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

The accuracy of the Minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 20 February 2018 were confirmed and the Minutes signed in accordance with Paragraph 7 (1) of Schedule 7 of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973.

Joe Cullinane, Alex Gallagher, Robert Foster and Jim Montgomerie.

Shaun MacAulay, Jean McClung, Davina McTiernan, Robert Barr, Ronnie McNicol, John Glover and Donald L. Reid.

L. Friel, Executive Director, F.Walker, Head of Service (People), P.Doak, Senior Manager, J.Walls, Team Manager (Finance and Corporate Support); K. Yeomans, Executive Director, A. Sutton, Head of Service (Connected Communities), C.McAuley, Head of Service (Economic Growth), J.McLachlan, Policy Manager and J.McKnight, Senior Manager (Economy and Communities); C.Hatton, Executive Director, Y.Baulk, Head of Service (Physical Environment), C.Dempster, Team Manager, D.Hammond, Senior Manager, L. Cree, Senior (Place); S.Brown, Interim Director (Health and Social Care Partnership); A. Fraser, Head of Democratic Services; M. Sugden, Communications Officer and H.Clancy, Committee Services Officer (Chief Executive's Service).

Joe Cullinane in the Chair.

John Bell and Louise McPhater.

Submitted report and received presentation by the Executive Director (Economy and Communities) on the North Ayrshire Inclusive Growth Diagnostic Pilot.

The presentation provided information on:

• identifying constraints and opportunities for driving inclusive growth in North Ayrshire in order to prioritise actions to address them;
• ‘excluded’ groups – groups sharing similar characteristics that have been particularly excluded from the benefits of economic growth (and particularly labour market inclusion);
• the prioritisation exercise that ranks the identified constraints based on the interaction of two dimensions: impact (evidence-based approach) and care about/deliverability; and
• the next steps.

Members asked a question and were provided with further information in relation to the differences across the three Ayrshire Locality Authorities.

The Cabinet agreed to (a) note the findings of the Inclusive Growth Diagnostic Pilot, including the priorities for action and excluded groups; (b) approve the work being undertaken to assess the Diagnostic findings against current Council activities and programmes and to identify areas where enhanced or additional activity is required; and (c) support the dialogue with government and national agencies around what is required to facilitate inclusive growth in the area.

Submitted report by the Chief Executive on the outcome of a Call In to the Audit and Scrutiny Committee.

The Cabinet agreed to (a) the Elected Member representation on the working group be increased to four to allow the appointment of an Independent Member, with a further place also offered to NAFCO in the interests of parity; and (b) that no change be made to the decision that the working group report to the Cabinet.

Submitted report by the Executive Director (Finance and Corporate Support) on the financial performance of the Council.

Members asked a question and were provided with further information in relation to the current financial projections and the changes over the last ten years.

The Cabinet agreed to (a) note the information and financial projections outlined in the report; (b) approve the earmarking of £0.312m identified at 2.4 (iv) to meet future year commitments; (c) note the current financial projection for the Health and Social Care Partnership; and (d) approve the virements detailed in Appendix 10.

Submitted report by the Executive Director (Finance and Corporate Support) on the Capital Investment Programme as at 31 January 2018.

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

Submitted report by the Executive Director (Finance and Corporate Support) on the Strategic Risk Register for 2018/19.

Members asked a question and were provided with further information in relation to the Information and Cyber Security risk scoring which reflects the challenges associated with the loss of personal or sensitive data and the failure to appropriately manage and use the Council's information assets. This risk should be widened to reflect the increasing risk from external cyber-attack being faced by all organisations.

The Cabinet agreed to approve the Strategic Risk Register.

Submitted report by the Executive Director (Finance and Corporate Support) on the Health and Safety performance within Council Services.

The Cabinet agreed to (a) note the good progress made in Health and Safety during 2017; and (b) receive a further progress report in 12 months.

Submitted report by the Executive Director (Place) on the proposed Road, Structures and Street Lightening Maintenance Programme 2018/19.

Members asked a question and were provided with further information in relation to the current Road Condition Index increase to 39.1 from 38.3 in 2016 and the estimated carriageway maintenance backlog figure currently being £31.6 million.

The Cabinet agreed to (a) note the approach taken to determining the asset maintenance programme for roads, structures and street lighting; (b) approve the maintenance programme for 2018/19, as shown at Appendix 1a and 1b; and (c) note that the programme will be issued to the Locality Planning Partnerships for information.

Submitted report by the Executive Director (Place) on future investment options for the seven multi-storey blocks in Irvine and Saltcoats.

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

• face to face consultation with residents starting in April; and
• residents being provided with options for the redevelopment areas and different model of houses available.

The Cabinet agreed to (a) note the future investment options for the tower blocks (b) approve consultation on these options with affected tenants and owners; and (c) agree to receive a further report in Summer 2018 summarising the findings of the consultation exercise and proposed next steps.

Submitted report by the Executive Director (Place) on the business case to install 500 rooftop solar photovoltaic (pv) systems across North Ayrshire Council housing stock.

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

• the preferred bidder working with officers, to increase the number of properties for inclusion in this phase of works up to the original target of 500 installations; and
• the cost of scheme installation within the tender returns being less than originally forecast and as a result, the tenant contribution being removed from the investment grade business case, improving the savings on offer to tenants.

The Cabinet agreed to approve the updated business case and associated financial implications as outlined within Appendices 1 and 2, to allow appointment of a preferred installer.

Submitted report by the Executive Director (Place) on the window replacement to the old building at Ardrossan Civic Centre.

The Cabinet agreed to approve essential window replacement to be carried out by North Ayrshire Council Building Services to the old building at Ardrossan Civic Centre at an estimated cost of £50,000 to be funded from Ardrossan Common Good.

Submitted report by the Executive Director (Economy and Communities) on the expenditure of funds allocated by the Scottish Government to the Vacant and Derelict Land Fund.

The Cabinet agreed to (a) note the VDLF award of £1.709M for 2018/19; and (b) approve the submission of a local delivery plan for the expenditure of funds in 2018/19 to the Scottish Government.

Submitted report by the Executive Director (Economy and Communities) on the Arran Outdoor Education Centre Business Improvement report (2017).

The Cabinet agreed to approve (a) the content and recommendations of the Business Improvement Report 2017; and (b) a revised pricing structure for North Ayrshire Council groups and for external bookings.

The Meeting ended at 3.55 p.m.