Leaders Report
North Ayrshire Council · 25 March 2026
Back to North Ayrshire Council — 25 March 2026 and its agenda
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Official Information Official Information LEADER’S REPORT For the period covering: 11 February – 15 March 2026 The attached report gives a summary and brief details to Council, of meetings and events attended by the Leader of North Ayrshire Council, Councillor Anthony Gurney.
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LEADER’S REPORT • • • 1 Official Information Official Information LEADER’S REPORT For the period covering: 11 February – 15 March 2026 AYRSHIRE ECONOMIC JOINT PARTNERSHIP BOARD – SPECIAL MEETING, 16 February On 16 February, I attended a special meeting of the Ayrshire Economic Joint Partnership Board Committee to discuss the economic benefit and operational success of Prestwick Airport to both the Ayrshire and Scottish Economy. In addition, Prestwick Airport contributes to wider regional benefits through tourism, training, and apprenticeships with an employment footprint of 3,300 jobs supported when including the surrounding aerospace cluster. AYRSHIRE ECONOMIC JOINT PARTNERSHIP BOARD – SPECIAL MEETING, 16 February Following on from the Ayrshire Economic Joint Partnership Board special meeting, I then attended a meeting of the Ayrshire Economic Joint Board (AEJC). Attendees received a programme update on the Ayrshire Growth Deal (AGD) up to the end of December 2025 as well as an update on the AGD Programme Risk Register. Several reports were also discussed by attendees including an update on the Building Digital Capital (BDC) Programme which also provided an update on the Ayrshire Digital Economy Investment Board and its governance. AEJC members were also updated on the Government’s response to the Scottish Parliament’s Economy and Fair Work Committee held late in 2024 and early 2025 which included actions required by all Programme Management Offices (PMO) who manage Growth Deals. I3 BUSINESS SPACE PHOTOCALL, 17 February On 17 February, together with North Ayrshire Cabinet Member for Green Environment and Economy, Councillor Eleanor Collier, I briefly attended the photocall event to mark the completion of the first Ayrshire Growth Deal (AGD) fund industrial i3 business space in Irvine. Works were carried out by Muir Construction Ltd and the project is the first phase of the i3 Advanced Manufacturing Flexible Space Programme, supported by £15M of funding through the Ayrshire Growth Deal, with £11M from the Scottish Government and £4M from North Ayrshire Council, as part of the AGD Economic Infrastructure Programme. The overall
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LEADER’S REPORT • • • 2 Official Information Official Information investment in Phase one has been £5 million, including funding support from the Scottish Government’s Vacant and Derelict Land Fund for early development and remediation works. Surplus material from the demolition of the high flats in Irvine was used as part of the ground works. The project provides flexible modern business space for local companies looking to expand and grow. It also supports inward investment opportunities and complements i3’s other AGD project, the Digital Process Manufacturing Centre (DPMC), which is in partnership with the National Manufacturing Institute Scotland (NMIS) and the Centre for Process Innovation (CPI). MODERN APPRENTICE MEET AND GREET, 3 March On 3 March, together with North Ayrshire Council’s Executive Director for Place, Russell McCutcheon, I met with some of our Modern Apprentices to hear about their journey into the workplace. North Ayrshire Council's Modern Apprentice programme is aimed at 16 to 19-year-olds living in North Ayrshire and it is designed to give young people the opportunity to learn key skills through work and training to kick-start their career and progress in meaningful jobs and positive pathways. This is part of the Council’s wider Working North Ayrshire programme which offers opportunities across a range of services including Early Year, Business Administration, Civil Engineering, Horticulture, Housing, Health and Social Care and Youth Work. PHONE CALL WITH SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT CABINET SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT, FIONA HYSLOP MSP, 3 March On 3 March, before the Ardrossan Task Force, I had a brief chat with the Scottish Government Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Fiona Hyslop MSP to discuss the announcement that the Scottish Government will purchase Ardrossan Harbour. Negotiations between Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd (CMAL) and the Harbour owner, Peel Ports have now concluded with the deal set to be finalised later this month. This is welcome news indeed after years of uncertainty and unreliable ferry services. ARDROSSAN TASK FORCE MEETING, 3 March Later on 3 March, I attended my first Ardrossan Task Force meeting as Leader of North Ayrshire Council. Attendees were updated on plans with timelines following the news earlier that day that Ardrossan Harbour is to be bought over by the Scottish Government. The
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LEADER’S REPORT • • • 3 Official Information Official Information meeting also provided the opportunity for attendees to ask questions relating to the nationalisation of the Harbour and the impact it would have on islanders and those who regularly commute to Arran. The news is a great boost indeed and there is no doubt it will bring major financial and social benefits to communities on both sides of the Ardrossan to Brodick ferry route. In tandem, it will bring a more resilient ferry connection to Arran which will also be welcomed by both residents and businesses on the island. THREE TOWNS LOCALITY PARTNERSHIP MEETING, 4 March On 4 March, I attended a Three Towns Locality Partnership meeting held in the Ardrossan Civic Centre. Attendees were provided with updates on the Pride in Place Fund and the Community Investment Fund. The Locality Partnership were then asked to consider a Community Investment Fund application from the North Ayrshire Table Tennis Club. North Ayrshire Table Tennis Club (NATTC) founded in 2001. The club is a community sports club, affiliated with Table Tennis Scotland and the West of Scotland Table Tennis League and is fully constituted and governed by a committee voted in by its members. Their request for funding is to cover the cost of increased working hours of their Development Officer in order to meet growing demand within the club and to strengthen the pathway for developing new coaches and volunteers. The enhanced Development Officer role will provide structured leadership, mentoring, and training to the club’s part-time coaches and volunteers, ensuring they are fully equipped to deliver high-quality sessions that meet the needs of our expanding membership. The Partnership was also asked to consider a Common Good Funding request by Ardrossan Winton Rovers and two further funding requests from the Community Benefit Fund from Ardrossan Winton Rovers and one from 3rd company Brownies and Guides. Several updates were received verbally covering the following items: • Police Scotland • Scottish Fire and Rescue • KA Leisure • Active Schools The Partnership will meet again on 3 June. MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING PHOTOCALL, 9 March
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LEADER’S REPORT • • • 4 Official Information Official Information On 9 March, I attended a photocall at the University of the West of Scotland (UWS) in Ayr, to mark the recent signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) by 7 partners, to establish the Ayrshire Digital Economy Ecosystem (ADEE). The event also provided the opportunity to promote the ADEE and the benefits it will bring to Ayrshire. The MoU confirms long-term collaboration between the three Ayrshire councils, UWS, University of Strathclyde/NMIS, Ayrshire College, and Vodafone. It secures a shared commitment to innovation, digital transformation, skills development, and future-facing economic growth aligned directly with the Ayrshire Regional Economic Strategy (RES) and Digital Economy Framework. It secures collective working beyond the end of the 5GIR grant period and strengthens Ayrshire’s position as a broader innovation region and not limited to 5G technology but driving digital transformation, applied research, and future investment readiness. Councillor Anthony Gurney Leader of North Ayrshire Council