Council's Santa surprise for senior citizens

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The Council is playing Santa this year to about 17,000 or so of its senior citizens by giving them a surprise seasonal bonus.

Over 70s, and their spouses or partners, will get an extra £22.00 gift voucher from the council's senior citizens scheme as part of a revamp of the scheme.

The gift vouchers are going out this weekend - in time for Christmas, and despite the credit crunch.

The Santa move was approved by the Council’s General Management & Finance Policy Board recently, giving a seasonal bonus to the Council's most vulnerable elderly residents.

The Council has put aside up to £380,000 to meet the costs of the initiative.

Senior citizens who enjoyed a credit to their council tax or housing rent account will be offered that alternative to the gift voucher.

As part of the revamped scheme the Council will no longer offer a council run outings in future. Instead the £22.00 gift vouchers will be issued to the 700 or so senior citizens who previously opted for an outing.

The gift vouchers will in future be issued in November each year – just in time for Christmas – but with a much longer validity date.

This will allow senior citizens the choice of using the gift voucher in the spring or summer if they prefer.

The Council has made arrangements with selected hotels in Ayr and Dunoon to accept the gift voucher so that senior citizens can visit these places at their leisure.

Other hotel groups and entertainment places are also being asked by the Council to participate in the gift voucher scheme.

Press release: Thursday 27 November 2008