East Ayrshire council tax freeze for 2024/25 budget

Bosses say the budget setting process this year was particularly challenging given the issues in the wider economy and grant funding pressures.

Officers presented a balanced budget for 2024/25, having identified a range of options to help close the £9.7m budget gap without having to draw on reserves.

As part of the council tax freeze, EAC will receive funds from the Scottish Government equivalent to a five per cent increase.

READ MORE: Emotional memories shared of miners' strike in East Ayrshire

The council was united in voting through the creation of a £40m fund for the next 10 years to support early intervention and prevention, tackle poverty and inequality, support communities and further enhance opportunities for jobs and skills.

£400k was pledged to go towards road and pavement improvements.

£137k was also promised to maintain the garden waste collection fee at £30 per bin, avoiding an increase in the price of the permits.

Furthermore, the council agreed a £2.062m package of one-off funding to address immediate needs which will include the following:

• £860k to extend half price school meals for another year from August 2024;
• £254k to extend the work of the civic pride team to all towns and villages for a further year;
• £191k to extend the work of the financial inclusion teams in schools and early years establishments for a further six months;
• An additional £180k to support the corporate enforcement team deal with the scourge of litter, dog fouling and gulls
• £40k to extend the clothing grant scheme to eligible families of 3 and 4 year olds attending early learning establishments – with £50 grants available per child within those families eligible for footwear and clothing grants; and

Leader of East Ayrshire Council, Councillor Douglas Reid said: “This has been without doubt the hardest budget setting process we’ve ever undertaken, however we have not lost sight of the need that exists within our communities and this budget safeguards the council’s finances, supports those most in need and sets an unprecedented £40m fund at our disposal to take a long-term approach to tackling poverty, deprivation and depopulation.

“We know families are still struggling financially and collectively we agreed a range of options worth £2.062m to extend the support available to them over the coming year."

Leader of East Ayrshire Council, Councillor Douglas Reid (Image: East Ayrshire Council)

Cllr Reid added: “I’m delighted that we’ve agreed to extend our half price school meals for a further year - this financial support is really valued by families with children and young people at school.

"I’m pleased too that we’ve all acknowledged that we still need to continue to invest in our roads and pavements for the benefit of commuters and pedestrians alike. And town centres and villages will benefit from the additional investment in civic pride improvements and corporate enforcement initiatives.”