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North Ayrshire Council Seeks Resident Input for Challenging 2027/28 Budget

Council launches public engagement to address an expected £8.3 million budget gap and gather views on potential service impacts.

Generic image of a Scottish council building facade with a balcony, in warm afternoon sunlight.
AI

Generic image of a Scottish council building facade with a balcony, in warm afternoon sunlight.

North Ayrshire Council has launched a public engagement initiative to gather resident feedback as it prepares to address a significant budget challenge for the 2027/28 financial year.

The council anticipates a budget gap of up to £8.3 million for the upcoming year, even before considering potential Council Tax increases or the use of reserves. This necessitates savings to achieve a balanced budget.
Despite recent efforts to implement significant savings, transform service delivery, and generate income through initiatives such as new solar PV farms, closing the financial gap remains increasingly difficult. The council is therefore seeking input from residents across North Ayrshire on how the 2027/28 Budget might affect their communities.
During a Full Council meeting on Wednesday, 4 November, several areas were identified for community engagement. The feedback gathered from this process, which began today, will inform councillors when they convene in early 2027 to set the final Budget.
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"It is no secret that public sector organisations are continuing to feel the strain of setting a budget when funding isn’t keeping pace with the rising demand for services. We know that our communities rely heavily on the services we provide every day, which is why feedback is so crucial. By sharing your experiences and views through our survey, it will help ensure all elected members are informed before any decisions are taken early in 2027."

Councillor Christina Larsen · Cabinet Member for Finance and Procurement
Residents and community groups are encouraged to participate in an online survey, which is now open and will run until 5pm on Friday, 11 December. Paper copies are available in local libraries and KA Leisure facilities. Alternatively, residents can call the Council’s Contact Centre on 01294 310000 to complete the survey over the phone. The contact centre operates Monday to Thursday from 9am to 4:45pm and Friday from 9am to 4:30pm.
Council officers will also meet with community groups and stakeholders in the coming weeks to gather their views on the potential impact of any changes. Areas where community views are being sought include alignment of teaching resources to pupil roll, review of funding for Employability & Skills, review of Active Schools provision, and review of Council fees and charges across services.
Based on information from the official source: North Ayrshire Council (05/11/2026)

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