Plans to raid North Ayrshire Council’s reserves and abolish the school meal debt were rejected at a full council meeting.
A motion by Councillor Robert Foster, seconded by Labour colleague John Bell, said owing to the impact of the cost of living crisis on residents, £60,000 of unearmarked reserves should be used to scrap all school meal debt in the region.
Councillor Foster said: “A lot of families are struggling and one of the things we could do is to cancel the school medal debt which is £60,000.
"If we were to do that it would be one less worry. Aberlour Children's Charity are calling for it and SNP colleagues at Edinburgh Council abolished their school meal debt.”
Irvine South Councillor Christina Larsen (SNP) proposed a motion saying this action should not currently be taken.
She said: “This administration is not looking to pursue this debt.
“The Scottish Government and COSLA are looking at a broader approach. No child will go hungry so there is no need to make a decision on the council's unearmarked reserves until we see what is ahead of us.
“This would be a knee-jerk reaction."
Council leader Marie Burns added: “There is no need to access our reserves as we have no intention of pursuing the debt.”
Tory Leader Tom Marshall said: “While agreeing some residents are experiencing cost of living difficulties, a budget meeting is scheduled for October 6 so no decision should be made to use unearmarked (reserves) until the implications of using it will be submitted to the next full council.”
The motion to proceed with plans to use the reserves was defeated by 19 votes to nine.
Don't miss the latest Ayrshire headlines – sign up to our free daily newsletter here
