Hard-up council get set to slash services

Dec 30 2008 By Lex Brown

NORTH Ayrshire Council are facing a year of doom and gloom as they return from their festive break, the Irvine Herald can exclusively reveal.

Councillors will be told of a range of swingeing cuts needed to balance the books in the coming 12 months.

Hall charges will soar, charges for the collection of white goods and large items of furniture will go ahead, and some services will be merged leading to the sale of properties and cuts to library spending.

Cultural services could also be for the chop because they are not regarded as a statutory provision for the local authority.

Also on the hit list is the Burns Walk Day Care Centre based in the Kiln Court sheltered housing complex.

The Irvine Herald understands the pensioners could be transferred on a daily basis either to a new purpose built centre in Dalry or to Girdle Toll.

Education as well as the entire social work spectrum will also come under the microscope

Council leader David O’Neill, accompanied by his depute John Reid are believed to have broken news of the desperate situation to the various heads of department.

This week our source said: "This is bombshell stuff. The various conveners will be fighting like cats and dogs to save their budgets."

Councillors also fear the Stevenston based in-house works department, which includes joiners, slaters, electricians and fencers, might have to be privatised when the current contract expires next year.

They fear they could lose control under strict tendering rules but workers would be protected under TUPE rules which would guarantee their continuation of employment and wages.

A series of budget meetings is planned for early in the New Year when individual departmental budgets will be hammered out.

Our source added: "It’s normal to look at the budgets at this time but next year is going to be really tough.

"Most of the extra settlement from the Scottish Government will be swallowed up to offset the freeze in the council tax.

"Labour run the executive, which basically means they hold the purse strings but at the end of the day it’s the SNP who call the shots through the scrutiny committee."