North Ayrshire's SNP group have set out their aims ahead of May’s council elections.

SNP Group Leader, Councillor Marie Burns, has prioritised a strong economy for local communities as the SNP in North Ayrshire launched its Council election campaign.

The party will be standing 19 candidates, 12 of whom are women. They hope that this will contribute to a more gender balanced council.

The key theme of their campaign will be Inclusive Growth: growing the economy in a way that benefits everyone inthe community.

Councillor Burns said: “A strong economy is important to local communities because it means jobs, financial stabil ity, thri ving local businesses and services.

The SNP campaign pledges include: * Creating jobs by supporting the growth of local businesses. Creating an inward investment fund of £200,000 and continuing to work for the delivery of the Ayrshire Growth Deal

* Supporting local people into work by investing an additional £200,000 into apprenticeships; £50,000 into Skills for Life, providing paid work experience for young people; creating new community hubs providing a range of services to those unemployed seeking work

* Supporting local communities by investing over £4m in joint working with our locality partnerships

* Investing in our future by continuing to develop the school estate including a new Ardrossan Academy and a new school for those with additional support needs

* Supporting our children and young people by delivering an expansion of quality early learning and childcare support and ensuring the £17m pupil equity fund from SNP government is used by our schools to close the attainment gap

* Housing our people by building more than 1,000 new homes for social rent

* Caring for our people by investing over £5m in Health and Social Care to help transform services and meet increased demand

* Protect our island communities by creating a specific cabinet responsibility for ensuring ‘island proofing’ of all future council decisions. 

Councillor Burns added: “We are proud of what we achieved in more than four years in administration but we recognise the challenges the council will face with Brexit looming and a cruel and vicious Tory Government in Westminster.

"Working with the SNP government in Edinburgh we want to build a better and brighter future for communities in North Ayrshire. We ask voters to give us that opportunity by voting SNP 1 and 2.”