Published: Tuesday, 16th February, 2010 12:59pm

The Results Are In From South Ayrshire Council

by Roisin McGroarty

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Good and bad news revealed from last week's budget meeting

SAC leader Bill McIntosh

IT'S good and bad news for residents as the latest cost cutting and spending plans are released.

Last year it was community facilities being chopped, now the axe is on council staff.

On Wednesday Councillors voted on the 2010/11 budget which sat at £269.186million, an increase of £2.7million from last year.

Cash will be spent on extra nursery places, foster carers and the running track and ground at Dam Park Stadium. Over a quarter of a million pounds is also heading towards South Ayrshire's elderly and disabled residents to provide extra support.

And, as we revealed last week, council tax has been frozen for a third year with residents set to save £144.

SAC are also investing more in South Ayrshire roads and parking with £50,000 set aside to scrutinise the speed limits of rural roads and £100,000 allocated to taking over parking enforcement from April 1 with a team of council wardens rather than the police.

But the council are hoping save £1.785million from "downsizing" the council, which will see non essential overtime cut and staffing levels reviewed.

A further £40,000 is expected to be saved by getting rid of many of the County Building's printers.

See this week's paper for the good and bad points of the budget, a list of what's receiving funding and the latest with Girvan Pool.