Treating South Ayrshire Council services like a business is key say leadership duo
South Ayrshire Council's new leadership pairing have insisted that taking a business-like approach to some services is the only way forward against a backdrop of ever-increasing financial pressures.
Independent Council Leader Brian Connolly and Depute Alec Clark insist that investment in non-statutory services must be sustainable, if not completely self sufficient.
Cllr Connolly, who became the council's first independent leader in May, said that this shift in South Ayrshire Council's approach has been the biggest difference he has seen since he joined the council almost 20 years ago.
Up until his election as leader, Cllr Connolly held the sports and leisure portfolio in both the Labour/SNP administration and the Conservative-run cabinet from 2022.
During that time, there had been massive investment in South Ayrshire's sporting facilities, he said.
But he insisted it was not simply a case of throwing money at projects, with investment essential to bring money back in to sustain those facilities.
He said this was one of the reasons why members of the administration wanted to maintain stability in the face of the ongoing crisis around procurement that saw both the previous leader Martin Dowey and Chief Executive Mike Newall quit.
He said: "It is part of the reason why we wanted to continue.
"Our sports facilities are just fantastic. The money that we have invested in these facilities is absolutely fantastic.
"But the aim, and this probably took us three-quarters of our time in the council, we've finally got to looking at it like a business.
"Let us get people in and let's generate revenue. Revenue is the issue, the capital is much easier.
"We can invest the capital, but only if we are looking at it as a business.
"We are looking at Troon [pool] and we think that, once the extension is in place, the figures will be through the roof.
"Prestwick is just about to reopen. When we do the Quayzone I am sure it will be the same.
"The football pitches and the golf courses, they are all generating revenue.
Depute Leader Clark, who represents Girvan and South Carrick, added: "We both come from a business background.
"You have to look at something and say, what can we do to make that investment pay?
"If it doesn't pay, it isn't going to work.
"Anything we can to generate revenue we will do. It means, with sustainability, it will be there for the general public to enjoy."
The financial strain faced by councils has made the need to find more sustainable approaches is key, they said.
However, they acknowledge that the introduction of charging or increasing fees is often viewed negatively.
Cllr Clark cited to the investment of more than £250,000 on public toilets at Ainslie Park in Girvan.
He said: "First thing we saw was someone saying 'I'm not paying 50p to go to the toilet.
"But these toilets are going to be cleaned every day, there has been investment to improve the facilities.
"I would ask whether they would want the facility or just have it left as a dump?"
Cllr Connolly insisted that this shift in emphasis is the most significant he has seen.
He said: " It is not just a case of saying this is a service we have to provide and that is the cost, we are looking at how we can get the revenue back in.
"Whether toilets or golf courses. We have to get the money back in.
"That then eases the financial pressure on the council."
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