East Ayrshire Council will review their brown bin charge and launch a ‘deep clean’ programme across towns and villages in a bid to boost civic pride.

The council will set up a team to tackle antisocial behaviour across the area and undertake a review of the brown bin charge and recycling trolley service.

Both the SNP administration and Labour opposition covered similar grounds with their proposals to improve towns.

SNP council Leader Douglas Reid said: “We often see first hand issues of poverty, neglect, anti-social behaviour, and the impact on wellbeing and mental health.

“Local government is best placed to deliver much needed services, working collaboratively to restore civic pride, wellbeing, supporting our local economy with much needed jobs and infrastructure.

“Our top priority is to establish a five member anti-social behaviour team.

“There is evidence across our communities that, post covid, this is an increasing issue and requires immediate attention.”

He continued, proposing a ‘civic pride initiative to support graffiti removal, deep cleans and chewing gum removal from our town centres right across all of our communities in East Ayrshire. ”

Labour group leader councillor Maureen McKay brought very similar proposals to the table.

She said: “To encourage and evidence our civic pride we need to develop a programme to enhance the appearances of our town and village centres through ongoing clean ups.

“We quite simply need to invest in more people doing the basics, make our environment fresher, clean, covering all aspects, covering litter, tackling graffiti, chewing gum, cleanliness and presentation of our street furniture.”

She added that she wanted to provide an opportunity to support people who find it difficult to access recycling centres.

Cllr McKay continued: “Failure to do this has resulted in a tired appearance that does not match our aspiration for East Ayrshire.”

“Linked to this is our proposal for full review of all aspects brown bin calendar and charge and the recycling in light of the planned introduction of the Deposit Return Scheme in August 2023.”

The Labour group had made removing the charge part of their election manifesto in 2022. The bin charge, introduced in 2021, was expected to bring in upwards of £750k in council income – one of the main factors that will be required to be taken account of during the review.

The number of councils introducing brown bin charges has been increasing year by year, with many considering bringing them in during this round of budget setting.

Current rates range from Falkirk Council, who charge £25 annually per bin, up to £50 recently introduced by Glasgow City Council.

East Ayrshire Council’s £30 charge is the second lowest among those authorities who do charge. Around a dozen councils currently do not charge, although one, South Lanarkshire, suspended the free collection while determining whether it is financially viable.

East Ayrshire Council agreed to set up an anti social behaviour team for a two- year period at a cost of £162k.

The project will be assessed at the end of that period.

It was also agreed to undertake a civic pride initiative, at a cost of £254k.

The brown bin review will cost a further £20k.