This meeting will be held on a predominantly physical basis but with provision, by prior notification, for remote attendance by Elected Members in accordance with the provisions of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 2003.  Where possible, the meeting will be live-streamed and available to view at https://north-ayrshire.public-i.tv/core/portal/home. 

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 the Meeting of the Council held on 29 March 2023 will be confirmed and the Minutes signed in accordance with Paragraph 7(1) of Schedule 7 of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973.

Submit report by the Provost for the period covering 20 March 2023 - 7 May 2023 (copy enclosed).

Submit report by the Leader of the Council for the period covering 20 March 2023 - 7 May 2023 (copy enclosed).

Submit, for noting and for approval of any recommendations contained therein, the Minutes of Meeting of committees of the Council held in the period 27 January - 2 May 2023.

The Council is invited (a) in respect of the North Ayrshire Integration Joint Board, to note (i) the resignation of Councillor McPhater effective from 5 May 2023 and (i) the appointment of Councillor Foster to fill this vacancy in terms of Standing Order 8.5, effective from 17 May 2023; and (b) in respect of the Police and Fire and Rescue Committee, to note (i) the resignation of Councillor Gallacher effective from 5 May 2023 and (ii) the appointment of Councillor S. Ferguson to fill this vacancy in terms of Standing Order 8.5, effective from 20 May 2023.

The Council is invited, in respect of the Corporate Health and Safety Group (a) to note the resignation of Councillor Foster, effective from 5 May 2023; and (b) to consider (i) a nomination, duly proposed and seconded, for Councillor McPhater to fill this vacancy with immediate effect and (ii) any other nominations duly intimated prior to 12 noon on 17 May 2023, in terms of Standing Order 8.4

Submit report by the Chief Executive on the Council's Scheme of Administration (copy enclosed).

Submit report by the Chief Executive on the Council's Scheme of Delegation to Officers (copy enclosed).

Submit report by the Chief Executive on other key governance documents regulating the operation of the Council, its committees and officers (copy enclosed).

In terms of Standing Order 14, submit:-

“Noting that the Scottish Government is consulting on a proposal to permit Councils to double Council Tax on second homes from 2024 and to apply larger multipliers in subsequent years, does the Member support this proposal and can she outline both the benefits and disbenefits of such a policy?”

“The Administration failed to secure the purchase of the former Lonsdale pub site in Stevenston, with the site being sold to a new private owner.  Months later and following a promise from the Cabinet Member that the Council would approach the new owners to discuss their plans for the site, the “sold” sign is still up and the site remains in a state of disrepair. Can the Cabinet Member provide an update on plans for the site?”

“I asked the following question at the Full Council Meeting held on Wednesday 8 September 2021:

“Can the Leader of the Council please provide any examples of a North Ayrshire Sole Trader winning a tender for work with NAC through the Community Wealth Building Initiative and can you please provide details of how many North Ayrshire Sole Traders or small businesses with one or two employees are on the tendering list?”

Can the Leader of the Council please inform me what the current answer to this question is and what has changed in the Community Wealth Building process since 8 September 2021?”

“For the period from April 2021, can the Cabinet Member please list the names of Consultants employed by the Council  the value of contract awarded, the specification or purpose of contract, name of the authorising Service and source of the budget?”

“At the budget meeting on 1 March, the SNP Administration voted against raising the amount the Council give in holiday meal entitlement to £4 per day, yet two weeks later raised the amount by a paltry 5p per day.  Can the Cabinet Member advise Council how they managed to do this given Standing order 15.4 which states “A notice of motion or amendment shall not be deemed competent for inclusion or consideration on the agenda if, in the opinion of the Solicitor to the Council the motion or amendment is: the same or similar to a motion determined at Council in the previous 6 months”?

“The SNP Administration’s budget made cuts to school meals which would remove the Council’s Food for Life accreditation. Can the Cabinet Member tell us the impact on the nutritional standards of school meals?”

“Can I ask can the Cabinet Member how much more rent did a tenant at Redburn Grove pay to the Council 22/23 in comparison to Housing Revenue Account tenants?”

“The new First Minister has announced a £4.5million capital fund to support Councils in providing after school and holiday clubs. Can the Cabinet Member advise us whether the Administration intends to submit a funding bid that could improve access to out of school services in North Ayrshire?”

“The toilets at the Melbourne Park have been closed to approaching two years now.  Can the Cabinet Member tell me when this toilet block will be repaired and opened back up for public use?”

“In September 2020, the Fraser of Allander Institute published ‘The impact of Covid-19 on the Arran Economy’, a report commissioned by the last Administration. Included in the report was an assessment that the ferry is worth around £170,000 per day to the island’s economy. Can the Cabinet Member tell us how much the Arran economy has lost due to cancelled ferry services since the report was published?”

“Given the role of the Provost as civic head of the Council and the supposed role as impartial chair of Council meetings, does the Provost regret amplifying views on her social media account stating that Anas Sarwar is a “hypocrite for celebrating Pakistan’s separation from India”, that “the SNP came out just fine after the Salmond fiasco”, that “it’s a witch hunt for Peter Murrell and Nicola Sturgeon”, that “we trust the SNP to get us there, whatever way the money is spent is good as far as I’m concerned” and that “Police leaks are behind the press being given information about the investigation into the SNP”?”

“Can the Cabinet Member tell me how many breakfast clubs there are in our schools and early years centres?”

“The SNP Administration has now launched its job cuts fund.  Can the Cabinet Member now advise us (a) what roles the Administration aim to cut and (b) the annual savings they expect to achieve?”

In terms of Standing Order 15, submit:-

“Cal Mac is to introduce a new e-ticketing system (At Turas) which will result in the removal of the season ticket scheme for those who commute daily from Cumbrae to the mainland.  This will result in a 70% increase in fares for commuters including care workers, teachers, nurses, doctors and all those who travel daily from or to the island to perform services for the community. The cost of a typical season ticket of £463 will be replaced by an equivalent cost for a day return over 220 days of £792.

We move that the Council instruct the Chief Executive to write to Kevin Stewart the Transport Minister and Robbie Drummond as Cal Mac Chief Executive requesting that the season ticket is reinstated, acknowledging that the increase in costs is unacceptable in the present climate for a fragile community and does not align with the governments objectives for Islands to make them sustainable in the long term."

"Council notes that some areas currently don't have an active Community Council. Council further notes that Community Councils as the first tier of Local Government are an important and vital part of local democracy. Council therefore agrees to instruct officers to bring to a special Council meeting a report outlining the current operation of Community Councils in our area and highlighting which areas do not have an active Community Council.  Officers are also requested to advise Council of the process for the review of the Scheme of Establishment of Community Councils and its implications in the event that Council decides at a special meeting to review the Scheme.”

“North Ayrshire Council agrees in principle to scrap all school meal debt by the start of the 2023/24 school year and asks that a report is brought to the June meeting outlining options including financial implications on how to achieve this aim.”

“Council asks that a report is tabled to the first meeting of Council following the summer recess outlining the ownership position and options for bringing the old forum building, old Ruby Tuesdays building and subsequent surrounding buildings that have fallen into disrepair back into a usable state.”

Any urgent items which the Provost considers to be urgent.

Please note: this meeting may be filmed/recorded/live-streamed to the Council's internet site and available to view at https://north-ayrshire.public-i.tv/core/portal/home, where it will be capable of repeated viewing.  At the start of the meeting, the Provost/Chair will confirm if all or part of the meeting is being filmed/recorded/live-streamed.

You should be aware that the Council is a Data Controller under the Data Protection Act 2018.  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, using the press or public seating area or (by invitation) participating remotely in this meeting, 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 do not wish to participate in a recording, you should leave the meeting.  This will constitute your revocation of consent.

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 dataprotectionofficer@north-ayrshire.gov.uk.

John Bell
Timothy Billings
Marie Burns
Eleanor Collier
Joe Cullinane
Scott Davidson
Anthea Dickson
Stewart Ferguson
Todd Ferguson
Robert Foster
Scott Gallacher
John Glover
Tony Gurney
Alan Hill
Cameron Inglis
Margaret Johnson
Amanda Kerr
Christina Larsen
Shaun Macaulay
Jean McClung
Nairn McDonald
Matthew McLean
Louise McPhater
Davina McTiernan
Tom Marshall
Jim Montgomerie
Ian Murdoch
Donald Reid
Donald L Reid
Chloe Robertson
Ronnie Stalker
Angela Stephen
John Sweeney