EAST Ayrshire Council is set to receive an extra £3.6m as part of revised budget proposals.

Finance Secretary Derek Mackay unveiled the plans – which will see the council receive an additional £780,000 in 2017-18 – at Holyrood yesterday after an agreement was reached with the Greens.

Carrick Cumnock and Doon Valley MSP Jeane Freeman welcomed the move. She said: “The draft budget shows that where Scotland has the power, the SNP will take a different, fairer approach – and give Scots the best deal in the UK.

“Thanks to the decisions made by the Scottish Government, local government funding is increasing by inflation and today East Ayrshire Council have been given an extra £3.6m to spend on local services.

“That’s a good deal for taxpayers and for public services in East Ayrshire – and is only possible because of the SNP’s progressive tax reforms, that are backed by the public by two to one.

“In the face of massive Westminster cuts, the Scottish Government is using its powers progressively to invest in our schools and our hospitals – and in communities across East Ayrshire.”

The Scottish Government’s budget was passed at stage one last week.