Leaders Report
North Ayrshire Council · 5 November 2025
Back to North Ayrshire Council — 5 November 2025 and its agenda
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Official Information Official Information LEADER’S REPORT For the period covering: 8 September – 26 October 2025 The attached report gives a summary and brief details to Council, of meetings and events attended by the Leader of North Ayrshire Council, Councillor Marie Burns.
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LEADER’S REPORT • • • 1 Official Information Official Information LEADER’S REPORT For the period covering: 8 September – 26 October 2025 KILWINNING LOCALITY VISIT, 9 September On 9 September, together with North Ayrshire Council Chief Executive, Craig Hatton, I took part in another one of our locality visits, this time to Kilwinning. Our first stop was to meet with Graham Kidd, Compliance and Special projects manager at Shuttle Buses and meet with some of the staff who work there. Shuttle Buses has 70 staff and is an employee-owned transport company. The company has been making strong progress in their transition to a greener fleet, investing in electric and low-emission vehicles as part of their commitment to sustainability. As part of this, Shuttle Buses are actively involved in the North Ayrshire Council-backed Net Zero Accelerator programme, which Business Growth managers from the Council’s Business team have been providing additional support for. Employee ownership has played a key role in strengthening their business model and retaining skills locally. They have invested heavily in solar and electric charging points that they hope to offer to local businesses soon. From there we then went to The Dirrans Centre to meet with Nicola Rowan, Team Manager at the centre and some of the staff/patients. The Dirrans Centre (North Ayrshire Health and Social Care Partnership) provides a rehabilitation service for adults across North Ayrshire with a physical disability, brain injury, neurological and long-term conditions. It was originally a head injury unit, helping to rehabilitate hundreds of people since first opening in 1996, but expanded its services to include reablement services for adults with physical disability, brain injury, neurological and long-term conditions. The Centre now features a training kitchen, gym, lounge/dining room, multi-purpose rooms for a wide range of activities, an IT room with smart board and computer access and a quiet room. There is also a garden area, with patio and bbq area, a greenhouse and raised beds for wheelchair users. Our final stop was to Ecocel Services Ltd to meet with Managing Director Jamie Glover and staff to tour the facility. Ecocel Services Ltd has 32 staff. It is a wind energy service provider, and has recently strengthened its international trade activity through an exclusive UK-wide multi million-pound contract with the Spanish-headquartered Hine Group.
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LEADER’S REPORT • • • 2 Official Information Official Information Under this agreement, Ecocel holds and distributes parts for all wind turbine platforms across the UK, supporting Hine’s global operations from a recently-opened site at Macintosh Place, Irvine, and their headquarters in Kilwinning. This strategic partnership marks a significant step in Ecocel’s ambitions to expand further into European markets, building on its strong domestic presence in the wind energy sector. In May this year, the company was awarded a multi-million pound contract with ScottishPower Renewables (SPR), which allowed it to take on almost 20 additional staff. The company credits support from North Ayrshire Council’s Business team for helping to make this deal happen. GREENWOOD ACADEMY SENIOR PRIZEGIVING, 9 September On 9 September, I was delighted to be invited along to Greenwood Academy’s senior prizegiving ceremony. It was another great evening spent with pupils and teachers and provided the opportunity of hearing more about pupils’ achievements throughout the year. A huge congratulations to pupils who received awards on the evening itself. COMMUNITY PLANNING PARTNERSHIP BOARD MEETING, 11 September On 11 September, I chaired a meeting of the Community Planning Partnership (CPP) Board held in Fullarton Connexions. CPP Partners began with workshop sessions which included an update on the work of the Wellbeing Alliance, from Chief Executive at KA Leisure, Malcolm McPhail and Head of Active Communities, Laura Barrie. There was also an update from North Ayrshire Council’s Executive Director of Education, Sam Anson, on the work of the Collaboration for Health Equity in Scotland (CHES). Both sessions provided the opportunity for CPP partners to discuss ways of future partnership working and support. The meeting finished with an update from North Ayrshire Council’s Executive for Communities and Housing, David Hammond, future key developments and scope for CPP partners joint working. IRVINE PILOT HOUSE RESTORATION GROUP MEETING, 11 September Later on 11 September, I attended a meeting with some members of the Irvine Pilot House Restoration Group. The goup are interested in restoring the Pilot House to full working order in the hope that it can be a major tourist attraction in the future and provide educational opportunities to learn about its history and its engineering. The group are keen for it to be an
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LEADER’S REPORT • • • 3 Official Information Official Information integral part of the Great Harbour Project which aims to bring numerous economic benefits to the Harbourside area. HIGHVIEW POWER MEETING, 15 September On 15 September, together with North Ayrshire Council Cabinet member for a Green Environment and Economy, Councillor Tony Gurney and officers from the North Ayrshire Council Business team, I attended a meeting with representatives from Highview Power. Highview Power is a leading provider of long-duration energy storage (LDES) technology and hasplans to develop four new 2.5GWh power plants in the UK by 2030, to support the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero’s (DESNZ’s), new investment support scheme. The company has currently achieved planning permission for the first phase of development and land options in the Hunterston PARC campus for the energy storage facility and grid stabilisation plant. The construction element of the facilities will provide a substantial opportunity for the local construction sector and structural manufacturing sector. Once in operation the plant will provide high-end work for a modest number of employees. IRVINE LOCALITY PARTNERSHIP MEETING, 15 September Later on 15 September, I attended an Irvine Locality Partnership meeting held at Redburn Community Centre. The Partnership considered and approved several grant applications made to the Elderly Grant Fund. These were from • Broomlands and Bourtreehill Community Association (BABCA) • LBLB & Girdle Toll & Age Concern • Dreghorn Old People Welfare Committee • Irvine Joint Wards Old People’s Welfare Committee • Drybridge Hall Management Association • Springside Community Association. The partnership also received a verbal update and presentation on the Collaboration for Health Equity (CHES) work and a presentation overview of Climate Action Plans. There were also verbal updates on Locality priorities including an overview of Youth, Education and Active Schools, Police Scotland and Scottish Fire and Rescue update and KA Leisure.
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LEADER’S REPORT • • • 4 Official Information Official Information NHS AYRSHIRE AND ARRAN AUDIT AND RISK COMMITTEE, 18 September On 18 September, I attended an NHS Audit and Risk Committee (ARC) meeting where attendees received a presentation from the Head of Counter Fraud Services and their annual report. The Committee also discussed various Internal Audit and Governance papers including: • Internal Audit Progress Report • Internal Audit Report – Property Transaction Monitoring • Internal Audit Follow Up Report • Internal Audit Report – Patient Flow Management • Risk Audit Advisory report • Viridan Tender Waiver The Committee will next meet on 20 November. SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT WHOLE FAMILY SUPPORT EVENT, 24 September On 24 September, I attended a Whole Family Support event hosted by the Scottish Government and Scottish Government First Minister, John Swinney, at the Scottish Exhibition Centre in Glasgow. The event brought practitioners and leaders from across the system together to explore what it takes to provide holistic Whole Family Support that genuinely responds to need and improves family wellbeing outcomes, helping eradicate child poverty, deliver on The Promise and support our children to get the best start in life. Attended by several Council Leaders and Council officials, the highly interactive event provided useful workshop discussion forums and looked at partnership working and how best to drive Local Outcomes Improvement and Locality Plans, to ensure support reaches families in ways that reflect real lives and real needs. It was an extremely useful event and underlines the importance of the work we are doing right here in North Ayrshire through our No Wrong Door policies and the work we are doing round the Collaboration for Health Equity in Scotland (CHES). COSLA LEADERS’, 26 September On 26 September, I attended a meeting of COSLA Leaders’. It was another packed agenda which included the following items for discussion:
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LEADER’S REPORT • • • 5 Official Information Official Information • Feedback from Council Visits Proposals • COSLA Manifesto • Population Balance White Paper • Digital Strategy Vision • SNCT Pay Negotiations and RCCT Update • School and Education Reform • Funding for Humanitarian Schemes 1 The Population Balance White Paper focuses on economic, housing and transport challenges faced by councils facing population increases and decreases and explores potential policy solutions that would contribute to achieving population balance. The paper also recognises the importance of ensuring that the new Scottish Government prioritises achieving amore balanced population through a strategic, place-based approach. Community Wealth Building (CWB) is being tabled as a legislative requirement to promote more balanced inclusive economic growth across the country. CWB should therefore be recognised as a key mechanism to addressing population challenges across Scotland and should be linked to throughout the Paper - a resilient and thriving local economy is key to population retention and attraction. Furthermore, businesses need to be encouraged to operate outwith the central belt to attract workers to rural and island areas. ST MARY’S 150th CELEBRATORY EVENT, 26 September Later on 26 September, I attended an event to celebrate the 150th anniversary of St Mary’s Church in Irvine. The Service was led by Bishop Dougan and was followed by a reception in the church hall. SPECIAL MEETING OF THE AYRSHIRE ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP BOARD, 30 September On 30 September, I attended a special meeting of the Ayrshire Economic Partnership Board (AEPB) where Board members discussed the following items: • Regional Economic Strategy • Ayrshire Regional Economic Strategy Deliver Group Update • Ayrshire Growth Deal – Programme Update • Ayrshire Growth Deal – Risk Register Update
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LEADER’S REPORT • • • 6 Official Information Official Information The AGD Programme continues to gather momentum with projects at varying stages of development and delivery. This last quarter has seen business cases further develop for approval. NETHERMAINS SOLAR FARM LAUNCH, 1 October On 1 October, I was delighted to attend the official launch of Nethermains Solar Farm in Kilwinning. This is one of two solar PV farms to be built by North Ayrshire Council with the final touches being made on a second solar facility at Shewalton former landfill site in Irvine, scheduled to be switched on later this year. The Nethermains facility features more than 12,000 solar panels and will create enough energy to power more than 2,000 homes. These projects are the first solar farms to be owned and operated by a local authority in Scotland and mark a major milestone in the Council’s bid to cut carbon emissions. PAN AYRSHIRE MEETING WITH SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT MINISTER, 2 October On 2 October, I attended a pan Ayrshire meeting with Council Leaders and Chief Executives from East, North and South Ayrshire and the Scottish Government Minister for Public Finance, Ivan McKee. The key item for discussion was the Ayrshire Growth Deal and to look for guarantees from the Minister that AGD projects will continue to gain momentum in progression and delivery. NHS AYRSHIRE AND ARRAN BOARD MEETING, 6 October On 6 October, I attended a meeting of the NHS Ayrshire and Arran Board meeting. Attendees received updates relating to performance and healthcare governance. Several Board governance and strategy reports were also discussed. The Board also received the annual performance reports for 2024/25 from the Health and Social Care Partnerships at East, South and North Ayrshire as well as Childrens Services performance updates for the period 2024/25. Finally, the Board approved the minutes of the Joint Integration Boards of East, North and South Ayrshire.
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LEADER’S REPORT • • • 7 Official Information Official Information AYRSHIRE ECONOMIC JOINT COMMITTEE SUB-COMMITTEE, AYRSHIRE SKILLS INVESTMENT FUND (ASIF), 6 October Later on 6 October, I chaired a meeting of the Ayrshire Economic Joint Committee Sub- Committee, Ayrshire Skills Investment Fund (ASIF). Attendees received reports on various streams of work, including: • Ayrshire Skills Investment Fund Delivery Model Review • Approval of Grants round 7 • Employer Grants • In house training • Ayrshire College ASIF Courses • Progress update of activity to date • Present two new course proposals • ASIF Industry Proposals • Presentation of industry proposals & Budget Update A development session with Ayrshire College and key stakeholders has been held to review and develop courses for unemployed individuals to gain the skills to fast-track to secure employment in the identified sectors, this will build on the current engineering programmes currently delivered by the college. These proposals will be considered by the ASIF Sub Committee. VISIT TO WEST KILBRIDE VILLAGE LARDER, 7 October On 7 October and as part of Challenge Poverty Week, an annual campaign run by The Poverty Alliance, I visited The Village Larder and garden in West Kilbride, which is run by the Community Roots charity, to meet the team of staff and volunteers and find out more about the great work they do. North Ayrshire Council’s Fairer Food network comprises 16 food larders, which are run alongside various partner organisations. In a one-year period, combined, they have more than 28,000 visits from people in need of support. Larders help people in low-income households to top up their weekly shop and get some additional groceries and support if they receive an unexpected household cost or bill. Some also operate a community food exchange that sees surplus food being collected from local supermarkets to share with residents.
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LEADER’S REPORT • • • 8 Official Information Official Information The Village Larder has the added benefit of getting fresh, seasonal produce from the associated garden nearby. The growers supply everything from beans and lettuce to cauliflower and winter salads. I would like to thank all the volunteers in all our Larders throughout North Ayrshire for their commitment to helping our communities tackle food insecurity. MEETING WITH BRAZILIAN HONORARY CONSUL, 7 October Later on 7 October, together with North Ayrshire Council Cabinet Member for Housing and Communities, Councillor Alan Hill, I attended a meeting with the newly appointed Brazilian Honorary Consul, Faroque Hussein. The meeting was an introductory meeting and discussion focused on exploration of developing and promoting ties between Brazil and North Ayrshire. APPEALS COMMITTEE, 9 October On 9 October, I attended an Appeals Committee in Cunninghame House. NHS AYRSHIRE AND ARRAN FINANCIAL WASH-UP SESSION, 20 October On 20 October, I attended an NHS Ayrshire and Arran financial wash-up session online. This follows an Audit and Risk Committee (ARC) meeting held specifically to look at the annual accounts for 2024-25. These were agreed and will be presented to the NHS Ayrshire and Arran Board for final approval. COLLABORATION FOR HEALTH EQUITY (CHES) WORKSHOP, 23 October On 23 October, I attended a Collaboration for Health Equity (CHES) Workshop held at the Ardrossan Civic Centre. CHES is a partnership between Public Health Scotland (PHS), local authorities, NHS Boards in Aberdeen City, North Ayrshire and South Lanarkshire and University College London’s Institute of Health Equity (HE). It aims to accelerate action to improve health and wellbeing and reduce inequality in Scotland. Insights from the collaboration are shared nationally. The workshop began with a brief overview of Scotland’s health equity ambitions and the Collaboration Health Equity in Scotland programme. This was followed by a presentation detailing what the Marmot systems tell us about good practice, enablers and blockers for health equity.
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LEADER’S REPORT • • • 9 Official Information Official Information A detailed presentation of what has been achieved so far in North Ayrshire was delivered and there was discussion about areas for improvement and what else needs to be looked at to contribute to good health in delivering better outcomes for local people in North Ayrshire. My thanks to Sam Anson, North Ayrshire Council’s Director of Education and Caroline Cameron, Director for the Health & Social Care Partnership in North Ayrshire for their work in driving this piece of key work through. Tackling poverty continues to be one of the key objectives for this Administration. Councillor Marie Burns Leader of North Ayrshire Council