THERE MAY BE TROUBLE AHEAD

John Martin Fulton • Published 10 Feb 2010 10:02

CASH strapped council bosses could look to close Irvine schools and community centres in a bid to make ends meet.

But councillors will not be forced to make these tough decisions at this week's budget - as the council enters one of the most difficult periods in its history.

Members will be faced with proposals, which affect schools and young people in particular, as they are asked to find over £9m in savings during 2010/11.

However, plans to close four Irvine primary schools and change the way that community centres throughout the area are run will not be decided this year.

Chief Executive Elma Murray also admitted that around 145 full-time jobs would go - with the council aiming to fulfil this through voluntary redundancies and non-filling of vacancies.

Among the proposals for the upcoming financial year are cuts to teaching staff, school meals, after school care, and pupils' clothing grants.

Community centres may also face cuts, should plans be given the go-ahead, with selected centres closed based on their usage.

The level of savings expected to be made over the course of the year are similar to those made last year, although continued cuts have forced North Ayrshire Council to look ever closer at core services.

As well as putting forward concrete plans, council finance officers have also laid out their intentions for the following two years - where even bigger cuts will be expected. And it is in the future that the biggest decisions will be made.

Among them are the closure of four Irvine primary schools - which has been touted for 2012/13.

Those who use community centres throughout Irvine and Kilwinning will also be concerned by proposals for the retention of just one centre per community by 2012/13 and the removing all halls from council funding by the following year.

Council finance chief Alasdair Herbert told the Times that in spite of the difficult period ahead, NAC were "up for the challenge".

"We require to change but will continue to be positive. and we will still spend significant resources," he said.

He added that the situation was likely to improve and that the council would be able to sell property once the market improved to help its financial position.

The council had a budget of £345m for services over the coming year, with a further £42m earmarked for housing.

Among the proposals for investment are fostering and adoption services, care at home for the elderly and regeneration projects such as Irvine's Bridgegate.

There are also plans for a further two children's units, new council housing and environmental projects such as recycling and waste schemes.

A new Dreghorn primary school is also planned.

Mr Herbert added that an extra £1m would be put into the roads budget, primarily to deal with damage caused by the severe winter.

But he admitted that the pressures of these and other "unavoidable" costs would mean that savings were vital.

"We are not making savings for the sake of it," he said.

Further areas proposed for savings include making better use of council buildings, a new absence management system and a review of the council's use, purchasing and maintenance of vehicles.

Council Leader David O'Neill backed the Chief Executive's view on the need to look at various ways to ensure job losses have the least impact.

But he admitted that there was "no guarantee that there would not be an element of compulsion".

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