NORTH Ayrshire Council has made protecting vulnerable people, creating more jobs and tackling inequalities key priorities in their latest budget plans.

Councillors have set a three-year budget which provides financial stability for the council and certainty for the workforce while balancing a cut in resources with increased demand for services.

Despite aiming for more than £19m of budget efficiencies,, the council will redirect £19.4m to focus on the future needs of the community.

More than £6m will be plunged into the needs of the elderly, £3m will go towards additional early years services, over £750,000 to waste and recycling, almost £600,000 to address the impact of Welfare Reform, and an additional £1.4 million will go to support the capital investment programme.

There will also be further investment in creating three new employment hubs, a new business grant fund and skill centres for engineering and construction.

Councillor Ruth Maguire, council cabinet member for finance and corporate support, said: "The cumulative effect of various budget pressures - including Welfare Reform, the rising cost of our payroll and pension commitments and an anticipated real reduction in resources - means that the Council faces a funding gap of £19.4 million over the next three years.

"There are no easy decisions here - it becomes a question of prioritising our resources to those areas which will make the biggest difference for North Ayrshire people and North Ayrshire communities - those services which make the biggest contribution towards our desired outcome of making North Ayrshire a better place to live."

ends.