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 18 September and the Special Meeting held on 9 October 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 9 September - 27 October 2024 (copy enclosed).

Submit, for noting and for approval of any recommendations contained therein, the Minutes of Meetings of committees of the Council held in the period 11 September - 24 October 2024.

Submit report by the Executive Director (Communities and Housing) on the CPP Annual Report and overviews of the meetings of the North Ayrshire Community Planning Partnership Board held on 11 June and 4 October 2024 (copy enclosed).

Submit report by the Head of Service (Democratic Services) on the updated position regarding the Scottish Parliamentary Boundary Review (copy enclosed).

In terms of Standing Order 14, submit:-

Does the Cabinet Member support the SNP Government’s decision to withhold £145m of funding from Scotland’s Councils over the issue of teacher numbers?

To ask the Cabinet Member on his views on the contribution of entrepreneurs, and in particular start-ups, to North Ayrshire?

With respect to the former Shell Site in Ardrossan, will the Cabinet Member for Education inform members of the quantity of contaminated material, by weight and or volume, that has been removed from the site thus far and where it is currently being stored?

What is the proposed decontamination process for this material, how much has it cost so far and from which budget has it been or will be allocated? Has a Risk Assessment and Environmental Impact Assessment been carried out for this operation and if so where can members of the public view it? If they have not been done or members of the public can’t view them, why not?

To ask the Cabinet Member the Council’s salary spend (gross salary) on supply teachers in a) 2021/22 b) 2022/23 c) 2023/24 d) to date in 2024/25?

To ask the Cabinet Member to provide the total number of homeless applications per year for the last five years?

To ask the Cabinet Member what was the Council’s allocation from the Scottish Government’s Place Based Investment Programme in 2024/25?

Noting that Official figures reveal that the Scottish Government civil service head count rose by more than 80 per cent — from 5,120 to 9,222 — between 2015 and this year, what are the comparable figures for North Ayrshire Council?

In 2020, North Ayrshire Council commissioned the Fraser of Allander Institute to assess the impact of the ferry service on Arran’s economy. FAI estimated that the ferry service contributes £170,000 every day to the island’s economy. Given the appalling level of service the island has experienced since the FAI report was published, does the Leader have an estimate of how much value has been lost to the Arran economy due to reductions in the ferry services capacity and the regular cancellation of sailings?

To ask the Depute Leader of the Council if the administration of North Ayrshire Council, including its officers, have had discussions around the Cass Review and the Scottish Government's acceptance of the report's findings?

Following the removal of the school crossing patroller at St Luke’s Primary School, parents have reported to me several near misses with cars skipping the red lights at the traffic signals on Stevenston Road. Does the Cabinet Member not agree with me that the Council should first reflect on the safety issues that have arisen from its previous decision to remove school crossing patrollers from some locations before advancing with proposals to remove the remaining patrollers from all other schools?

To ask the Leader for an update on rising TB cases recorded by NHS North Ayrshire and Arran in the last year?

To ask the Cabinet Member a) what funds did North Ayrshire Council receive from the Scottish Government to scrap school meal debt through to 31st March 2024; b) how much in school meal debt has been accrued by families since 1st April 2024 and c) confirmation of the current total of school meal debt?

Can the Cabinet Member advise what internal discussions took place with Cabinet regarding the savings proposals prior to the report presented to Special Council?

To ask the Cabinet Member what was the Council’s recycling rate in 2023/24?

To ask the Cabinet Member whether they believe five, seven-page long surveys will encourage or discourage people from taking part in the Council’s budget consultation?

For 23 years, there has been an annual Hogmanay Party at Nethermains Hall. However, due to changes made to Council resourcing, this year the let has been refused. Is the Cabinet Member satisfied that due to staffing and resourcing decisions, the Council is cancelling traditional Hogmanay celebrations for our communities, or will they ask for this decision to be reviewed?

In terms of Standing Order 15, submit:-

This Council notes that:

1. The scientific consensus is clear that human activities are primarily responsible for accelerating global climate change, and that the climate crisis now represents one of the preeminent threats to global civilisation.

2. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Sixth Assessment Report states that it is unequivocal that climate change has already disrupted human and natural systems and that societal choices and actions implemented in the next decade determine the extent to which medium- and long-term pathways will deliver higher or lower climate resilient development. 

3. The International Energy Agency stated in its May 2021 report “Net Zero by 2050” that in order to reach that goal there should be no new oil or gas fields, or new coal mines, as of that moment.

4. The Paris Climate Agreement is silent on coal, oil and gas, an omission with respect to the supply and production of fossil fuels (the largest source of GHGs) that needs to be collectively addressed by other means; and that global governments and the fossil fuel industry are currently planning to produce more than double the amount of coal, oil and gas by 2030 than can be burned if the world is to limit warming to 1.5°C and avert catastrophic climate disruption, and such plans risk undoing the work of our Council to reduce GHG emissions.

5. A new global initiative is underway calling for a Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty that would plan the end of new fossil fuel exploration and expansion, phase out existing production in line with the global commitment to limit warming to 1.5°C, and accelerate equitable transition plans globally.

This Council recognises that:

6. Our entire community will be affected by the impacts of continued fossil fuel expansion and resulting climate change, but particularly those who also face socioeconomic and health inequities, including low-income families, those experiencing homelessness, People of Colour, young and old, those experiencing mental and physical disabilities, and people with health conditions; and our youth and future generations have the most to lose from a lack of immediate action to stop fossil fuel expansion as they face major and lifelong health, ecological, social, and economic impacts from prolonged and cumulative effects of climate change, including food and water shortages, infectious diseases, and natural disasters. This change is already being seen with the necessary acceleration of extensive flood defenses in many of our towns.

This Council believes that:

7. New fossil fuel infrastructure and expanded reliance on fossil fuels exposes communities to untenable risks to public health and safety at the local and global levels; and that the economic opportunities presented by a clean energy transition far outweigh the opportunities presented by an economy supported by expanding finite fossil fuel extraction and use.

This Council resolves to:

8. Reaffirm our commitment, as part of our climate emergency response, to a just energy transition and to ambitious investments in the green infrastructure and industries that will create jobs and rapidly decarbonize our economy; and recognises that it is the urgent responsibility and moral obligation of wealthy fossil fuel producers to lead in putting an end to fossil fuel development and to manage the decline of existing production.

9. Formally endorse the call for a Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty and make that endorsement public.

10. Call on the Scottish Government to also endorse the call for a Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty.

11. To write to COSLA and raise our serious concerns about the impact of the climate emergency on local authorities and the need for a planned phase out of fossil fuels, and to call on them to endorse the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty.

Council notes:

• A significant decline in ferry service levels to Arran and Cumbrae in recent years.
• That more sailings are being delayed or cancelled due to the ever-increasing frequency of serious technical issues.
• That more vessels are having to be removed from service due to technical issues causing disruption and chaos for island residents, businesses, and visitors. 

Therefore, Council instructs:

• The Chief Executive of North Ayrshire Council to write to the Cabinet Secretary for Transport

1. Requesting that ferry fares to Arran and Cumbrae remain frozen at their current rate for the 2025/26 sailing season.

Any other items which the Chair 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 will not be filmed. However, by entering the Council Chambers and using the press or public seating area, you acknowledge that you may be filmed and that any information pertaining to you contained in the video and oral recording of the meeting will be used for webcasting or training purposes and for the purpose of keeping historical records and making those records available to the public. In making this use of your information the Council is processing data which is necessary for the performance of a task carried out in the public interest.