Members are requested to give notice of any declarations of interest in respect of items of business on the Agenda.

The accuracy of the Minutes of (a) the Ordinary meeting held on 13 February 2019, (b) the Special Meeting held on 27 February 2019, (c) the Special Meeting (Planning) (Pre-Determination Hearing) and (d) Special Meeting (Planning) (Determination Meeting) will be confirmed and the Minutes signed in accordance with Paragraph 7(1) of Schedule 7 of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 (copies enclosed).

Submit report by the Leader for the period from 5 February - 18 March 2019 (copy enclosed).

Submit report by the Leader for the period from 5 February 2019 - 18 March 2019 (copy enclosed).

Submit, for noting, the Minutes of meetings of committees of the Council held in the period 123 December 2018 - 12 March 2019.

In terms of Standing Order 13.3, submit the undernoted motion, duly
proposed and seconded, which seeks to congratulate, commend or
recognise an individual or group in relation to their achievement or activities within North Ayrshire:-

“Irvine and Dreghorn Band attended the Scottish Brass Band Championships at Perth Concert Hall on Saturday 9 March when they performed to a very high standard and were crowned Scottish Champions. They now go forward to represent Scotland at the National Brass Band Championships in Cheltenham in October this year.

The Council congratulates all the band members, committee and supporters on their musical dedication and teamwork which has resulted in this hallmark achievement and wishes them well when they represent Scotland at the National Brass Band Championships of Great Britain in October 2019.”

“The SNP at  the last election stood on a manifesto commitment of a maximum increase of 3% on the Council Tax. However at Council in February the SNP Group voted for an increase of 4.79% for 2019/20, and opposed the Conservative Amendment of a 3% increase. Why did the Opposition not support a council tax rise which  would have delivered their own manifesto commitment, or was this a manifesto commitment which they never intended to keep?"

"Does the Portfolio Holder welcome The Scottish Government/COSLA announcement of £1.4m of funding for North Ayrshire to establish a new Town Centre Fund aimed at ensuring our High Streets are more diverse, sustainable and successful?”

"In light of North Ayrshire Council's pledge to support Keep Scotland Beautiful's Roadside Litter campaign following a motion I lodged last summer, can the Portfolioholder for Place provide an update detailing what steps have been taken to conduct an ongoing publicity campaign, what options have been explored to optimise the presence and location of roadside bins and monitoring roadside litter levels and what other efforts have been made in line with this specific campaign?"

“I would like to ask the Portfolio Holder for Communities if she agrees that we must ensure all EU citizens in North Ayrshire have access to Android devices through Council buildings and home visits, to ensure they are have the opportunity to apply for the Settled Status Scheme and if so, what measures the Council will put in place to accommodate this.”

“Before planning permission was granted for the Decommissioning Site at the Marine Construction Yard at Hunterston in 2018, were all meetings held between North Ayrshire Council, Scottish Natural Heritage, Scottish Environmental Protection Agency and Marine Scotland minuted and if not why not?”

“If the proposal is successful, how many jobs will be created at the Decommissioning Site at the Marine Construction Yard at Hunterston?”

“In documentation obtained through Freedom of Information relating to the Hunterston Marine Construction Yard, there is a letter from the Enviro Centre dated 10th January 2018 sent to North Ayrshire's Planning Department. Is the Chair of Planning aware of the existence of this letter and if so when did he become aware of it?”

“Was there a reply sent to the letter dated the 10th January 2018 from the Enviro Centre to North Ayrshire's Planning Department in respect of the Hunterston Marine Construction Yard and why is there no reference in the formal planning report provided to the Planning Committee?”

“EDF have recently held two Public Information Sessions at Hunterston B Power Station. Are there any plans to invite EDF to a meeting with North Ayrshire Council to discuss the graphite inspections, modelling and analysis work that has been taking place on the reactors at Hunterston since they have been offline?”

“The Year 2020 marks the 700th Anniversary of the signing, on 6th April, 1320, of The Declaration of Arbroath.

The importance of this document is acknowledged throughout the world since it is not, as many believe, simply a declaration of Scotland’s right to self-determination, but is also hugely important in that it recognises that the people of Scotland have their own identity. It also asserts that the people of this country are sovereign, and as such have the right to be ruled only by those to whom we give that gift.

The National Records of Scotland describe this document as “foremost among Scotland’s state papers”.

A US Resolution of 10th November, 1997 states formally that the American Declaration of Independence was directly modelled on the Declaration of Arbroath.

Also, in 2016 the document’s huge significance was acknowledged, and its international importance recognised, when the Declaration of Arbroath was placed on UNESCO’s “Memory of the World” Register. 

The text of the Declaration of Arbroath is generally ascribed to Bernard, Abbot of Kilwinning, who went on to be Chancellor of Scotland and Abbot of Arbroath. One of the Declaration’s signatories was Fergus of Ardrossan. Add to that the fact that a signatory of the aforementioned American Declaration of Independence, Reverend John Witherspoon, was a Church Minister in Beith from 1745-1758, and it would seem obvious that this upcoming centenary is an unparalleled opportunity for North Ayrshire to capitalise on the area’s historic significance, not the least as a way of reviving our Tourist Industry - an area of development which I have previously mentioned in the Chamber as one which I have been doing all in my power to advance.

As I was asked by members of the Ardrossan Castle Heritage Society to pursue this matter, can I ask the portfolio holder for Communities what plans are being made by North Ayrshire Council to commemorate this important centenary?” 

“Over the last ten years, how many employees have left NAC with a non-disclosure agreement?"

“Can the Portfolio holder explain why there are now no North Ayrshire schools in the top 50 state schools in Scotland 2019 as listed, in the Herald of 20th March 2019, by the percentage of pupils achieving 5+ Highers ?”

To propose that North Ayrshire Council request that the Chief Executive at the earliest opportunity:-

(a) convenes a meeting between the Office of the Nuclear Regulator (ONR) and the Elected Members of the Hunterston Site Stakeholder Group (SSG) and relevant Officers to enable North Ayrshire Council to understand the incidence of cracking in the graphite core of Reactor 3 and Reactor 4 and be informed as to the methodology of ONR’s treatment of the Safety Case made by EDF to restart the Reactors.

(b) given the future closure of Hunterston B Nuclear Station, reconvenes a (restructured) Hunterston Economic Steering Group which last met on Friday 2 May 2014.”

“The Isle of Arran is one of North Ayrshire’s most buoyant and developing communities, and attracts nearly 800,000 visitors every year. North Ayrshire Council is aware of Arran’s importance and is working with local communities to further develop the island through new housing and business support.  The residents of Arran were, therefore, delighted when it was announced that public money would be spent to upgrade and improve all aspects of the ferry link to Arran.

 Back in April 2017, the then Secretary for Economy, Jobs and Fair Work, Keith Brown said

 “The Scottish Government is committed to supporting our lifeline ferry links and ensuring that the Arran ferry service is fit for purpose, whilst also getting the best value for the public purse”

 Here we are, 3 years later, with a complete shambles of a project that is over spent, running years late, poorly designed and has reliability issues not seen with the previous service. Over £100 million has been committed to this project which is being wasted, and the delays have an adverse effect on the economy of the communities that rely on the ferries.

 As representatives of our local communities it is our duty to hold to account those who make decisions on our behalf, in this case the SNP Scottish Government. On behalf of the people we were elected to represent, we demand to know why this project is so far off track and is not delivering the benefits it promised.

 I therefore move that Council instructs the Chief Executive to write to the Minister for Transport and the Islands (a) to express in the strongest terms the Council’s disappointment and concern about the current mess and uncertainty that surrounds the upgrade to the Arran and Ardrossan ferry link, (b) for an explanation as to how this situation has been allowed to occur,  (c) for an explanation as to how the SNP Scottish Government intends to make good the Minister’s commitment that this project will provide an Arran ferry service that is fit for purpose and is offering best value for money.”

Submit a motion, by Councillor Gurney, seconded by Councillor Brahim, to amend Standing Orders in terms of Standing Order 22:-

“Insert a new Standing Order 12.9 as follows:-

"In relation to both a Question submitted in advance of a meeting and a question relating to an item on the agenda, the person answering must ensure there is a reasonable factual basis for any statement of fact made in their response."”

Any other items which the Provost considers to be urgent.

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