More than 4,000 people have responded to North Ayrshire Council’s budget engagement exercise in the build-up to the budget setting meeting on February 26.
The feedback received during the engagement – which ran during October and November last year – was presented to elected members at a full council meeting on Wednesday.
A total of 4,461 submissions were received on the proposals, which includes substantial discussions with community groups across North Ayrshire in November, including surveys across six main themes as well as in person and online focus groups.
The six main themes each included a number of proposals and were, as follows:
- Additional Council Tax Levy on Second Homes
- Community Facilities and Car Parking
- Schools and Related Services for Children and Young People
- Service Delivery
- Taxes and Levies
- Waste Services.
Facilities and car parking attracted the highest number of responses, with 1,850 people having an opportunity to voice their concerns about plans to end free town centre parking in different areas.
Waste services attracted 738 responses, while Schools and Related Services for children and young people had some 714 respondents.
Plans for an additional Council Tax levy on second homes attracted some 507 replies.
Service Delivery secured feedback from 254 people.
In addition, several petitions have been considered by the Audit and Scrutiny Committee and have been referred to Cabinet relating to some of the proposals including: Saltcoats and Ardrossan Libraries, parking charge enforcement in Kilwinning, Dreghorn Library, Beith Library and Eglinton Park.
The engagement covered a range of different council services to provide residents with more detail on the 2025-26 budget and how changes might impact the communities.
North Ayrshire Council’s Chief Executive Craig Hatton thanked all those who made their voice heard.
He said: “It’s no secret that North Ayrshire – like every other local authority – faces a challenge in being able to set a balanced budget.
“We wanted to ensure our communities’ voices were heard throughout the budget-setting process and we were delighted to receive more than 4,000 responses.
“Thank you to everyone who took time to fill out the surveys and share their thoughts on our services and how any changes might impact them.
“We received a huge number of insightful replies and the findings have been published as part of our feedback report which has now been shared with our elected members.
“This will help inform them ahead of the Budget being set on February 26.”
The outcome of the budget engagement can be viewed on the North Ayrshire Council website.
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