Residents of South Ayrshire face a council tax rise of almost five per cent as the council prepares to slash £4.1 million.

Jobs are to go, the price of school meals is to rise and golfers could see increased course fees under proposals.

But leader Councillor Douglas Campbell vows no community centres, golf courses or swimming pools will close in April’s budget cuts.

He insisted no council employee will be forced out of their post as other positions will be found with all redundancies voluntary.

Finance bosses plan to use up £3 million reserves to make sure the town’s new leisure centre and the replacement Carrick Academy ploughs ahead.

Councillor Campbell said: “As part of the budget options, which officers give us there are always a number of contentious items around the closure of leisure and recreational facilities. These are not on the table as part of these budget rounds.”

Councillor Campbell, SNP, said: “We knew this year was going to be tough.

“We have been looking at our spend diligently.

“We underspent by £2 million over the last year.”

From April council bosses face an £8.9 million funding gap for the upcoming financial year.

Money will be scrimped through cuts, increased council tax and dipping into reserves under budget plans.

The council tax is due to rise by the maximum rate of 4.84 per cent if given the go-ahead.

It means householders will a Band B property would pay about £48 more a year with Band C paying £55.

At least more than a dozen jobs are up for the chop. And the cost of school meals jump by 10p.

Councillor Campbell said a new IT system has generated cash savings.

And a number of higher earning managers leaving the council saved £1 million.

South Ayrshire Council hopes more money is on the way from Westminster, which will trickle through to the local authority.

Big capital projects include the new Carrick Academy, a replacement for the Citadel and a new park at the bottom of Ayr High Street.

Councillor Campbell said: “Carrick Academy will be the biggest investment in South Ayrshire providing community facilities for Maybole. By the time the bypass is finished we will be on the way to a new school and no heavy traffic in the town.”

Consultation is due to start on the new £40 million leisure centre this year.

Construction is to begin on the new public space at the demolished Woolworths site in Ayr.

The budget will be presented to councillors on March 5.