Cuts could bite deep as North Ayrshire Council budget looms
The council are looking to close a £16m gap in funding
Cash-strapped North Ayrshire Council chiefs could take on the role of Scrooge if they remove the Streetscene communities Christmas lights budget for each town, with alternative funding having to come from alternative sources, saving £38,000.
However Streetscene would still provide one Christmas tree with lights per town.
The moves are being recommended by officers as part of cuts to the 2024-25 budget, with a funding gap of almost £16 million having to be bridged.
The budget setting meeting is on Wednesday.
There could be a minor reduction in the roads revenue budget, saving £100,000.
There will also be a review of opening times for household waste recycling centres – a potential saving of £75,000.
Streetscene could transition from displaying summer bedding plants to perennials, with funding for such activities to be found from alternative funding sources, saving £24,500 and they could stop issuing free food waste liners, saving £29,250.
Introducing garden waste collection charges of £50 per year per person could save £588,163.
Reducing grass cutting areas could be achieved by promoting further biodiversity and flower areas across the school estate. This would save £30,000.
Budget savings of £34,000 could be made in economic development and regeneration.
Staffing allocation to primary and secondary schools could be made through the Devolved School Management Scheme in the context of a falling pupil roll and pupil-teacher ratio, saving £1,343,731,
There could be a reduction of venue assistant core opening hours, saving £28,000 and a redesign of the community learning and development service and a reduction in sessional budgets, non-payroll budgets and a re-design of community learning development resourcing, saving £45,846.