Tory opposition members at North Ayrshire Council have defended their decision to vote through the budget - warning Labour alternatives would have been hugely costly.
The Conservatives, whose 10 members form the opposition, agreed to support the plans proposed by the administration.
Leader Tom Marshall said: “We could not support the Labour proposals which would mean council tax being spent on energy generation, community wealth building and other projects with which we did not agree and would have greatly increased the deficit for the following year, and perhaps contribute to a 20 per cent council tax increase.
