Leader Report
North Ayrshire Council · 18 September 2024
Back to North Ayrshire Council — 18 September 2024 and its agenda
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Official Information Official Information LEADER’S REPORT For the period covering: 17 June – 9 September 2024 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: 17 June – 9 September 2024 AYRSHIRE ECONOMIC JOINT COMMITTEE SUB-COMMITTEE, AYRSHIRE SKILLS INVESTMENT FUND (ASIF), 17 June On 17 June, I chaired a meeting of the Ayrshire Economic Joint Committee Sub-Committee, Ayrshire Skills Investment Fund (ASIF). Attendees received updates on various streams of work, including: • an ASIF Sub-Committee Report Update • Ayrshire Skills Investment Fund Delivery Model Review • Ayrshire College ASIF Programme The SubCommittee approved the recommendations previously reviewed by the ASIF Evaluation Panel and put forward for approval. BROOMLANDS AND BOURTREEHILL COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION (BABCA), 17 June On 17 June, I met with members of the Broomlands and Bourtreehill Association (BABCA) at Towerlands Community Centre. It was good to hear from BABCA members about events happening in their area and for them to raise any issues of concern. NHS AYRSHIRE AND ARRAN AUDIT AND RISK COMMITTEE, 20 June On 19 June, I attended an NHS Audit and Risk Committee (ARC) meeting where attendees discussed various Internal Audit and papers. The Committee were also presented with several Governance reports, which included the following: • National IT Services • NSS Practitioner Services • Payment Verification Annual Report • Strategic Risk Register The Committee also approved the draft Annual Accounts report for 2023-24 and these will now be submitted to the Board for final approval.
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LEADER’S REPORT • • • 2 Official Information Official Information IRVINE ROYAL ACADEMY SUMMER CABARET, 20 June Later on 20 June, I was delighted to attend Irvine Royal Academy’s Summer cabaret and BBQ. Well done to all the pupils on another first-class performance and of course, to all the teachers and staff involved in putting the show together. It was a great way to celebrate the end of the school year. I would also like to wish all the pupils leaving school this year good luck in the next part of their life journey. COMMUNITY WEALTH BUILDING COMMISSION, 24 June On 24 June, I chaired a meeting of the North Ayrshire Community Wealth Building (CWB). Attendees received updates from the Lead Officer Working Group, the Ayrshire Regional Economic Strategy and the Ayrshire Growth Deal CWB Fund (Project updates). Attendees also received a presentation on the CWB Practitioners Network for Scottish Local Authorities. Anchor partners provided Commission members with an update on CWB activities and areas of alignment within their respective organisations. My thanks again to officers and partners for their continued work in progressing our CWB strategy. NHS AYRSHIRE & ARRAN BOARD, ANNUAL ACCOUNTS, 25 June On 25 June, I attended a meeting of the NHS Ayrshire and Arran Board to discuss the annual accounts for 2023-24. Attendees also looked at various audit and assurance reports for the period. The Board also discussed the Strategic Risk Register. COSLA LEADERS’ MEETING, 28 June On 28 June, I attended a meeting of COSLA Leaders’. It was another packed agenda which included the following items for discussion: • COSLA Representation on Public Health Scotland Board • Local Government Finance (including Fiscal Framework for Local Government) • Climate Delivery Framework • Learning Estate Investment Programme • Housing Emergency • Digital Office and Digital Partnership Update
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LEADER’S REPORT • • • 3 Official Information Official Information • National Care Service Negotiations • First Ministers’ Mission to Reduce Delayed Discharge • Teacher Numbers The Climate Delivery Framework has, along with a series of principles and joint working arrangements, the following shared priority areas of work to be reviewed and updated each year. For 2024/25 the priorities are: • Establish a joint programme focused on the high carbon sectors • Improve data and climate informed decision making through the rollout of the Scottish Climate Intelligence Service. • Develop a comprehensive roadmap to reduce emissions, aligned with the new national Climate Change Plan. • Develop a national approach to build the capacity and support local authorities with attracting private investment for net zero and adaptation projects. • Provide a forum to jointly shape key climate change policies, including the sectoral Just Transition Plans, the Scottish National Adaptation Plan and the Climate Change Plan. • Review discretionary funding programmes available to local authorities for climate change projects and explore options for multi-year funding. The Council’s Sustainable North Ayrshire strategy has been developed to support North Ayrshire Council’s Climate Change priority and the continuing strategic aim of achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2030. The strategy contains nine strategic priorities, with a range of actions within five thematic workstreams, namely Energy, Nature, Transport, Waste and Adaptation. COSLA SPECIAL LEADERS MEETING, 9 August On 9 August, I attended a special meeting of COSLA Leaders’ to discuss ongoing Pay Negotiations for Local Government for 2024/2025. WELLBEING SHOWCASE, 9 August Later on 9 August, I was delighted to go along to a “Wellbeing Showcase” held at the Harbour Arts Centre. The event uses the power of drama therapy to connect young people allowing them to express themselves whilst addressing issues surrounding Mental Health and Wellbeing. Congratulations to all the young people involved in putting such a powerful and moving production together.
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LEADER’S REPORT • • • 4 Official Information Official Information NHS AYRSHIRE AND ARRAN HEALTHCARE BOARD MEETING, 12 August On 12 August, I attended a meeting of the NHS Ayrshire and Arran Board meeting. Attendees received updates on several reports including an assurance report relating to Emergency Department concerns and an update on progress to date. There was also a presentation on “Achieving Sustainability Through Reform” and an update from the NHS A & A Chief Executive, Claire Burden. MARYMASS OPENING FESTIVAL, 15 August On the 15 August, I attended the Marymass Festival Opening Ceremony at the Townhouse in Irvine. I would like to congratulate Gordon Storrar on being re-elected as Captain of Irvine Carters. TACKLING CHILD POVERTY AND COST OF LIVING BOARD WORKSHOP, 21 August On 21 August, I chaired a workshop of the Tackling Child Poverty and Cost of Living Board held at the Irvine Town house. Two years on from the creation of the Tackling Child Poverty and Cost of Living Board, this was time to consider what has been achieved to date, identify and define a working model going forward. The workshop provided the opportunity for officers and partners to discuss these issues as well as future governance of the Board. The Board were also asked to look at our draft response to a request from the Social Justice and Social Security Committee on the “Post Legislative Scrutiny of the Child Poverty (Scotland) Act 2017”. The deadline for the response is 13 September and will be submitted via the Scottish Government’s website. My thanks again to the continued great work of officers at North Ayrshire Council and of course our partners for their contribution and input which is of great value. MEETING OF THE AYRSHIRE ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP BOARD, 23 August On 23 August, I chaired a meeting of the Ayrshire Economic Partnership Board (AEPB) where attendees received reports on the Ayrshire Growth Deal (AGD) Internal Audit Annual Report 2023/24 and the AGD Internal Audit Annual Plan for 2024/25.
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LEADER’S REPORT • • • 5 Official Information Official Information Board members also received an AGD Economic Modelling update and were asked to recommend approval to the Ayrshire Economic Joint Committee (AEJC) the development of a Service Level Agreement with the Glasgow City Region Intelligence Hub (GCRIH) for an enhanced economic model to support the development and monitoring of AGD projects. The Board also received an update on the AGD Programme Risk Register as of June 2024. MARYMASS SATURDAY, 24 August I was delighted to go along to Marymass Saturday on 24 August and see the crowning ceremony of the Marymass Queen, Millie Barnes. I took part in the parade up to Irvine Moor and attended the Provost’s Reception and lunch. My thanks to Provost Anthea Dickson for a lovely afternoon and my congratulations to the Royal Marymass Party who have performed their duties so well as part of the longstanding, local traditions of Irvine. AYRSHIRE ECONOMIC JOINT COMMITTEE SUB-COMMITTEE, AYRSHIRE SKILLS INVESTMENT FUND (ASIF), 2 September On 2 September, I chaired a meeting of the Ayrshire Economic Joint Committee Sub Committee, Ayrshire Skills Investment Fund (ASIF). Attendees received updates on various streams of work, including: • Ayrshire Skills Investment Fund Delivery Model – Employer Grants • EKOS ASIF Evaluation recommendations • ASIF Budget Update The Ayrshire Skills Investment Fund (ASIF) is part of the Ayrshire Growth Deal and was launched in October 2023 with £3.5million to address skills gaps, aiming to upskill 1,000 residents by 2028 in Engineering, Digital, Visitor Economy and Clean Growth, focusing on priority groups: females, young people, people in low paid employment, people with long term disabilities and health conditions. Ayrshire College was awarded £693,200 until March 2027 to deliver programmes across the agreed priority themes. The Employer Grants ASIF Programme has supported 130 employees from 44Ayrshire businesses, committing £191,320 of the ASIF.
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LEADER’S REPORT • • • 6 Official Information Official Information IRVINE LOCALITY PARTNERSHIP MEETING, 2 September Later on 2 September, I attended an Irvine Locality Partnership at Redburn Community Centre. The Partnership were asked to consider several applications made to the Elderly Grant Fund for 2024/25. These included applications from Broomlands and Bourtreehill Community Association (BABCA), LBLB & Girdle Toll Age Concern, Dreghorn Old Peoples Welfare Committee, Irvine Joint Wards Old Peoples Welfare Committee, Drybridge Hall Management Association and Springside Community Association. The Partnership were also asked to consider and approve the draft Locality Plan for 2024/25. Several updates were received verbally covering the following items: • Bourtreehill Park and the work taking place • Youth, Education and Active Schools Overview • Police Scotland and Scottish Fire and Rescue Wellbeing Partnership Working • KA Leisure • Irvine Community Council • Locality Officer Update AYRSHIRE ECONOMIC JOINT COMMITTEE, 4 September On 4 September, I met with some members of “The Discovery Award” group who meet regularly at Vennel Gardens Sheltered Housing complex in Irvine. The group was set up just over a year ago and helps individuals combat social isolation, learn new skills and enjoy social occasions together. The Award is open to anyone over 50 who lives in the Irvine Locality and provides an opportunity for people to come together and try new things while at the same time build social connections. It is delivered in partnership with Discovery Award Scotland with support from the Irvine Locality officers. As Leader of North Ayrshire Council and Older People’s Champion, it is important, that as a Local Authority, we provide groups and activities for residents of all ages and I am delighted to see the positive outcomes this Group is having on individuals.
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LEADER’S REPORT • • • 7 Official Information Official Information AYRSHIRE ECONOMIC JOINT COMMITTEE, 4 Septem ber Later on 4 September, I attended a meeting of the Ayrshire Economic Joint Committee (AEJC), handing the Chair over to Councillor Martin Dowey from South Ayrshire Council to cover the period September 2024 to 31 August 2025. The Committee were also asked to ratify the appointment of Councillor Dowey as Chair of the Ayrshire Economic Partnership Board (AEPB) for the period September 2024 to 31 August 2025. The Committee also received reports on the Ayrshire Growth Deal (AGD) Internal Audit annual report for 2023/24, the AGD Internal Audit Plan for 2024/25 and an AGD Economic Modelling Update. 1ST TIER JOINT CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE & CORPORATE HEALTH AND SAFETY GROUP MEETING, 5 September On 5 September, I chaired a meeting of the 1st Tier Joint Consultative Committee and the Corporate Health and Safety Group. Attendees received Health and Safety reports from various Directorates including PLACE, Communities and Education and from the Health and Social Care Partnership. The Committee also received a Risk and Audit Update. The 1st Tier Joint Consultative Committee (JCC) were provided with an update on the Livewell Grant Scheme which can provide funding of £250, previous recipients of which include, funding to enter a 10k race, yoga and wellbeing sessions at primary schools. Livewell continues to offer advice on how to Keep Active, Eatwell, WorkWell, SaveWell and BeWell.
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LEADER’S REPORT • • • 8 Official Information Official Information Councillor Marie Burns Leader of North Ayrshire Council