Leader Report
North Ayrshire Council · 12 February 2025
Back to North Ayrshire Council — 12 February 2025 and its agenda
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Official Information Official Information LEADER’S REPORT For the period covering: 9 December 2024 – 2 February 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: 9 December 2024 – 2 February 2025 AYRSHIRE ECONOMIC JOINT COMMITTEE SUB COMMITTEE AYRSHIRE SKILLS INVESTMENT FUND, 9 December On 9 December, I attended an online meeting of the Ayrshire Economic Joint Committee (AEJC) Sub Committee Ayrshire Skills Investment Fund (ASIF). The ASIF is part of the Ayrshire Growth Deal (AGD), aiming to enhance skills for innovation and inclusive growth, boosting Ayrshire’s economy and creating lasting job opportunities. The Sub Committee were asked to consider various proposals for grant awards for 2024/2025. ASIF launched in October 2023 with £3.5 million provided 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. The Employer Grants ASIF Programme has supported 275 employees from 59 Ayrshire businesses, committing £181,089 to the ASIF Employer Grants Programme. ELECTED MEMBER DEVELOPMENT SESSION, SUSTAINABLE NORTH AYRSHIRE STRATEGY, 11 December On 11 December, I attended an elected member development session in Cunninghame House, for an update on North Ayrshire Council’s sustainable strategy, including our reporting duties and our carbon journey to date. I am delighted to lead a Council that has a Wellbeing Economy as a focus, delivering prosperity, wellbeing and resilience for local people and a sustainable Council which has the ambitious aim of being a net-zero Council by 2030. SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT MINISTERIAL MEETING, 12 December On 12 November, I had a brief meeting with the Scottish Government Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Fiona Hyslop to discuss the Ardrossan Task Force (ATF) and to push for a meeting of the ATF early in the New Year.
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LEADER’S REPORT • • • 2 Official Information Official Information MEETING WITH NEIL McINROY, 12 December Later on 12 December, together with North Ayrshire Council Cabinet Member for the Green Environment and Economy, Councillor Tony Gurney and North Ayrshire Council Executive Director for PLACE, Russell McCutcheon, I had an online meeting with Neil McInroy from The Democracy Collaborative & Community Wealth Builders Ltd. The meeting provided Neil with an opportunity to update us following his recent research into Community Wealth Building (CWB) from an island perspective and provided details on areas which were working well and areas which needed to be addressed. It is a priority for North Ayrshire Council to continue to build on some of the great work already undertaken and be a CWB Council that is efficient and accessible, maximizing investment and focusing resources towards our Council’s priorities. ELECTED MEMBER DEVELOPMENT SESSION, AYRSHIRE LOCAL RESILIENCE PARTNERSHIP PRESENTATION, 16 December On 16 December, I attended an elected member development session online, to receive a presentation from the Ayrshire Local Resilience Partnership on the Response to the Battery Recycling Centre fire in April 2024. My thanks to Lesley Jeffery, Ayrshire Civil Contingencies Coordinator and to Ian McMeekin, Area Commander for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service for their time and informative presentation. NHS AYRSHIRE AND ARRAN ENDOWMENT TRUSTEES MEETING, 19 December On 19 December, I attended a meeting of the NHS Ayrshire and Arran Endowment Trustees. The Committee received a presentation from the Investment Portfolio Manager at Evelyn & Partners. Trustees also received various reports on expenditure in certain funds including the General Fund and the Restricted Fund Plan. NHS AYRSHIRE AND ARRAN HEALTHCARE GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE, 13 January On 13 January, I attended an NHS Ayrshire and Arran Healthcare Governance Committee where attendees received reports on patient safety and patient experiences. Several assurance reports were also presented and discussed including the following:
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LEADER’S REPORT • • • 3 Official Information Official Information • Infection Prevention and Control Team work programme • Quality and Safety Report for Neonatal Services • Dental Services • Best Start • Quality Strategy • Community Nursing Review • Public Protection There was also some useful discussion on the annual Mental Welfare Commission Young People Monitoring Report 2023-24, which provided information on the number of young people admitted and treated in non-specialist wards for their mental health issues. SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT MINISTERIAL VISIT TO IRVINE ROYAL ACADEMY, 22 January On 22 January, I was delighted to welcome the Scottish Government Cabinet Minister for Social Justice, Shirley-Anne Somerville as she paid a visit to Irvine Royal Academy. Together with my colleagues, Depute North Ayrshire Council Leader Councillor Shaun Macaulay, North Ayrshire Council’s Youth Champion Councillor Chloé Robertson, Director of Education at North Ayrshire Council, Sam Anson, Head Teacher Linzi Sloan and the leadership team, we held useful and informative sessions with the Minister detailing some of the great work being done in North Ayrshire, in particular, Irvine Royal Academy to tackle poverty. The cost-of -the -school day is made affordable for families through projects including the Royal Resources Shop, a community shop offering free uniforms and food. There is also help provided through Scottish Government funding, including the Child Poverty Accelerator Fund and the Fairer Futures Partnership, both supports programmes that are in place to help tackle child poverty. There are also Welfare Rights Officers, who work within the North Ayrshire Health and Social Care Partnership’s Money Matters team, based in the school who help to ensure parents are accessing welfare benefits they are entitled to. My thanks to everyone involved in facilitating the visit and for talking to the Minister about the invaluable work they are involved in. AYRSHIRE ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP BOARD MEETING, 22 January
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LEADER’S REPORT • • • 4 Official Information Official Information Later on 22 January, I attended a meeting of the Ayrshire Economic Partnership Board where attendees were updated on the Ayrshire Growth Deal (AGD) Regional Economic Strategy. Attendees were also provided with a progress report on one of the projects from the AGD, the Ayrshire Innovation Park. The Ayrshire Innovation Park comprises two key AGD projects: Ayrshire Manufacturing Investment Corridor (AMIC) and Ayrshire Engineering Park (AEP). Subject to agreement of the Outline and Final Business cases, combined infrastructure works could start on site this summer (2025). NHS AYRSHIRE AND ARRAN AUDIT AND RISK COMMITTEE, 23 January On 23 January, I attended an NHS Audit and Risk Committee (ARC) meeting where attendees discussed various Internal and External Audit papers. The Committee also received a Counter Fraud Update report. The Committee also reviewed and agreed the ARC Terms of Reference before submission to the Board for final approval. ELECTED MEMBER BRIEFING, 23 January Later on 23 January, I also attended an online Elected Member briefing which provided useful information on the Budget Meeting Process, Equality Impact Assessments Training and Consultation Responses. NHS AYRSHIRE AND ARRAN BOARD SEMINAR, 30 January On 30 January, I attended an NHS Ayrshire and Arran Board seminar at Ailsa Surface Hub in Ayr, to discuss Revenue and Delivery Planning for 2025/26. COSLA LEADERS’, 31 January On 31 January, I joined a meeting of COSLA Leaders to discuss a packed agenda including the following items: • National Care Service/Social Care Reform • National Social Work Agency • Reduction in Class Contact Time • Additional Support for Learning Funding • ELC – Real Living Wage and Sustainable Rates 25/26 • Historical Child Abuse Redress Scheme Annual Report (non-financial)
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LEADER’S REPORT • • • 5 Official Information Official Information • Housing Emergency • Future of Ukraine Schemes • Charter of Rights for People Affected by Substance Use • Pay Claims 202/26 • Local Government Finance Update The Housing Emergency report provided Leaders with an update on Scotland’s Housing Emergency and, particularly, on the work of the Housing Special Interest Group (SIG) to respond to this severe crisis. In addition, the paper advises of COSLA’s work with the Housing to 2040 Board, Housing Investment Taskforce (HIT) and on the Housing Bill. Councillor Marie Burns Leader of North Ayrshire Council