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North Ayrshire Council · 25 March 2026
Back to North Ayrshire Council — 25 March 2026 and its agenda

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North Ayrshire Council, Cunninghame House, Irvine KA12 8EE
North Ayrshire Council
A Meeting of the North Ayrshire Council of North Ayrshire Council will be held in the
Council Chambers, Ground Floor, Cunninghame House, Irvine, KA12 8EE on
Wednesday, 25 March 2026 at 14:00 to consider the undernoted business.
Meeting Arrangements - Hybrid Meetings
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. 
1 Apologies
2 Declarations of Interest
Members are requested to give notice of any declarations of interest in
respect of items of business on the Agenda.
3 Previous Minutes
The accuracy of the Minutes of the Ordinary Meeting of the Council held
on 11 February 2026 and the Special Meeting held on 25 February 2026
will be confirmed and the Minutes signed in accordance with Paragraph
7(1) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 (copies enclosed).
4 Provost's Report
Submit report by the Provost for the period covering 2 February 2026 to 15
March 2026 (copy enclosed).
5 Leader's Report
Submit report by the Leader of the Council for the period covering 11
February 2026 to 15 March 2026 (copy enclosed).

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North Ayrshire Council, Cunninghame House, Irvine KA12 8EE
6 Minute Volume (issued under separate cover)
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 December 2025 to to 11 March 2026.
7 Appointment to Committees
The Council is invited to consider a nomination, duly proposed by
Councillor Gurney and seconded by Councillor Larsen, for Councillor
Collier to fill the vacancy on the Ayrshire Regional Economic Joint
Committee and Ayrshire Regional Economic Partnership Sub-Committee.
8 NAC Education Service – ‘Pupil use of Mobile Phones in Schools’
Submit report by the Executive Director (Education) on the on the review
of the current NAC Education Service operating procedure "Pupil use of
mobile devices in schools" (copy enclosed).
9 Exclusion of the Public - Para 9
Resolve in terms of Section 50(A)4 of the Local Government (Scotland) Act
1973, to exclude from the Meeting the press and the public for the following
item of business on the grounds indicated in terms of Paragraph 9 of Part
1 of Schedule 7A  of the Act.
Non Disclosure of Information
In terms of Standing Order 21 (Disclosure of Information), the information
contained within the following report is confidential information within the
meaning of Section 50A of the 1973 Act and shall not be disclosed to any
person by any Member or Officer.
9.1 Disposal to a Nominated Party - Sale of Spier's Trust Land
Submit report by the Executive Director (Place) on the Sale of Spier's Trust
Land (copy enclosed).
10 Questions
In terms of Standing Order 14, submit:-
(1)  a question by Councillor Angus-McDonald to the Cabinet Member
for Finance in the following terms:
“To ask the Cabinet Member to confirm the uplift in the Council’s
contribution to the Health and Social Care Partnership for 2026/27?”
(2)  a question by Councillor Gallacher to the Cabinet Member for
Communities, Housing and the Islands in the following terms:
"To ask how many vape shops are currently open in North Ayrshire?”

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North Ayrshire Council, Cunninghame House, Irvine KA12 8EE
(3)  a question by Councillor McTiernan to the Cabinet Member for
Health and Social Care in the following terms:
“To ask the Cabinet Member for Health & Social Care how the Brighter
Pathways programme will progress and what outcomes it will achieve?”
(4)  a question by Councillor Kerr to the Cabinet Member for Finance
in the following terms:
“Now that all three Ayrshire Councils have agreed their budget for 2026/27,
can the Cabinet Member set out what the level of Council Tax for a Band
D property will be for all three Ayrshire local authorities?”
(5)  a question by Councillor Marshall to the Cabinet Member for
Education in the following terms:
"The Report to North Ayrshire Council's Corporate Health and Safety
Group on 19 March 2026 recorded the number of Aggression and Violence
incidents occurring within the Education Directorate for Quarter 3 over the
last 4 years.  There were 357 incidents in 2022,  457 in 2023, 372 in 2024
and 576 in 2025.
What is the explanation for a 61% increase over the last four years?”
(6)  a question by Councillor McTiernan to the Cabinet Member for
Health and Social Care in the following terms:
“Can the Cabinet Member for Health and Social Care outline what steps
have been taken to advocate for a better funding deal for North Ayrshire
for community-based health and care services & actively pursue
opportunities for additional funding?”
(7)  a question by Councillor Hume to the Cabinet Member for
Education in the following terms:
“Communities have welcomed the reinstatement of school crossing
patrollers in the Council’s 2026/27 budget. Can the Cabinet Member
outline the timeline for implementing this budget decision?”
(8)  a question by Councillor McTiernan to the Cabinet Member for
Health and Social Care in the following terms:
“Given the number of concerned residents who have been in touch
regarding the eligibility criteria proposals, can the Cabinet Member outline
for Council the decision that was taken at the IJB Budget meeting on 13th
March to balance their budget and what led to that decision?”

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North Ayrshire Council, Cunninghame House, Irvine KA12 8EE
(9)  a question by Councillor Foster to the Cabinet Member for
Finance in the following terms:
“I previously asked the Cabinet Member about several large VER
packages that had been approved for a number of former employees. After
the Cabinet Member refused to give a transparent answer, and having had
an FOI request refused, I had to challenge the decision by NAC to withhold
information from elected members through the Information Commissioner
appeal process. The Information Commissioner instructed North Ayrshire
Council to supply me with the salary ranges of council staff that have
received the highest costing VER packages. 
Can the cabinet member tell me why at least three of these packages have
a 4.5 year payback timeframe, which exceeds the timescales set out in the
policy, and also how many council staff were refused VER packages as
they didn’t meet the same policy criteria?”
11 Motions
In terms of Standing Order 15, submit:-
(1)  a motion by Councillor Cullinane, seconded by Councillor Hume,
in the following terms:
"With the continued success of the Councils early years clothing grant
scheme, Council agrees to continue the £50 clothing grant to all eligible*
3- and 4-year-olds in Early Years during the 2026/27 school year, funded
through a proportion of the £276,000 allocated to Child poverty funding in
the 2026/27 budget".

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North Ayrshire Council, Cunninghame House, Irvine KA12 8EE
(2)  a motion by Councillor McLean, seconded by Councillor S
Ferguson, in the following terms:
"North Ayrshire Council gives its solidarity and sympathy to the City of
Glasgow following the fire on Union Street. Council notes the offers of
help that the Scottish Government has committed to Glasgow City
Council with regard to support, immediate costs and rebuilding. Council
also notes the recent fires in and around Irvine High Street; in the former
Ruby Tuesdays and neighbouring shops, then the devastating fire to the
old Forum building. Council also notes the most recent fire in the old
Dreghorn Primary School, which is within a conservation area.
I therefore move that: 
1. Council resolves to instruct the Chief Executive to write to Scottish
Government to seek equitable treatment and assistance, in line with
what Glasgow City Council has been offered and
2. Council receives a future report on ownership of the former Dreghorn
Primary School, Ruby Tuesdays  and the Forum site on the possible
options available to the Council and partners for regeneration in the
event of funding being made available including what options there
may be for the Council to require owners to take action to rectify the
condition or appearance of these sites".
12 Urgent Items
Any other items which the Chair considers to be urgent.

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North Ayrshire Council, Cunninghame House, Irvine KA12 8EE
Webcasting
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.
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

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North Ayrshire Council, Cunninghame House, Irvine KA12 8EE
North Ayrshire Council Sederunt
Nairn Angus-McDonald
John Bell
Marie Burns
Eleanor Collier
Joe Cullinane
Charles Currie
Scott Davidson
Anthea Dickson
Stewart Ferguson
Todd Ferguson
Robert Foster
Scott Gallacher
Tony Gurney
Alan Hill
Mary Hume
Cameron Inglis
Margaret Johnson
Amanda Kerr
Christina Larsen
Shaun Macaulay
Tom Marshall
Jean McClung
Louise McLaughlan
Matthew McLean
Davina McTiernan
Jim Montgomerie
Ian Murdoch
Donald Reid
Donald L Reid
Chloe Robertson
Ronnie Stalker
Angela Stephen
John Sweeney
Chair:
Apologies:
Attending: