Largs councillor Tom Marshall has succeeded in his bid to maintain a ban on posting election material on council property despite one councillor describing it as an 'insult’ to the electorate.

Cllr Marshall put forward a motion on Friday in response to the council’s view that only the European elections and independence referendum were covered by the policy. He argued that most people had interpreted April’s decision as being applicable to all elections in the future.

His motion was opposed by the SNP administration, with Councillor Anthea Dickson, describing it as an attack on democracy and the YES camp during the independence referendum campaign.

Cllr Dickson also argued that the ban would have a negative impact on voter engagement and highlighted the fact that the Electoral Commission, in its report on the 2012 local elections, had concerns about the 21 local authorities who had already put bans in place.

The Commission report stated: “We believe that the issue of use of street furniture for political party posters near the date of an election should be reviewed as it may encourage participation at elections.” Councillor Marshall was backed by Labour’s Kilwinning councillor Donald Reid in his call to reinstate the ban immediately.

In the motion, which secured the support of 14 councillors, against nine in opposition, Councillor Marshall stated: ““We note with regret the interpretation put by officers on the Minute relating to Agenda item 10 of the North Ayrshire Council meeting held on 2 April 2014.

“We move that with immediate effect North Ayrshire Council agrees the following policy in relation to campaign materials, and flyposting. The policy shall apply to all elections and referenda.

“No campaign materials should be affixed or displayed on any property under the Council’s control. For the avoidance of doubt this includes any area adopted by the Council as Roads Authority and any street furniture thereon, whether installed by the Council or other bodies. Campaigning materials on telecommunications or power poles or apparatus or bus shelters situated on road verges or other areas owned or adopted by the Council are not permitted.

“This resolution also includes parks and Council buildings etc., regardless of whether these are owned, leased or adopted by the Council. However this prohibition does not apply to campaigning materials which Council tenants choose to put up on the windows of homes which they lease from the Council.” Largs Councillor Alex Gallagher claimed that the record turnout at the referendum - where election posters were absent - proved the ban had little impact on voters.

Councillor Marie Burns countered that the posters were aimed at raising awareness rather than being a major influence on voters’ decisions. She said: “The people of North Ayrshire can make up their own minds. They are more intelligent than that. Using the referendum as an example is just absolute nonsense.”