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 meeting held on 27 March 2019 will be confirmed and the Minutes signed in accordance with Paragraph 7(1) of Schedule 7 of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 (copy enclosed).

Submit report by the Provost for the period from 19 March - 6 May 2019 (copy enclosed).

Submit report by the Leader for the period from 19 March - 6 May 2019 (copy enclosed).

Submit, for noting, the Minutes of meetings of committees of the Council held in the period 14 February 2019 - 8 May 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:-

“Barrmill Jolly Beggars Burns Club

Barrmill Jolly Beggars Burns Club was formed in the village from which it takes its name in 1944 as a welcome home organisation for local men returning from military service. It has been going strong ever since and has held an annual Burns Supper and St Andrew's Dinner every year without a break since its formation. On 25th January 2019 it celebrated its 75th Annual Burns Supper and will celebrate its 75th Annual St Andrew's Dinner on 29 November 2019.

The club has worked with local schools and supported them financially with prizes and certificates over the years to encourage verse speaking in Scots and a love of the poems and songs of Scotland's Bard, Robert Burns. The club had a special accolade in 1947 when it was visited by a reporter and photographer from the American Life Magazine and subsequently a three page article with photographs of the club appeared in that magazine which has a world-wide circulation.

The club comprises heavily of retired members (65-94 years) and organises an interesting programme of activities to suit members and ensure that they have contact with other members to combat social isolation and loneliness and keep them involved in positive activities such as regular meetings with speakers on a range of subjects, visits, bus trips and theatre outings to enhance their journey into age.

North Ayrshire Council acknowledges the 75th anniversary of Barrmill Jolly Beggars Burns Club; notes the progress the club has made over the years to combat loneliness and social isolation, encouraging mutual support for older members; congratulates all the members on their support for local schools in the area; and wishes the club well in the future.”

Submit the undernoted appointments, for noting:-

(1) Ayrshire Regional Economic Joint Committee

(2) Ayrshire Regional Economic Partnership Sub-Committee

To approve the appointment of a new Director on the Board of North Ayrshire Ventures Trust (copy enclosed).

Submit report by the Executive Director (Economy and Communities) on harbour works at Ardrossan that will improve service reliability, long term port resilience and allow Ardrossan to remain the mainland harbour for the Arran and Campbeltown ferries as set out in the Council approved prospectus to Transport Scotland (copy enclosed).

In terms of Standing Order 12, submit:-

“How many over 65 year olds are on a pending list to receive funding, formal assessment or a place in a North Ayrshire Care Home.”

“At the recent SNP conference  a resolution was passed that asked  that “the Scottish Government work closely with stakeholders to develop a set of best-practice, guiding principles for employers which take account of menopausal-related health issues.  This will enable employers to ensure that necessary adjustments are in place to support those experiencing menopause".

What guidance do our managers follow to help support menopausal women?”

"Noting that the SNP Government has over the last 12 years presided over declining Educational Attainment as witnessed by their decision to to abandon the empirically based Programme for International Student Assessment ( PISA)  and  the Scottish Survey of.Numeracy and Literacy( SSL), does he not agree that the recently published league tables of Schools where pupils achieve 5+ Highers are now the only empirical standard for measuring school achievement?”

“The Minute of the Audit Committee of 26 March 2019 records that the Health and Social  Care Partnership Operational Budget is experiencing “a backlog in assessments in Free Personal Care”. Can the Chair explain the failure to timeously award support to these vulnerable elderly residents.”

“Will the Leader of the Council explain the process followed by the Administration in allocating funding awarded to the Council from the Scottish Government’s Town Centre Fund?”

“Will the portfolio holder for Place inform Members of the number of reports received by North Ayrshire Council of road defects/potholes on all adopted roads/footpaths in the year 2018/19?  Will be also inform Members of the cost to repair said defects/potholes?”

“The question is directed to the Leader of the Council because he is a member of the Ardrossan Harbour Task Force Committee and is closely involved in the Arran to Ardrossan ferry service upgrade project. The Leader will be very aware that this project is not going as well as intended, and at the moment one could describe it as a total shambles.  Recent announcements indicate that the two new ferries, already over a year late, are nowhere near completion and there is significant doubt about when, if ever, these ferries will be finished.

The Leader will also know that Scottish Government has approved the Task Force’s plans for the harbour and has just agreed to spend additional money on Ardrossan harbour. He will also be aware that the reason for this additional money is to ensure that Glen Sannox ferry can dock reliably at Ardrossan.

Whilst welcoming the continued commitment of the Scottish Government to keep Ardrossan as the mainland port for the Arran ferry service, my question to the Leader is given that the future of the part built Glen Sannox is still to be decided and that the additional agreed finance is for major harbour work to enable this specific boat to dock at Ardrossan, would it not be better to wait until there is a confirmed decision about what ferry will actually be using Ardrossan?”

“The Leader is aware that North Ayrshire Council will be investing a lot of money in Ardrossan harbour's terminal buildings and other passenger infrastructure.

The Leader may not be so aware that the new terminal building at Brodick, whilst it may have won industry awards, has come in for considerable criticism regarding passenger usability and infrastructure robustness.

There is a growing body of opinion on Arran that in spite of the work of the Arran Ferry Committee and Arran Community Council, the decision makers involved in the ferry development project are not really listening and don't take in to account the views and concerns of the residents of Arran. This ground-swell of opinion has led to the formation of the Arran Ferry Action Group, which intends to be a fully representative group to represent Arran's interested in ferry service improvements and future investment decisions.

My question to the Leader is that as this Council has a policy to be as inclusive as possible, will the Leader commit to including the Arran Ferry Action Group as a recognised consultation group, and take regard of the views of this group when making representations to the Scottish Government, CMAL and CalMac about the development of the Arran ferry service?”

“At the Council meeting held on 7th December 2018 I asked the following question: NAC collected the BID levy on behalf of Largs Matters Ltd from local businesses in Largs under Rates Legislation.

Now that the five year BID has come to an end, will NAC be involved in returning the balance of funds to the businesses or as the statute states, given to an organisation with a similar aim?

What has been done to return the remaining BID funds to the businesses in Largs since the meeting on 7th November 2018, where are the assets of Largs Matters Ltd and what are the assets?”

“In the letter from the Enviro Centre to North Ayrshire Council Planning dated 10th January 2018 the first paragraph states "As you are aware we submitted an Environmental Review with our screening request of 20 February 2017. This Environmental Review discussed the potential environmental effects of the development as a whole as agreed in our site meeting of January 2017. Subsequently, as fully discussed with North Ayrshire Council (McInally Associates/NAC) it was considered that the most appropriate approach to making the necessary changes to the Hunterston Marine Construction Yard was through three separate planning applications (and a Marine Licence from Marine Scotland)"

Who attended that site meeting, was it minuted and who proposed lodging the application in three parts?”

“During the Full Council Meeting held on Wednesday 27th March while answering one of my questions, the Chair of Planning referred to a letter dated 19th February 2019 from the Scottish Government. This letter was also referred to during a Public Meeting held in Largs Campus on 21st Ferbruary 2019. Is the Chair of Planning and NAC still "quite happy with the written comment from the Scottish Government"?”

In terms of Standing Order 13, submit:-

“In view of the potentially high levels of traffic which the welcome improvements to Dalry Bypass and the Den Realignment will bring, this council is keen, for road safety reasons, to have the excellent plans for the realigned Beith bypass actioned in early course. To this end North Ayrshire Council request that the Chief Executive writes to the Scottish Transport Minister urging him to prioritise work to begin on the realigned Beith bypass as soon as practicable.”

“The Isle of Arran is one of North Ayrshire’s most buoyant and developing communities, and attracts over 400,000 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 squandered, and the ongoing delays are having adverse effects on the economy of the communities that rely on the ferries.

As representatives of our local communities it is our duty as Councillors 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 Energy, Connectivity and the Islands  (a) to express in the strongest terms the Council’s disappointment and concern about the current uncertainty that surrounds the upgrade to the Arran and Ardrossan ferry service, highlighting the damage that the unreliability of the current service is having on the economy of Arran, (b) to ask why Ministers have had such poor control over the spending of public money, and (b) 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 will offer best value for money.”

Any other items which the Provost considers to be urgent.

Please note: this meeting may be filmed for live and subsequent broadcast via the Council’s internet site.  At the start of the meeting, the Provost will confirm if all or part of the meeting is being filmed.

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