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 13 November 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 4 November - 8 December 2019 (copy enclosed).

Submit report by the Leader of the Council for the period from 4 November - 8 December 2019 (copy enclosed).

Submit, for noting, the Minutes of meeting of committees of the Council held in the period 9 September - 4 December 2019.

Consider the undernoted committee nomination:-

Submit report by the Executive Director (Finance and Corporate Support) on the likely financial position of the Council’s General Fund in the medium term in order to inform the development of budget proposals (copy enclosed).

Submit report by the Executive Director (Place) on the proposed HRA capital investment programme and revenue budget for 2020/21 and the consequential rent levels (copy enclosed).

Submit update report by the Director (Growth and Investment) on the proposed redevelopment of Ardrossan Harbour (copy enclosed).

In terms of Standing Order 12, submit:-

"Noting that future economic growth and employment generation in North Ayrshire depends on a well educated workforce, what impact does the steady decline in PISA scores in Mathematics in Scotland, over at least the last 10 years, have on future prospects for young people in North Ayrshire.”

"At the Full Council Meeting held on Wednesday 25^th September 2019 I asked the following question:-

When considering the original (EIA) screening and planning applications in 2017/2018 and the second (EIA) screening in 2019, what tide lines did NAC use as part of their determination? Was it means high water springs or means low water springs?

In his answer the Chair of Planning confirmed that the Legal Cadastre was the High Water Mark and I quote, “Planning Permission and consequential EIA Screenings would be required for works above the High Water Mark and below that mark would be the responsibility of Marine Scotland.”

Can the Chair of Planning please confirm that the answer he gave was the correct answer?”

“To ask the Leader of the Council what his Administration’s position is on Rates Reliefs for businesses.”

"According to an article in the Irvine Times edition dated 28th. November 2019,it stated that the Irvine  Special Events Forum were  ‘promising a Sea of Lights through the High Street’ after having  been awarded £30,000 for the Big Event.

Will the Portfolio Holder for Place inform Members from which fund the £30,000 was granted and what the monies were spent on? Will he also inform Members what the Council’s budget is for Decorative Lightings, for year 2019/2020, and what is the likely out turn?"

In terms of Standing Order 13, submit:-

“On 23^rd February 2017, East Ayrshire Council presented a position paper on prostitution to their council that they wished to declare their view that prostitution as a form of commercial exploitation is a form of Violence Against Women and Girls and advocates a ‘challenge demand’ approach. 

The report was backed with research evidence on prostitution, the different approaches taken around the world and an analysis of what works, endorsed by the Scottish Government and National Violence Against Women and Girls Network.

They not only endorsed that position but instructed clear communication to their workforce that support for prostitution, in any form, is unacceptable.

Since then NAVAWP & SAVAWP have also signed up to this statement and all 3 Violence Against Women Partnerships in Ayrshire have adopted the approach of supporting women to leave prostitution, and advocating for the decriminalisation of those selling sex, and to move to ‘challenge demand’ ie move to criminalise the buyers of sex (on/off street: online).

This is approach is fully supported by the Community Justice Ayrshire Board.  

At the Safer North Ayrshire Partnership, the NAVAWP requested a similar endorsement from North Ayrshire Council.   It is believed to do so would strengthen the knowledge base and incorporate the approach more widely via our staff, policies and governance.

I believe that it has been an oversight to not have endorsed this statement sooner.

The position statement clearly outlines that the root cause of prostitution is gender inequality.  Narrowing inequalities is a key plank in the Councils Strategic Plan.

The approach and supporting work is consistent with other work undertaken by the NAVAWPs.

And this is a priority area to reduce harm, improve safety, reduce trauma, and is positively promoted by Cllr Jim Montgomerie as our White Ribbon Ambassador.

I therefore call for the Council to :

1. Endorse the position statement on prostitution;
   
   
2. Request that Directors and Heads of Service ensure that all council policies are consistent with this position statement;
   
   
3. Request that Directors and Heads of Service of service promote the position statement to all staff, making clear that support for prostitution in any form is unacceptable, and that staff should work with women using a harm reduction approach and help them to exit prostitution safely when they feel ready to do so;
   
   
4. Cascade this message to partner organisations, particularly those where contractual relationships are in place.

That this position statement, developed on a multi agency basis, also be reported to the NACPP.”

“That Council is to be congratulated on formal adoption of LDP2, in particular page 23 which continues our support for large and small scale power generation at Hunterson.

That Council supports a small modular nuclear reactor, which will replace the current Hunterston B station when it enters decommissioning thereby protecting the nuclear industry and professional workforce in Scotland. 

That Council writes to Paul Wheelhouse, MSP, and Minister for Energy, Connectivity and the Islands to ask what work has been undertaken to ensure that advanced nuclear technologies are being considered for Hunterston, in line with the recommendations of the Scottish Government Energy Policy document produced in 2018.”

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.

You should be aware that the Council is a Data Controller under the Data Protection Act 1998.  Data collected during the webcast will be retained in accordance with the Council’s published policy, including, but not limited to, for the purpose of keeping historical records and making those records available via the Council’s internet site.

 Generally, the press and public seating areas will not be filmed. However, by entering the Council Chambers and using the press or public seating area, you are consenting to being filmed and consenting to the use and storage of those images and sound recordings and any information pertaining to you contained in them for webcasting or training purposes and for the purpose of keeping historical records and making those records available to the public.

 If you have any queries regarding this and, in particular, if you believe that use and/or storage of any particular information would cause, or be likely to cause, substantial damage or distress to any individual, please contact committeeservices@north-ayrshire.gov.uk.