We are not out of trouble yet
As the winter shows its teeth with gales and snow it is nice to see that the nights are lengthening and we know Spring is on its way.
The early flowers are showing and for me with the pandemic apparently easing, gives hope for better times ahead.
The downside is that with record breaking inflation, energy prices rising dramatically and shortages in supplies and materials we are not out of trouble yet.
The council is acutely aware of the pressure on all in the county with the economic situation and are limited in what we can do to alleviate suffering.
We will keep services functioning and as the motto goes N’er Forget the People.
The council faces the same pressure as households with increased energy costs, rising prices for food and supplies and the fact that Inflation is affecting everything.
We have the added pressure of funding the National Insurance increase as a major employer and pay
increases. We have to and will balance the budget of funds available but it is not going to be easy, as some additional funding is being made by government (but it is only one-off payments), that we have to plan for not being available next year.
We will try to ensure that with difficult decisions we seek to strike a fair allocation without jeopardising the future.
With the Maybole by-pass opening, new schools being built in Girvan, Prestwick, Maybole, the Craigie Campus sports track and Ayr town centre regeneration all underway we are still making progress and have a long list of achievements behind us.
The council staff have been magnificent for their efforts over the pandemic and Health and Social Care staff deserve special thanks.
The community has pulled together and we can be proud of South Ayrshire in what we have achieved.
Councils will never get everything correct to please everyone but with limited finance we are doing our best.