EAST Ayrshire Council has announced a significant transfer of services to the East Ayrshire Leisure Trust.

The move is part of a wider leisure and culture review and is expected to secure the future of these services while maximising opportunities for development and improvement.

The services to be transferred include Vibrant Communities, the Instrumental Music Service, the Creative Minds Service, and Community and Corporate Catering Services.

The council said these services make a significant contribution to the community.

The transfer means they are safe from potential budget cuts as the council faces a challenging financial period.

The Galleon Leisure Centre is also set to merge with the East Ayrshire Leisure Trust, subject to the agreement of both Boards of Trustees.

READ MORE: Flash mob of musicians protest outside East Ayrshire Council

Councillor Douglas Reid, leader of East Ayrshire Council, said: "We very much welcomed this review as it presented a real opportunity to explore and evaluate current service delivery in terms of the availability, accessibility, quality, and current participation and engagement levels.

"In the current financial climate, it is important that we are receptive to new ways of service delivery, to help us preserve resources and assets better to enhance the overall leisure and wellbeing experience."

"At this stage in the process, we can assure everyone that there will be no reduction or alteration to the services provided."

On Thursday, October 31, a flash mob was held outside the council building in protest of the vote to transfer the Instrument Music Service.

It was made up of various musicians and was supported by members of the Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS).

The protest was arranged in the hope that the council would change the recommendation in the report to remove the Instrumental Music Service from education.

(Image: Newsquest) Paul Wood, former music service manager for East Ayrshire Council, said: "There's been years and years of cuts from 2006.

"People very quickly forget that East Ayrshire was the most decorated music service in the UK, winning nine consecutive award from the National Council of Great Britain.

"The council were very keen to promote all that great work and it's just amazing that all those councillors have allowed the music service to be cut."