A FIVE per cent rise in council tax has been confirmed as part of North Ayrshire Council's (NAC) budget for the new financial year.

At a meeting today, March 1, the 2023/24 budget - worth around £406 million - was finalised after the minority-ruling SNP members' amended motion was backed by 23 councillors, with the remaining 10 supporting an amendment proposed by Labour.

The local authority had previously called this year's budget-setting process "one of the most challenging faced in recent times" as it looked to plug a funding gap of more than £10m.

However, some of the more controversial savings options revealed in the lead-up to this week's meeting - such as the introduction of charges in town centre car parks, the closure of the Arran Outdoor Education Centre and of Irvine's Harbour Arts Centre - have been shelved for now.

Other proposed cuts included the scrapping of free food waste liners (saving £22,500) and a reduction in the level of financial support offered to community groups for Christmas light displays (saving £35,000). These have been retained, while penalty charge notices will be increased to the maximum amount when decriminalised parking enforcement is brought in.

Council tax will go up from April 1, while fees and charges for council services will also rise by five per cent.

Rent rates for council tenants will also go up by £4.99 per week for 2023/24, or 6.42 per cent.

It is anticipated that the equivalent of 26.9 full-time council posts will be removed although there will be no compulsory redundancies.

Up to £1m in underspend from the current year’s budget will go towards North Ayrshire’s roads infrastructure with any further underspend being allocated to provide emergency support to residents through the council’s energy smart scheme.

NAC said the bulk of its budget cuts were approved in previous budgets and are aimed at having "minimal impact on frontline services".

For 2023/24, the council received a £1.05m increase in core grant funding from the Scottish Government, worth about 0.33 per cent of its overall budget.

Councillor Christina Larsen, cabinet member for finance and procurement, said: “This has undoubtedly been one of the most difficult budgets councillors have had to set in recent times.

“Everyone is feeling the impact from the cost-of-living crisis, including the council, but the budget has been set with the aim of helping our residents as much as we possibly can."

Additional cash for a new early intervention fund will support residents through the cost-of-living crisis, highlighted by the council as one of the key priorities "at the heart" of its mission.

Cllr Larsen added: "The early intervention fund will ensure that support will be ready and available, particularly for our most vulnerable residents.

“This isn’t a short-term fix – this will continue for future years to ensure it can deliver a long-term impact.”