There is still time to have your say as North Ayrshire Council continues its 2026-27 budget consultation.
Information taken from the Irvine Times, 18th November:
Arran and Ayrshire residents are being asked to take part in the budget survey, to help inform the decisions that will be made next year for the authority.
A budget gap of approximately £12.5 million is expected for 2026/27 and the authority has warned that significant savings will be required to deliver a balanced budget.
Given the scale of the financial challenge, the council is conducting engagement with residents to find out how potential changes may affect communities across North Ayrshire
The online surveys are open until December 19th, and you can find more information at https://www.north-ayrshire.gov.uk/council-voting-elections/performance-and-spending/have-your-say-on-budget-2026.
Among the areas where they are seeking the views of local communities are:
Schools and related services for Children and Young People
- Realigning the level of teaching resource across North Ayrshire schools
- Reducing Pupil Support Assistant hours to align with pupil rolls in mainstream schools
- Increasing charges at Arran Outdoor Education Centre
What this means –
North Ayrshire Council have proposed cuts to teaching staff and support assistants next year, plus new charges for the Arran Outdoor Centre. These cuts will have an impact on the children, school staff, families, and our wider community.
Please take a moment to fill out the survey and share your thoughts. Every response counts! https://forms.office.com/e/4tvVYfwYED
- Streamlining the participatory budgeting process
- Increasing temporary accommodation rents
- Reviewing the waste collection frequency for purple and blue bins on the mainland and Cumbrae
- Exploring opportunities for regional collaboration on an Ayrshire-wide basis
The feedback received during this engagement will help inform councillors when they meet early in 2026 to set the budget.
Paper copies of the 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 to the surveys, council officers will meet with community groups and stakeholders over the coming weeks to gather their views on how any changes might impact them.