sees a significant investment in Health and Social Care with a shift in resources towards caring for people in the community.

“We also have a particular emphasis on growing our economy in order to create more jobs, strengthen communities and tackle inequalities.” But Labour Councillor Peter McNamara said: “The cuts that we are being asked to implement in the next two years, particularly in Education and Social Services, are absolutely horrendous and, if implemented, will be impossible to bear in an advanced democracy.

“If the SNP Group in North Ayrshire cannot find ways to finance the needs of our constituents then the Scottish Government must do so. The SNP has been in power for seven years, they cannot continually wash their hands of their responsibility.

“I call on Nicola Sturgeon to ensure that the funds are available to deliver the essential Education and Social Services that our people need.” Unison North Ayrshire, who represent over 2000 council workers, condemned the cuts.

Branch chairman Colin Turbett said: “We recognise that the council have been set an impossible task because of the Westminster government’s austerity policies. These continue to make the poor pay for the economic blunders of the rich and allow them to carry on as usual.

“However, the council did have other choices. We have argued for years that they could have set a budget that sought to maintain their key position as the area’s major jobs and services provider.

“They could have looked at the financial means to do that and demanded more help from the Scottish Government, but there is no sign that they did. Instead, with child poverty running at 35 per cent in a number of North Ayrshire’s localities and no sign of the promised upturn in the economy, we are asked to make further sacrifice. “The cuts to grounds maintenance and bin collections will make the area look shabbier than it already does and increase the sense that we live in an impoverished community. “Others such as the massive reductions in education provision over the next few years are a direct assault on basic education, especially for already disadvantaged children.

“The cuts in Library Services will also hit poorer families, especially those who are working and unable to visit except evenings and weekends. “Through the Labour and SNP administrations of recent years we have already lost 800 jobs and this represents another 217 – when we are already one of Scotland’s worst areas for unemployment.

“The council recently asked its staff to bring ‘passion, inspiration and focus’ into their activities: this looks hollow and patronising give the reality of being asked to do more for less with fewer resources despite the fancy new Council Chambers.”