Council services set out plans for year ahead
Three of the Council’s frontline services presented their plans for the year ahead at Cabinet this week, demonstrating a continued commitment to improve performance and deliver positive outcomes for the people of East Ayrshire.
Service Improvement Plans are an essential element of the Council’s performance management framework as they align to priorities set out in the East Ayrshire Community Plan 2015-2030 and the Council’s Strategic Plan 2022-2027. The plans and accompanying action plans are kept under constant review, and this mid-point in their lifecycle provides an opportunity to reflect on key achievements to date and consider progress against the actions which were first approved in September 2024. It also considers any new or emerging priorities that will require attention through to 2027.
The plans presented to Cabinet this week included Housing and Communities, Facilities and Property Management and Economic Growth.
Housing and Communities reported good progress across all previously agreed actions, demonstrating a clear commitment to protect housing investment and maintain the quality of local housing stock. Putting people first, the service outlined measures to tackle homelessness, improve temporary accommodation outcomes, especially for children and families and enhanced tenant safety. Additional improvement actions for the year ahead include improvements at Council recycling depots; cost of living supports for Council tenants and preparations for the introduction of the Scottish Government Social Housing Net Zero Standard.
Facilities and Property Management also reported good progress across all previously agreed actions. Addressing Food poverty remains high on the agenda and the Council’s free and half-price school meal provision play a major part in helping to tackle poverty and inequality in local communities. Climate change features heavily in this Plan as the service continues to explore renewable energy solutions across the Council’s property estate. And the service continues to recognise the contribution of its staff with the Investors in People Gold Accreditation, continuing graduate and modern apprenticeship opportunities across the service, and moving forward with a longer term Asset Management Plan and developing a Good Food Nation Plan.
Economic Growth reported progress up to 1 July 2026, at which point this service transferred to North Ayrshire Council as part of a new shared service arrangement. The service reported good progress across all previous actions, with a key focus on supporting local businesses and business start-ups, including assistance with digital transformation through 5G innovation. Skills and employability remain a priority, delivering with local businesses tailored employability support through apprenticeship programmes in a range of sectors. Looking ahead, work continues apace towards realising the objectives of the Ayrshire Growth Deal as the Community Renewable Energy Project (CoRE) and Ayrshire Innovation Park (AIP) demonstrating tangible progress. Bellfield Interchange remains high on the agenda as the Council continues to make a case for infrastructure investment, recognising its strategic importance to the development of the local economy.
Councillor Douglas Reid, Leader of East Ayrshire Council welcomed these reports. He said:
"This is a challenging time for the public sector, with inflation and increased costs across all sectors, but these mid-term service plans give me a lot of reassurance. They demonstrate a commitment to deliver outstanding services for our communities, no matter what. They demonstrate a determination to deliver sustainable services which will help us comply with legislation; which will support families struggling with the cost of living; which will help us make a just transition to net zero. They also demonstrate a passion for supporting local business and for creating new pathways to help local people access new training and employment opportunities.
“Collectively, these plans will ensure that we are able to invest where investment is required as we work towards making the communities of East Ayrshire more sustainable and resilient, where local people can thrive and flourish.”