There were no declarations of interest by Members in terms of Standing Order 10 and Section 5 of the Code of Conduct for Councillors.

Joe Cullinane, John Bell, Alex Gallagher, Jim Montgomerie and Very Reverend Canon Matthew McManus, Elizabeth Higton and Ian Haining (Church Representatives) (Agenda Items 1-6).

Tom Marshall, Jean McClung, Ronnie McNicol and Davina McTiernan (Agenda Items 1-8), Shaun MacAulay (Agenda Items 1-9) and Donald L. Reid (Agenda Items 1-16).

J. Butcher, Executive Director (Education and Youth Employment); L. Friel, Executive Director and Anne Lyndon, Team Manager (Corporate Procurement) (Finance and Corporate Support);  C. Hatton, Executive Director and D. Hammond, Senior Manager (Housing Strategy and Corporate Sustainability) (Place); K. Yeomans, Executive Director, A. Sutton, Head of Service (Connected Communities), C. McAuley, Head of Service (Economic Growth) and C. McNey, Planning Officer (Economy and Communities); Stephen Brown, Interim Director and D McKee, Head of Children, Families and Justice Services (Health and Social Care Partnership); A. Fraser, Head of Democratic Services and M. Davison, Senior Manager (Democratic Services); M. Sugden, Communications Officer and D. McCaw, Committee Services Officer (Chief Executive's Service).

Douglas Hutchison, Director of Education (South Ayrshire Council) and Head of South West Collaborative; Lorne Campbell, Colin Glencorse, Laura Barrie and Scott Morrison (North Ayrshire Leisure Limited).

Robert Foster and Louise McPhater.

Joe Cullinane in the Chair.

The accuracy of the Minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 12 December 2017 were confirmed and the Minutes signed in accordance with Paragraph 7 (1) of Schedule 7 of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973.

Submitted report by the Executive Director (Education and Youth Employment) on the response to the Scottish Government Consultation on guidance related to the Presumption of Mainstreaming.  The consultation set out the Scottish Government’s vision for inclusion and the draft response was set out at Appendix 1 to the report.

Members asked a question and were provided with further information on any potential funding support to assist with resource challenges in relation to providing support to children and parents.

The Cabinet agreed to approve the consultation response as detailed at Appendix 1 to the report for submission to the Scottish Government.

Submitted report by the Executive Director (Education and Youth Employment) on the response to the Scottish Government Consultation document on the proposed Education Bill.  The draft response, highlighting potential implications for Local Authorities, was set out at Appendix 1 to the report.

Members asked questions and were provided with further information in relation to:-

• the Scottish Catholic education response to the consultation being broadly in line with North Ayrshire’s response;
• the leading questions within the consultation that assume change is necessary and that changing structures will change outcomes;
• the first responsibility being in relation to the children of North Ayrshire; and
• the difficulties in getting parents involved.

The Cabinet agreed to approve the consultation response as detailed at Appendix 1 to the report for submission to the Scottish Government.

Submitted report by the Executive Director (Education and Youth Employment) on the priorities and content of the SWEIC Annual Plan summarising ambitions and actions for the regional collaborative, which was attached at Appendix 1 to the report.

Members asked questions and were provided with further information in relation to:-

• priorities in the Collaborative Annual Plan aligning with the Council’s improvement plan; and
• work with the other Ayrshires and Dumfries and Galloway in relation to delivering improvements in line with the 4 National Improvement Framework priority areas.

The Cabinet agreed to approve the SWEIC Annual Plan 2018, as detailed at Appendix 1 to the report.

Submitted report by the Executive Director (Education and Youth Employment) on funding for temporary accommodation to be installed at Annick Primary School by August 2018 through an advance funding bid prior to the setting of the Capital Plan.

The Cabinet agreed to approve advance funding from the Capital Plan for temporary accommodation to be installed at Annick Primary School.

Submitted report by the Executive Director (Economy and Communities) on the NALL Performance and Impact Report incorporating the 2018-19 Budget.  The Cabinet also received a presentation by North Ayrshire Leisure Limited providing information on opportunities and developments taking place across KA Leisure venues, the creation of active communities within North Ayrshire, the views of customers and partners on paths to maintaining success and on future developments for KA Leisure.

Members asked questions and were provided with further information in relation to:-

• how the change in venue for swimming facilities to the Garnock Campus has affected attendance; and
• that swimming attendance numbers are up in relation to the same period last year but that there is still some room for development.

The Cabinet agreed to approve the North Ayrshire Leisure Limited (NALL) Performance and Impact Report incorporating the 2018-19 Budget.

Submitted report by the Chief Executive to allow Cabinet to reconsider its previous decision in light of a call in request and recommendations from the Audit and Scrutiny Committee that transport for Cumbrae pupils from the Largs Ferry terminal to the new Largs Campus is provided when the new Campus opens.  The report detailed contrasting arguments and advised that the Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Education had offered that Cabinet would reconsider its decision. It further advised that a decision either way would not impact on Council policy to provide school transport to secondary pupils who live more than 3 miles away.

Members asked questions and were provided with further information in relation to:-

• the original Cabinet report on 12 December which suggested that reinstatement could potentially have an impact on the wider transport policy;
• that the policy is not being implemented fairly in relation to Cumbrae as the ferry is being used to split the difference in the timing of the route; and
• that there is no safe walking route on the Island.

Cabinet Members further considered that providing transport would comply with the Council’s Policy on the Provision of School Transport as Cumbrae pupils live over the 3 walking miles distance from the new school and the few who do not have no safe walking route to the Cumbrae Slip.

The Cabinet agreed unanimously to make school transport provision for Cumbrae pupils from the Largs Ferry Terminal to the new Largs Campus when the Campus opens.

Submitted report by the Executive Director (Finance and Corporate Support) which (a) set out the revenue budgetary position for the Council at 30 November 2017; (b) provided a brief explanation of Services’ major variances at Appendices 1-9; (c) detailed the proposed virements at Appendix 10; and (d) detailed the Housing Revenue account budgetary control position at 30 November 2017 at Appendix 11.

Members asked questions and were provided with further information in relation to:-

• ongoing work to address the delivery of savings for the Health and Social Care Partnership to allow the Partnership to reach a financial sustainable position;
• clarification that no further funding being provided to the Health and Social Care Partnership relates to the remainder of financial year 2017/18; and
• that the minuted decision should reflect the earlier Cabinet decision around Annick Primary School and the approval for advance funding from the Capital Plan.

The Cabinet agreed to (a) note the information and financial projections outlined in the report; (b) approve the earmarking of £0.100m identified at Section 2.4(iv) to meet future year commitments; (c) note the current financial projection for the Health and Social Care Partnership; (d) confirm that no further funding will be provided by the Council to the Health and Social Care Partnership for financial year 2017/18; (e) approve the virements detailed in Appendix 10 to the report; and (f) approve advance funding from the Capital Plan for temporary accommodation to be installed at Annick Primary School.

Submitted report by the Executive Director (Finance and Corporate Support) on the progress in delivering the Capital Investment Programme as at 30 November 2017, the progress in relation to all projects and explanations for the carry forwards and further revisions to the budget.  The financial position for the Housing Revenue Account for the six months to 30 November 2017 was also detailed in the Appendices to the report.

The Cabinet agreed to (a) approve the revisions to budgets outlined in the report and appendices; and (b) note (i) the General Services and HRA expenditure and revised budgets to 30 November 2017; and (ii) the forecast of expenditure to 31 March 2018.

Submitted report by the Executive Director (Economy and Communities) on the  response to the Scottish Government’s Local Government and Communities Committee Call for Evidence on the Planning (Scotland).  The draft response was set out at Appendix 1 to the report.

Members asked a question and were provided with further information in relation to ensuring the Council maintain its high level of performance and safeguard continued engagement with the community.

The Cabinet agreed to approve the consultation response, as detailed at Appendix 1 to the report, for submission to the Scottish Government’s Local Government and Communities Committee.

Submitted report by the Executive Director (Economy and Communities) on the feedback from the Scottish Government on the Planning Performance Framework 6 (PPF6) reflecting the high level of performance and customer service which is delivered by the Planning Services for North Ayrshire.  An action programme to address feedback points was detailed at Appendix 1 to the report.

The Cabinet agreed to (a) note the feedback from the Scottish Government on PPF6; and (b) approve the action programme to address feedback points, detailed at Appendix 1 to the report, within the next PPF.

Submitted report by the Executive Director (Place) on a proposed Scottish Government consultation response on proposals for preparation of Local Heat and Energy Efficiency Strategies (LHEES) and the regulation of district heating.  The draft response was set out at Appendix 1 to the report.

The Cabinet agreed to approve the consultation response, as detailed at Appendix 1 to the report, for submission to the Scottish Government.

Submitted report by the Executive Director (Finance and Corporate Support) on the result of the tender exercise for a provision of an independent advocacy service.

The Cabinet agreed to approve the award of contract to AIMS Advocacy.

Submitted report by the Executive Director (Finance and Corporate Support) on the outcome of the procurement exercise for the delivery of Care at Home Services.

The Cabinet agreed to approve the award of contracts to Ayrshire Quality Care and Support CIC, Mears Care, Rainbow Services (UK) Limited, Inverclyde and North Ayrshire Care Services t/a Carewatch and 1^st Homecare.

Submitted report by the Executive Director (Finance and Corporate Support) on the result of the tender exercise for the Public Realm Improvements, High Street and Bank Street, Irvine.

The Cabinet agreed to approve the award of contract to MacLay Civil Engineering Ltd.

The Meeting ended at 4.25 p.m.