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 Ordinary Meeting of the Council held on 14 February 2024 and the Special Meeting held on 28 February 2024 will be confirmed and the Minutes signed in accordance with Paragraph 7(1) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 (copies enclosed).

Submit report by the Provost for the period covering 5 February 2024 - 17 March 2024 (copy enclosed).

Submit report by the Leader of the Council for the period covering 5 February 2024 - 17 March 2024 (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 20 November 2023 - 29 February 2024 (copy enclosed).

The Council is invited to consider a nomination, duly proposed and seconded, for Councillor S. Ferguson to be appointed to serve as Vice Chair of the Police and Fire and Rescue Committee.

Submit report by the Head of Service (Democratic) to appoint a new director to the Board of North Ayrshire Ventures Trust Ltd (copy enclosed).

Submit report by the Head of Democratic Services on the outcome of the statutory review of Polling Districts
and Polling Places (copy enclosed).

Submit report by the Executive Director (Education and Communities) on the findings and recommendations of a short-life Working Group (copy enclosed).

In terms of Standing Order 14, submit:-

“The total number of Aggression and Violence incidents reported by Communities and Education Directorate for Quarter 3 increased from 270 in 2020 to 410 in 2021 and from 394 in 2022 to 563 in 2023 an increase of over 100% in 4 years. 

Why the huge increase and what is being done to protect staff?”

“Has the Leader of the Council met the Transport Minister since the last ordinary meeting of the Council, to discuss the Ardrossan Harbour project, and if so to ask for an update?"

“To ask the Cabinet portfolio-holder for Education how many primary and secondary schools in North Ayrshire have defibrillators?”

“What is the Cabinet Member for Health and Social Care’s response to the latest drug death figures?”

“What provision does North Ayrshire Council have for children moving up to secondary school who require additional support for their education?”

“To the Cabinet Member what effect does he believe the continued or expanded use of fossil fuels will have on the environment, considering NAC’s climate emergency declaration?”

“Kelio swipe card access is installed at both Bridgegate and Cunninghame House and generate a database of attendance by individual staff. 

How many staff have attended each of these offices?

1. One day a week
2. Two days a week
3. Three or more days a week

What is the maximum possible daily attendance for each of these locations?”

“To ask the Cabinet Member what provisions have been made to increase capacity within the housing department and specifically the team that deals with tenant disputes and anti-social behaviour?”

“To ask the Cabinet portfolio holder for Education if he believes digital inclusion for primary and secondary pupils is important?

“Is North Ayrshire Council (including any specific departments or services, e.g. libraries etc.) in the process of, or considering becoming, a ‘Hate Crime Third Party Reporting Centre’? And if so, what risks does that open up the local authority to?”

“To ask the Cabinet portfolio holder what the current civil contingency policy is for dealing with potential fires at battery energy storage systems (BESS)?”

“There is a Phase 1 proposal to spend some £1.5 m to reduce the width of the North Promenade in Largs by 50% to incorporate a cycle track. 80% of the Ward 1 Members are opposed to this. 

There is also an ongoing consultation in relation to public toilet provision in Largs which may result in the closure of 80% of the toilets. 80% of the Ward 1 Members are opposed to this. 

Will the views of local Elected Members prevail?”

In terms of Standing Order 15, submit:-

“That the Council:

1. welcomes the news from the UK government Spring Budget announcement that there will be an additional £48.5million in funding for local authorities in Scotland via the Barnett consequentials;
2. further notes that the Deputy First Minister of Scotland has said that this funding will only be passed onto those local authorities who agreed to freeze council tax in their 2024/25 budget proposals; and
3.  asks that once the additional funding allocation has been announced for North Ayrshire, it is brought back to full Council so that all 33 Councillors can have an input into where best to spend this additional money.”

“That the Council:

1. notes, that North Ayrshire Council recognises the long, proud, and safe delivery of low-carbon nuclear energy at Hunterston A and B stations;
2. further notes, that the UK government recently announced the largest expansion in nuclear power in 70 years with a focus being on the delivery of Small Modular Reactors;
3. understands, that North Ayrshire Council have declared a climate emergency and is actively developing policy towards delivering net-zero;
4.  finally, asks that the Chief Executive Officer write to the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero and the Minister for Nuclear asking them to consider Hunterston and Ardeer as future sites for emerging SMR development here in the UK; thereby protecting our excellent nuclear workforce and providing vital employment for generations to come.”

“Council agrees to provide a £50 clothing grant to all eligible* 3- and 4-year-olds in Early Years during the 2024/25 school year, funded through a proportion of the £123,000 residual balance unallocated in the Council’s Cost of Living support fund.

*based on the existing criteria for the school clothing grant.”

“Council instructs officers to work to implement expanded free school meals to all P6/7s for the 2024/25 Academic year, commencing August 2024, for those not currently eligible and the cost of up to £1.403m would be covered by utilising the Service Concession Council reserves.”

“Council agrees the increasing rate of violence against public sector workers is unacceptable and therefore agrees to sign up to UNISON’s Violence at Work Charter. In recognition of the importance of the safety of employees, signing up to the Charter would mean that North Ayrshire Council has committed to:

1. A written violence and aggression at work policy, which is available to all staff, with a policy that also covers lone working.
2. Responsibility for implementing these policies lies with a senior manager.
3. Measures taken to reduce staff working in isolated buildings, offices or other work areas to a minimum.
4. Encouraging staff to report all violent incidents and they are told how to do this.
5. Collecting and monitoring data on violent incidents on a regular and ongoing basis.
6. Where they are in place, union safety reps are able to access this data and are consulted on solutions to issues relating to violence in the workplace.
7. Thorough risk assessments are conducted for staff placed in vulnerable situations.
8. Support pathways in place for staff who are victims of violence at work, so that they know where to turn for advice and support.
9. Training to ensure staff are aware of the appropriate way to deal with threatening situations.
10. Where appropriate, independent counselling services are available to staff who are the victims of violence at work.”

Any other 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
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

Vacancy