North Ayrshire Council has announced the approval of its £315 million budget.

One key point of the local authority was to build for the future through its £275m Capital Investment Programme.

The initiative, which includes £71m of new investment, will be delivered over the next ten years.

£140m has been set aside to invest in the North Ayrshire School Estate, with £47m for the new Largs Campus, £32m for a new academy in Ardrossan and £25m for a new-build Additional Support Needs School.

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In addition, it will deliver:

• A £36m package to ensure all people who live in North Ayrshire are able to have a safe, healthy and active life, including the delivery of a leisure centre, an adult day care centre and improved street lighting and support to help vulnerable people live independently in their own homes

• A £28m package to grow North Ayrshire's economy, including £17m to support regeneration through the Ayrshire Growth Deal and £5m for town centre regeneration.

The council will also consider a housing revenue budget for 2016/17 of £46m.

Council Leader Willie Gibson said: "It has been challenge to deliver a balanced budget but a huge amount of effort has been made to protect our priority services with significant investment in areas such as Education and the Health and Social Care Partnership.

"This budget ensures that we can continue to build on the fantastic work which has been delivered in North Ayrshire over the past few years."

(LM/MH)