Millport is to get 12 new council houses as part of North Ayrshire Council £450 million budget for 2012/13.

As part of this budget, the council also aims to invest millions of pounds tackling unemployment, protecting vulnerable people and investing in the area's young people.

Around £4million of the budget will be invested in North Ayrshire's core priorities, including:

• Early intervention and prevention, including parenting programmes, child protection, family centres and tackling domestic violence - £920,000
• Investment in a range of schemes to stimulate economic activity and job opportunities across North Ayrshire - over £1m
• Increased allocation to the capital investment programme - around £800,000
• Mentoring vulnerable children, supporting educational attainment and developing excellence among young people - almost £300,000
• Increasing council living wage to £7.20 per hour
• Increasing level of funding to the Older People Change Fund

Agreed efficiency options totalling £4.9m in the foreseeable financial year include improved contracts and tenders; the personalisation of care for people with disabilities, and a redesign of council services.

Elected Members have also approved indicative options of £7.1m for 2013/14 and £2.37m for 2014/15

They also approved a £126m Capital programme for the next four years, which so far, will include a £16m investment in core infrastructure, including roads, lighting, vehicles and waste.

The authority also agreed to a lower rent increase than had been anticipated and potentially increasing investment in council housing stock.

In 2012/13 rents will increase by 2.25% rather than the anticipated 5.5%.

Additional resources will also be made towards achieving and exceeding the Scottish Housing Quality Standard.

Around £26m will be invested in improving existing housing, including a minimum of 1,290 window replacements, 850 new kitchens and 720 new bathrooms.

Leader of the Council, David O'Neill, said:“By approving this budget, we are investing in the most pressing areas of need in North Ayrshire.

“We will make this investment despite facing a funding shortfall of £23.3m over the next three years and a poor grant settlement compared with some wealthier authorities.

“Our staff have worked incredibly hard and have responded positively to the challenges of the last few years and this has allowed us to invest in the council's priority areas of job creation, early intervention and prevention.

“It is clear that next few years will continue to be challenging.

“However, I am confident that we can continue to show the right attitude while providing quality frontline services to the people of North Ayrshire."