While the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman did say that the council had acted "correctly" over the closure of the pool it did criticise the local authority's inability to engage with the public about the decision, referring to it as "piecemeal" and "inconsistent."
Residents throughout South Ayrshire, who were unhappy over the pool closure and other local amenity closures, wrote to the Ombudsman complaining over the council's handling of the affair, arguing that SAC had failed to consult the public, both before and after a decision was taken to close a public facility or centre, in accordance with the council's practice and statutory procedures.
In a report released last week the Ombudsman said it "found no specific duty or requirement on the council to consult the public about a decision to close a facility or centre, and the question was not upheld."
However, the investigating officer for the report did go on to say: "I did, however, find that the approach to engaging with the public after the closures were announced was piecemeal, and communication was inconsistent.
"I, therefore, recommended that in the interests of good practice the council should ensure that their strategy to communicate and engage with the community incorporates clear directives in relation to consistency in communication and engagement where it is proposed to close a council facility or centre."
Council Leader Bill McIntosh is pleased that the report did not uphold the complaint against the council and vowed that the authority, as a whole, would look to improve in how it engages with a community.
He said: "In making its budget decisions, South Ayrshire Council acted in accordance with relevant procedures and practice and this is reflected in the complaint to the Ombudsman not being upheld.
"We are committed to improving how we engage with local communities across South Ayrshire and will continue to prosgress this as part of our improvement activities."
The suggestion to improve communication comes at a time when councillors are beingasked to consider a new Communications Strategy.
At a council Leadership Panel meeting last week, the strategy was greeted with criticism from Conservative and Maybole, North Carrick councillor Ann Galbraith, a former local newspaper editor, who labelled the plans as "control freakery" and warned it could cause a vendetta in local media against the council.
Other councillors were afraid that the paper would effectively stop them from being able to talk to the press and ruin relationships with the local media.
Councillor McIntosh said: "We have made a lot of progress in the past year. For example, our officers are working on proposals for the regeneration of Girvan and the South Carrick area, Tarbolton and Dailly Activity Centres can still be enjoyed by the local communities, and we have appointed a preferred bidder to progress the reopening of the Gaiety Theatre.
"Now that the Ombudsman has concluded his investigation and determined that there is no case for the council to answer, we can continue to focus on taking forward the issues to our communities and delivering quality services across South Ayrshire."
Councillor for Girvan and South Carrick Alec Oattes said that the lack of investment in Girvan Swimming Pool stretched back to 2005 during the lifetime of the previous council administration and action would now be taken.
He said: "The report highlights that as far back as 2005 the pool had lacked investment and that it was approaching the end of its working life; that was when alarm bells should have been raised within the then elected members of the council and action taken to address the lack of maintenance and investment in the whole harbour area of Girvan.
"The people of Girvan and South Carrick can be reassured that this lack of investment has been recognised and is being addressed through the Girvan Strategy Group with support from a wide range of council officers and carefully monitored by Girvan Community Council and local elected members."