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. 

The Provost will invite those present to observe a minute's silence to mark the passing of her Majesty the Queen Elizabeth on 8 September 2022.

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 22 June 2022 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 13 June - 4 September 2022 (copy enclosed).

Submit report by the Leader of the Council for the period covering 13 June - 9 September 2022 (copy enclosed).

Submit, for noting, the Minutes of Meeting of Committees of the Council held in the period 16 June 2022 to 24 August 2022.

Submit report by the Executive Director (Communities and Education) on the Minutes of meetings of the North Ayrshire Community Planning Partnership Board held in June and September 2022 (copy enclosed).

The Council is invited to:

1. note, in terms of Standing Order 8.5, that the Administration's vacancy on the Police and Fire and Rescue Committee has been filled by Councillor Scott Davidson, effective from 12 August 2022;

    

2. consider a nomination for Councillor McLean to be appointed to fill a vacancy on the Licensing Committee, the Second Opposition having failed to fill this vacancy within 12 weeks, in terms of Standing Order 8.5; and 

    

3. consider a nomination for Councillor Billings to be appointed as Vice Chair of the Local Development Plan Committee.

The Council is invited to consider the following nominations for appointment to serve on outside bodies:

Submit report by the Head of Democratic Services on a proposed timetable of meetings for the period from January until the end of June 2023 (copy enclosed).

Submit report by the Executive Director (Communities and Education) which provides an update on Locality Planning in North Ayrshire and seeks approval for the revised Locality Partnership Terms of Reference and Standing Orders (copy enclosed).

Submit report by the Head of Democratic Services on the range of support which the Council currently provides to the service and veteran community and the ways in which the Armed Forces Covenant will inform the development of future Council policy and decisions (copy enclosed).

Submit report by the Executive Director (Communities and Education) on the current situation relating to the Knox Institute and the historical purposes placed on it, and proposing a way forward by dissolving the Trust and, in turn, alleviating the Council of the historical purposes and the asset in a manner that will benefit the local community (copy enclosed).

In terms of Standing Order 14, submit the following questions for consideration in the undernoted order:-

“To ask the Cabinet Member whether the Administration intends to transfer Redburn Grove to the Housing Revenue Account?”

“The people of Kilbirnie and Glengarnock are very concerned that burial space is very quickly running out in Kilbirnie cemetery for and, in light of this, can the Cabinet Member for Place provide an update on the assessed current capacity of that cemetery and highlight what plans for land acquisition are being considered for a cemetery extension?”

"Can the Cabinet Member provide an update on the measures which the Council is putting in place in support of the Miscarriage Association Pregnancy Loss Pledge, which aims to provide a supportive work environment for those who have experienced a pregnancy loss?"

“To ask the Cabinet Member how much capital investment has been made in Ardrossan Academy over the last decade?”

“What avenues has this SNP Administration taken to encourage a higher uptake of the Scottish Government’s free bus travel passes for young people under the age of 22?”

“To ask the Cabinet Member how much flexible advanced manufacturing space the Council intends to build at i3 as part of the Ayrshire Growth Deal project?”

“To ask the Cabinet Member the revenue and capital costs of rolling out Universal Free School Meals to all primary school children in North Ayrshire and confirm how much funding the Scottish Government has provided to deliver that now delayed manifesto commitment?”

“With the Ardrossan Campus delayed for at least 12 months, can the Cabinet Member advise whether the Council remains committed to retaining the swimming pool at Auchenharvie Leisure Centre until any school campus is opened?”

“In their response to June’s Council motion on the changes to the X34/36 bus services, Stagecoach stated that they were due to meet the Council Leader on 19^th August. Can the Leader of the Council confirm that the meeting of the 19^th August with Stagecoach took place and can they advise Council what outcomes they secured?”

“Last November, a woman was tragically killed in a fire in one of the public toilets in Saltcoats. Today, the toilets remain closed and fenced off. Can the Cabinet Member advise when the Council intends to repair this toilet block and reopen it?”

“At the last Council meeting, the Leader of the Council advised that the Ardrossan Ministerial Taskforce was due to meet on the 28^th June. At the time of submitting this question, minutes of any taskforce meeting on 28^th June had not been published on Transport Scotland’s website. Can the Leader of the Council confirm that the taskforce met on 28^th June, and can they advise Council what was agreed?"

“To ask the Leader of the Council for an update on the Ardeer STEP bid, including whether the planned parliamentary reception at Westminster has been arranged?”

“In 2020, the last Administration used savings of £8.8million on refinanced loans to establish the Council’s Investment Fund with the aim of providing upfront investment to support Community Wealth Building, climate action and improved local infrastructure. The Investment Fund has subsequently been topped up in the following two years. With money in the Investment Fund already committed to several projects such as the council-owned solar farm at Nethermains, can the Cabinet Member advise how much remains uncommitted to a specific project in the Investment Fund?”

“To ask the Cabinet Member whether the Council has contacted the new owners of the former Lonsdale site in Stevenston?"

“The Ship Inn at Irvine Harbourside has been closed since the start of the Covid pandemic.  Renovation work on the building is ongoing with some reconfiguration of the business use within it.  Despite being closed for more than two years, and a different use for parts of the building, the business rates assessment remains £71,000 a year.

What support will the Council provide to secure a reassessment of the business rates by the Ayrshire Valuation Joint Board given the historical significance of the Ship Inn to Irvine and the role the building will play in the Great Harbour project?”

In terms of Standing Order 15, submit:-

“That the Council:

1. Instructs the Chief Executive write to Buckingham Palace to express our deep sorrow at the passing of Her Majesty The Queen, Elizabeth II.
2. Further instructs the Chief Executive to write to His Majesty The King, Charles III, inviting him to visit North Ayrshire on his tour of the country as his mother, the late Her Majesty The Queen, Elizabeth II, did so in 1956 alongside her husband the late Prince Phillip.”

“In 2019, following the consultation on the Council’s budget setting process, full Council approved plans to apply for Decriminalised Parking Enforcement powers and to introduce town centre parking charges to fund the enforcement regime.

Since that decision, we have experienced a global pandemic and are now facing a cost-of-living crisis which is affecting residents and local businesses.

Given the changing circumstances facing our residents and businesses, Council agrees to pause and review the implementation of DPE and parking charges and that a paper be brought to Cabinet to include the following considerations:

• The patronage of car parks affected by parking charges be resurveyed to review changes in parking behaviours since the pandemic.
• A review of the business case for DPE and parking charges, including revised projections on the cost of parking enforcement and projected income from parking charges.
• A review of the DPE and parking charges policy against council priorities that have emerged since the 2019 decision including but not exclusive to Community Wealth Building and the Regeneration Delivery Plan.
• Engagement with high street businesses on the impact of the pandemic and rising bills on their business and what further impact parking charges may have.
• An updated public consultation on DPE and parking charges considering the cost-of-living crisis.
• An assessment of the financial implications of delay or revocation of DPE and parking charges.

Council further agrees that Cabinet is instructed to consider the terms of the report covering the above and decide on whether to continue with DPE and parking charges and if appropriate withdraw the DPE application which is currently with Scottish Ministers for approval.”

“Council recognises the impact of the cost-of-living crisis on our residents and therefore agrees to request that the Integration Joint Board use their unearmarked reserves currently sitting at £7.248m to immediately remove all charges amounting to £1.9m of income annually for non-residential social care fees and charges.”

“Council notes that since it was launched in April 2021, over 500 people in Ardrossan, Saltcoats and Stevenston have used the Better Off North Ayrshire service being piloted in the Three Towns.

Council further notes that clients have made financial savings of over £150,000 since the services launch and that a commissioned report by the Social Value Lab showed that for every pound of investment made in Better Off North Ayrshire, £6.44 of social value is created – with 82% of the value created for services users but 12% (around £200,000) for the public purse.

Given the cost-of-living crisis and the success of the Better Off North Ayrshire service in the Three Towns since its launch, Council agrees to request that a paper is presented to Cabinet in October 2022 to consider the further rollout of the Better Off North Ayrshire service at the earliest opportunity, making it accessible to residents in other localities.”

“Council congratulates Living Rent, Scotland’s tenants union, for its campaigning to secure a partial and temporary freeze on rent this winter to tackle the cost of living crisis.

Council notes that the Scottish Government’s temporary freeze lasts until 31^st March 2023 but social landlords will not implement new rent rates until 1^st April 2023, making the announcement of a rent freeze applying to social rents superficial.

Council recognises the impact of the cost-of-living crisis on our residents and therefore agrees that the tenant consultation on the rent setting process for 2023/24 includes the option of a rent freeze, with any likely financial impacts outlined, for the duration of the next financial year.”

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
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