More than 2,000 people have so far taken part in surveys on North Ayrshire Council’s budget for 2025 to 26. The council is currently engaging with communities as it faces up to its most challenging budget ever.
A budget gap of up to £16 million is expected and significant savings will be required to deliver a balanced budget.
Given the scale of the financial challenge, the council is conducting early engagement to find out how the 2025 to 2026 budget may affect communities across North Ayrshire.
A number of surveys have been launched covering various council services and, so far, more than 2,000 completed surveys have been submitted.
Chief Executive Craig Hatton said: “It’s clear that the council will face a number of difficult choices when it comes to set the budget early next year.
“We are not alone in this – councils across the UK face significant funding shortfalls and will have to find necessary savings to balance their budgets.
“It’s important that we let communities know the financial challenges we face and to gain their views on the services we provide.
“So I would urge people across North Ayrshire to take part and share their thoughts before decisions are taken.”
You can take part in the online surveys.
The surveys are grouped in five sections:
Community facilities and car parking
Waste services
Schools and related services for children and young people
Taxes and Levies, and
Service Delivery
Paper copies of these surveys are available in local libraries and KA Leisure facilities.
Alternatively, residents can call the council’s Contact Centre on 01294 310000 and the surveys can be filled in over the phone. The contact centre is open Monday to Thursday from 9am to 4.45pm and Friday from 9am to 4.30pm.
In addition, council officers are currently in the process of holding meetings with community groups and stakeholders to gather their views on how any changes might impact them.
The feedback received during this engagement will help inform councillors when they meet early in 2025 to set the budget.
The online surveys will run until November 25 2024.