Legendary Irvine cultural venue the Harbour Arts Centre has been given a reprieve by the council administration after rumours it was facing the axe.
And teaching jobs are safe, while crossing patrollers will continue to help kids get to school safely across North Ayrshire.
The town’s only cultural venue was understood to be in major danger late last year as a funding gap of more than £10 million had to be found in the budget, which is set next Wednesday.
Major exhibitions are staged at the HAC, along with children’s art activities and it also plays host to the annual Tidelines Festival, which last year attracted top Scottish author Stuart Cosgrove and events organised by Freckfest.
Council Leader Marie Burns told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: ”Things came about as a result of a leak and I said after a council meeting how dangerous something like that can be because every year we have the same budget process with a list of things for consideration, some of which are never taken. As an administration the HAC and Arran Outdoor Centre are not things that we are proposing to close as part of the budget.
“The problem with some of these things being leaked is that people are concerned about losing their jobs unnecessarily.
"I’m an Irvine councillor and the HAC is beloved.
“It has a great reputation, culture is important and people need that in their lives and why shouldn’t they have it.
“A service like the HAC is really important, we have listened to the feedback from citizens not just in Irvine but across North Ayrshire who want to maintain the HAC so it won’t be part of the budget proposals.
"We will have the same discussions every year and no doubt we will have the same list of things coming up next year and we will have to make decision in terms of where we are financially then.”
Asked about possible school job cuts she said: “In terms of teachers, as part of the Scottish Government settlement we’ve been asked to maintain teacher numbers at the census figure in 2022 which is part of the Scottish Government;s comment to increasing teaching numbers.
"This is problematic because we have slightly falling roles in primary schools which probably means less teachers so we are having to keep the numbers at that level so all local councils are having discussions on the nuances of that through COSLA with the Scottish Government.”
Asked if crossing patrollers would be at risk, the leader added: “No that will not be happening. “
Added council chief executive Craig Hatton: "When we start everything is on the table and th en we filter that down to what is presented.
"Those options were passed out to the press and made it incredibly difficult and raised anxieties. A number of things in those leaks are not included."
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