Provost's Report
North Ayrshire Council · 26 June 2024
Back to North Ayrshire Council — 26 June 2024 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
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PROVOST’S REPORT For the period covering: 6 May – 16 June 2024 The attached report gives a summary and brief details to Council, of meetings and events attended by the Provost of North Ayrshire Council, Councillor Anthea Dickson.
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PROVOST’S REPORT • • • 1 PROVOST’S REPORT For the period covering: 6 May – 16 June 2024 Since the last meeting of the Council, I have taken part in many events, including: Stanecastle Groundbreaking Ceremony, Burns Crescent, Irvine, 16 May On 16 May, I was delighted to welcome everyone to the groundbreaking ceremony at the former site of Stanecastle Primary School where twenty-nine new affordable properties are being built. The £7.8m development will deliver modern, energy-efficient new homes. The contractor Ashleigh (Scotland) Limited held talks on health and safety with pupils from Annick Primary School, who in turn arranged a poster competition, with the winners attending the ceremony. James McFarlane Groundbreaking Ceremony, Dalry Road, Ardrossan, 16 May On the afternoon of 16 May, I attended the groundbreaking ceremony at the former site of James McFarlane Primary School where nineteen new affordable homes are being built. The £4.8m development will have a mix of 2-bedroom general needs properties, 2,3- and 4- bedroom wheelchair liveable properties and 2-bedroom amenity bungalows. The contractor held health and safety talk with pupils from Stanley Primary, and another poster competition was arranged, with the winners present at the ceremony. Opening Session of the 2024 Geneal Assembly of the Church of Scotland, Edinburgh, 18 May On 18 May, I attended the Opening Session of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland in Edinburgh. Prior to event, I attended a reception hosted by the Lord Provost of Edinburgh and afterwards took part in a procession to the Assembly Hall from City Chambers. Provosts and representatives from local authorities throughout Scotland were in attendance. Irvine Running Club Centenary Mile, Irvine Sports Club, Irvine, 19 May On 19 May, I was at Irvine Sports Club to mark Irvine Running Club’s 100th Anniversary. A one-mile run was arranged with many taking part. It was pleasure to help mark this milestone, recognise the volunteers behind the club and wish them well for the future.
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PROVOST’S REPORT • • • 2 Ayrshire Lok Oi Association, Volunteer Rooms, Irvine, 20 May On 20 May, the Ayrshire Lok Oi Association was established at a meeting in the Volunteer Rooms in Irvine. The Cantonese community has a rich history in Ayrshire and had three distinct organisations, it was agreed to amalgamate these organisations into one, and with the support from Connected Communities, they have been able to do. It was great to attend the meeting and the celebration afterwards. I am hopeful the Association will help provide a stronger support network for its members and create the opportunity of taking part in many local projects and initiatives. Youth Employability Hub Launch, Beattie Library, Stevenston, 28 May On 28 May, as part of Employability Week, I visited Beattie Library in Stevenston for the launch of the Youth Employability Hub. Designed for people aged 16-24 the Hub will provide information on the numerous services that are available and support them on their employability journey. Provost’s Visit, West Kilbride Village Hall, 29 May On 29 May, I visited West Kilbride Village Hall. I met with some of the volunteers on the management group who are responsible for the day to day running of the facility which has been a focal point in the Village since it opened in 1900. Since 2012 the facility has been run as a charity for the benefit of the local community. I was extremely delighted to highlight the work of these volunteers and thank them for the huge contribution they make in their local community. Beat the Street Celebration Event, Stanley Primary School, Ardrossan, 29 May On 29 May, I attended the Beat the Street Celebration Event at Stanley Primary School in Ardrossan. Hundreds of young people in North Ayrshire took part in the Beat to the Street Active Nation competition which encouraged participants to make their daily journeys by walking, wheeling or cycling. The competition was great in incentivising people to be more active and be familiar with their own area.
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PROVOST’S REPORT • • • 3 Celebrating Success Ceremony, Auchenharvie Academy, Stevenston, 29 May On the evening of 29 May, I attended Auchenharvie Academy’s Celebrating Success Ceremony. It is always great to get the opportunity to witness first-hand the amazing work that goes on in our schools and to be able to acknowledge the achievements of the incredibly talented pupils. Sowne of Organe Event, St Columba’s Church, Largs, 1 June On 1 June, I visited St. Columba’s Church in Largs which houses an exceptional organ built in 1892. The organ has remained both tonal and technically unaltered. Sowne of Organe was established in 2020 to survey, record and advocate for Scotland’s unaltered historic pipe organs. The Group presented music, stories and images of the organ’s construction. The event provided an opportunity for discussion on how people could play a part in ensuring that the organ is conserved for future generations whether in Largs or elsewhere. Anam Cara Re-opening Event, Montgomery Court, Kilbirnie, 4 June On 4 June, I was delighted to attend the re-opening event of Anam Cara Dementia Respite Service in Kilbirnie. Over the past year, Anam Cara has been undergoing significant refurbishment work. Investment has been targeted towards improving the structure of the unit, re-landscaping the gardens, replacing the furniture, renewing the flooring and decoration, establishing a sensory room, and exploring technological advances. Lockhart Campus Summer Show, Stevenston, 5 June On 5 June, I attended Lockhart Campus Summer Show “Through the Musicals”. This was an excellent well-rehearsed performance which was thoroughly uplifting and enjoyable. Congratulations to both staff and pupils for producing this excellent show. The Ayrshire Community Trust (TACT) Volunteer Awards Ceremony, Ardrossan Civic Centre, 6 June On 6 June, I attended the TACT Volunteer Awards Ceremony in Ardrossan Civic Centre. This was a wonderful opportunity to celebrate and acknowledge the invaluable work carried out by volunteers in our communities. Congratulations to all those who received an award on the night.
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PROVOST’S REPORT • • • 4 D-Day 80th Anniversary Commemoration, 6 June On the evening of 6 June, I took part in the D-Day 80th Anniversary Commemoration in Irvine. The community gathered along with the rest of the nation and paid tribute to those who took part in the Normandy Landings on 6 June 1944, which would lead to the end of World War 2. There was a great turn out for this event which, was arranged by Coastwatch, and ended with the lighting of a beacon at Irvine Harbourside. Exhibition Preview, Scottish Maritime Museum, Irvine, 7 June On 7 June, I attended the preview night of the exhibition “Shipyard Social” in the Scottish Maritime Museum. The exhibition highlighted the lives of shipyard workers who dedicated their careers to designing and constructing boats and ships. During the event we enjoyed the heartwarming songs and lyrics by the Irvine Folk Club, and we listened to the extraordinary stories of Ralph Collins, writer and former worker in the shipyard. Beach Flag Award, Irvine, 8 June On 8 June, I took part in a flag raising celebration to mark Irvine Beach being awarded a Beach Flag Award. This was a truly collaborative effort between community groups and the Council. The event was arranged by Irvine Clean Up Crew and coincided with the planned “Big Beach Clean” which I was happy to help with. Carer’s Conference, Riverside Lodge Hotel, Irvine, 12 June On 12 June, I was delighted to attend and deliver a keynote address at the first Carers’ Conference, which was held in the Riverside Lodge Hotel in Irvine. The theme of the Conference was Voices, Visibility, Valued. There are 13,000 carers in North Ayrshire, and it is important that their voices are heard and the outstanding work that they do is visible and recognised and that they all feel valued. This was a terrific opportunity to celebrate the work that carers do and further develop their support network. It’s a Knockout – Greig Steven Memorial, Valefield Park, Kilbirnie, 15 June On 15 June, I officially opened the It’s a Knockout event at Valefield Park, Kilbirnie. I was delighted to attend and present the prizes at the end of the hotly contested competition. Great turnout at the event and for such a worthwhile cause. The Greig Steven Memorial Charity arranged the event. The Charity was set up in 2016 in memory of Grieg Steven, a former groom with Police Scotland’s mounted unit, from Kilbirnie, who passed away aged twenty-five after a short battle with cancer, and the funds raised allow respite care to be offered to families living with a cancer diagnosis.
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PROVOST’S REPORT • • • 5 Ayrshire Baby Loss Support Family Fun Day and Duck Race, Eglinton Country Park, Irvine, 16 June On 16 June, I went along to Eglinton Park for the family fun day and duck race organised by Ayrshire Baby Loss Support. The event provided a wide range of activities, including the coveted duck race. There was also information available for bereaved parents with details of the support offered by the Group who offer support to all who have suffered a pregnancy loss. Councillor Anthea Dickson Provost North Ayrshire Council