South Ayrshire Council improvement work report withdrawn

At a meeting of South Ayrshire Council on Monday, chief executive Mike Newall indicated that a number of councillors had raised concerns about the status of some projects.

But Mr Newall said it "wouldn't be a good use of the council's time" for the concerns of councillors to be aired in public.

The report provided progress details of the 116 projects approved last year, with 28 so far completed.

However, it also flagged up 16 projects that were to be scrapped, along with others that had been delayed.

Instead, discussions will take place privately ahead of the report returning to the table at a later date.

Planned improvements at the Muirhead Activity Centre in Troon have been scrapped. (Image: Google Street View)

Pointing out the concerns that some members had, Mr Newall said: “I think it’d be prudent and relevant that we defer this paper to allow those concerns to be investigated because it’s aligned with the member’s briefing in terms of how we progress and process capital projects.

“I don’t think it’d be a good use of council time to take up these concerns now. And it means that we can meet individually with members or indeed as a collective ward grouping.”

Eight projects have been finished in Ayr North, six in Maybole, North Carrick and Coylton, five in Ayr West, four in Kyle and Prestwick, three in Girvan, and one in Troon.

The only ward without a completed project is Ayr East, in part because it is one of the few not to have a community place plan to direct spending.

The report reveals that the current programme is close to budget limits, recommending that no new projects will be added to those which have already been investigated and given the go ahead.

The projects either scrapped or put on hold include the following.

Troon: Walker Hall Bandstand (on hold), South Beach huts and compostible toilets (on hold), improvements to Muirhead Activity Centre (on hold), enhanced coastal trails (on hold). extension to Fullerton Wood toilets (on hold), welcome signage (cancelled).

The planned installation of a power supply at the site ofthe former Lido pool in Prestwick has been scrapped. (Image: James Mackin/Google Street View)

Prestwick: Installation of power supply at former Lido swimming pool (cancelled), illumination of Salt Pan buildings at Prestwick St Nicholas golf club (cancelled), improvements to disabled access at community facilities (similar work already being undertaken).

Ayr North: Playing field upgrade at Heathfield and Northfield (no longer required), improved access from Newton Green residential area to the Newton Shore Prom (cancelled), older people’s facilities at Heathfield and Northfield (cancelled), play equipment at Craigie Way (cancelled).

Ayr East: Restoration of Old Kiln on River Ayr Walk (on hold), Glencairn Park solar light, floating path at duck pond and general access work (on hold), extension to the rear of Forehill Library to create community space (on hold), play area on spare ground at Glendale Crescent (cancelled).

Kyle: Review of meeting space provision rather than village hall in Craigie (cancelled),  Dundonald changing rooms at football pitch (on hold).

Maybole, North Carrick and Coylton: Tree planting at various locations (cancelled), new car park at Miller play park in Maybole (on hold), Kirkmichael Playing Field (cancelled), Maybole High Street road surface upgrade (not required), Fisherton Primary School ‘off the shelf’ shelter’ (cancelled).

Girvan and South Carrick: New seating aling the River Stinchar Walk (on hold), develop proposals for car park and interpretation boards at Old Dailly Blue Stones (on hold), new public toilets and biosphere bike store (on hold).

A planned extension to create a community space at Forehill Library has been put on ice. (Image: Google Street View)

Some projects have ended up costing significantly more than originally budgeted for, while others have come in under budget.

In Prestwick, car park resurfacing costs almost doubled, from £135,000 to £253,000. At the same time the prom resurfacing in the town was almost £30,000 under its £200,000 budget.

In Ayr North, the underspend has been significant: the Newton Shore footpath upgrade and carriageway improvements cost £230,000, well below the £500,000 budget, and benches in Newton cost just under a third of the £15,000 budget.

Repairs to the footbridge over the slipway at Ayr Harbour are expected to cost £200,000 rather than the £140,000 allocation.

Illumination of Ayr’s Auld Brig and New Bridge were also £40,000 over budget.

Roads and footpath upgrades in Maybole and Dunure are around double the £66,000 budget.

Plans had been put forward to install play equipment on Ayr's Craigie Way, but the idea is now on hold. (Image: Google Street View)

In total the programme sits at £9.98m, around £200,000 above the budget allocation.

The report stated: “With an allocation of estimated cost against each of the prioritised projects it was clear that for all wards, except Ayr East and Prestwick, that the cost of the total basket of potential projects was close to the ward capital limit for each ward.

“Ward members therefore agreed that to ensure a cushion for potential project over-run of costs, that no further new projects would be sought.”

The report will be brought forward to a future meeting.