EXCESS funds from the Largs BID could end up in North Ayrshire Council's public purse.

Following a democratic vote of the local businesses in 2012, the Largs Business Improvement District (BID) ran for five years in the town and involved shops and businesses paying a levy towards the organisation, which brought various events to the town including food festivals and classic car events to the seafront.

The BID also provided support to the Yuletide late night shopping night, which has now been taken over by Largs Events.

The BID came to an end earlier this year but some businesses have asked what happened to funds left in the pot when the project was wrapped up.

Independent councillor Ian Murdoch has asked North Ayrshire Council had asked if the cash could be re-distributed to all the local businesses, or to another group with similar aims to provide events in the town.

Speaking at the full council meeting at Cunninghame House in Irvine, Cllr. Murdoch posed a question to Cllr. Alex Gallagher, chair of the economy portfolio.

He asked: "North Ayrshire Council collected the BID Levy on behalf of Largs Matters Ltd under rates legislation.

"Will North Ayrshire Council be involved in returning the balance of funds to the businesses or as the statute states given to an organisation with a similar aim?".

Cllr. Gallagher responded: "The BID Scotland regulations of 2017 provides that when a BID comes to an end, if there is money left over, this is refunded or credited to the rates accounts of those who were liable to pay the BID levy.

"The only exception would be where this would provide a fund or credit of less than £10 to each person liable to pay the levy in that case the money goes into the North Ayrshire Council general fund.

"Therefore any monies held by Largs Matters cannot be given to another organisation, even an organisation with a similar aim.

"Discussions are presently underway between the council, Largs Matters, and Scotland's Towns Partnership to identify the amounts available for distribution back to the ratepayers."

Cllr. Murdoch responded: "What would happen if the businesses did not want the money returned to them and instead wanted it to go to a similar organisation with a similar aim?"

Cllr. Gallagher replied: "The situation is perfectly clear, legally the money will go back to the ratepayers or the council's general fund."

After the meeting, Cllr. Gallagher said that as Cllr. Murdoch was vice chair of Largs Events group that he should have declared an interest, but Cllr. Murdoch responded that he was putting questions to the council posed to him by local businesses.