A COUNCIL tax freeze was agreed last week as elected members approved a £365.3million Revenue Budget with £373million set aside for infrastructure projects.

Council chiefs hope the budget – proposed by the Labour administration and seconded by the SNP group – will shield residents from the financial impact of the the pandemic while boosting recovery.

Revenue commitments include:

• A Council Tax freeze at current levels and no increase in fees and charges.

• An annual £500,000 initiative to help struggling families cope with the cost of the school day, including investment in digital, food and clothing support.

• £589,000 revenue contribution to secure an additional capital investment of £7million in core infrastructure including roads, active travel routes, property adaptations and energy efficiency improvements and to help transition NAC’s vehicle fleet to more sustainable electric/low emission technology.

• £350,000 investment in a Covid Intervention Fund to support Outdoor and Residential Learning, and £250,000 for a three-year appointment of a Digital Officer to support the council’s digital strategy following the pandemic.

• £1.4m into the Council’s Investment Fund to support a second council-owned renewable energy project, building on last year’s £8.8million fund which supported projects such as tree planting, Community Wealth Building and the Green Jobs Fund.

• New jobs, including approximately 16 new full-time equivalent roles in the expanding early learning and childcare sector.

New Irvine school among agreed capital spending plans

North Ayrshire’s Capital Programme budget – which supports investment in buildings, infrastructure and regeneration – will commit £373million over the next 10 years after it was agreed last week.

This includes £14million for the proposed Montgomerie Park Primary School, which includes additional investment for early learning and childcare provision, an additional £6.25million invested in schools’ ICT, bringing the total investment to more than £8million, £10.36million for the new build Moorpark Primary in Kilbirnie, £10.25million for the new Lockhart Campus in Stevenston and £69million for a new Ardrossan Education and Community Campus

The capital plans also include more than £68million to supportthe investmentinto the £250m Ayrshire Growth Deal..

The budget will include, too, £10.5million into st reet lighting and £3.2million for a cemeteries replacement programme.

Council leader Joe Cullinane said: “Our capital programme will be vital to our economic and green recovery, providing employment opportunities through our community wealth building approach.”