As the UK closes in on the highest inflation rate in 40 years, the Local Democracy Reporting Service takes a closer look at just how East and South Ayrshire councils have been hit – by everything from Brexit and the pandemic to spiralling fuel costs.
Over the last couple of years, almost all council reports on finance and capital projects have alluded to the challenges caused by Brexit and the pandemic.
The rising costs had already begun to hit council projects before the unprecedented rise in inflation in 2022. From an original £35m, the cost of the proposed Ayr Leisure Centre had topped £45m by last autumn.
