FURTHER efficiency savings of £770,000 will be enforced by South Ayrshire Council in a bid to ‘balance the books’.

It was confirmed at the annual budget meeting that for the first time in ten years council tax in South Ayrshire will increase by three per cent meaning residents will pay an average of 67p more a week.

South Ayrshire have been bracing themselves for the council tax increase since the end of last year which will see properties of band D and above paying more in 2017/18.

Band D are expected to rise £34.62, where as Bands E to H will be charged an additional £105 - £520.

The monies raised by the increase – around £1.7 million – will be used to protect local public services and minimise the need for cuts to services following the reduction in grant funding from the Scottish Government.

The £69 million delegated to the Integrated Joint Board (which is responsible for allocating the Partnership’s budget) includes an extra £1.5 million for health and social care in recognition of the pressure and demand for services.

Councillors also agreed funding to create a dedicated £1 million change fund that will be invested in health and social care improvement projects, which will help some of the most vulnerable people in local communities.

An extra £1 million has been allocated to the Invest South Ayrshire programme, which is designed to attract businesses and jobs to the area, helping local people and the local economy.

Councillors also approved £500,000 to support the continued development of the Ayrshire Growth Deal.

But the council have agreed further efficiency savings of £770,000 which will include reductions in contributions to external agencies as well as savings in contract and insurance costs. 

Councillor Bill McIntosh, Leader of South Ayrshire Council, said: “In the final budget from this Council, I’m very proud that – despite the savage cuts from the Scottish Government – we have delivered a balanced budget that continues to invest in our people and communities. This is all down to the prudent financial management we have shown over the past five years.

 “The 2017/18 budget includes extra monies for health and social care, the economy, and participatory budgeting, which is a highly successful initiative that has well and truly empowered our communities and put them right at the heart of decision-making.

“We know how important public services are to our communities and we have worked hard to minimise the potential impact of any funding gap on service delivery – which is why we made the decision to plug more than £5 million of the gap from our surplus reserves.

“It’s also why we’ve had no real choice but to raise Council Tax for the first time in a decade. This is not a decision we have taken lightly, but as a necessary response to the harsh cuts placed on us by the Scottish Government.”

Councillor John McDowall, Depute Leader of the Council, added: “Local public services impact on everyone’s everyday lives and we have worked tirelessly to provide the best services possible with available resources. 

“However, it’s become increasingly clear over the last five years that it’s local services that have had to face the brunt of cuts from Holyrood, and we have done everything we can to lessen that impact – including, today, raising the Council Tax.

“Our budget for 2017/18 is testament to our commitment to deliver for our communities. It’s using the money we have available in the best possible way to increase investment where it’s needed most and where it will deliver the biggest benefits.”

At the meeting, councillors also agreed a new six-year capital programme, which sets out total investment of £145 million in children and families, adults and older people and communities.

Increased Council Tax charges for 2017/18 will come into affect later this month.