Kevin Dyson

Almost 30 more streets across East Ayrshire are set to be exempt from Scotland's pavement parking ban after councillors approved a second round of requests from residents and businesses.

Community groups wanting to hold bonfire or fireworks events on council-owned land will be expected to seek permission in advance.

East Ayrshire Council's leader has acknowledged that maintenance standards at some of the authority's cemeteries have slipped, as councillors called for greater community involvement in looking after burial grounds.

Council’s senior officers have warned it will take around 18 months - not one year - to recover from last year’s £8.6 million overspend.

Concerns have been raised over low attendance at some councillor training sessions in South Ayrshire, with one elected member describing participation as “pretty disgraceful.”

South and East Ayrshire councils are carrying almost £1 billion of debt between them, with both among the UK's most indebted local authorities on

But local government finance experts point to ability to manage the debt as key, not simply the debt total.

South Ayrshire councillor describes low attendance at training sessions as 'pretty disgraceful'

EAST Ayrshire Council has approved a new energy efficiency plan aimed at cutting emissions, improving public buildings and finding solutions for some of the area's hardest-to-heat homes.

AN East Ayrshire councillor has criticised suggestions that planning decisions on AI data centres should be taken out of the hands of local…