Provost Report
North Ayrshire Council · 26 March 2025
Back to North Ayrshire Council — 26 March 2025 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
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OFFICIAL INFORMATION OFFICIAL INFORMATION PROVOST’S REPORT For the period covering: 3 February – 16 March 2025 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 OFFICIAL INFORMATION OFFICIAL INFORMATION PROVOST’S REPORT For the period covering: 3 February – 16 March 2025 Since the last meeting of the Council, I have taken part in many events, including: Garnock Valley Pipes and Drums Ceilidh, Geilsland Estate, Beith, 8 February On 8 February, I attended the Garnock Valley Pipes and Drums Ceilidh at Geilsland Estate, Beith. The event was well attended, and it was great to see so many people supporting the pipes and drums tuition at Geilsland. The interest in traditional music was very much alive and it was heartening to see the older musicians encouraging the novices. Dalry Primary School Art Competition, Dalry, 10 February On 10 February, I helped judge Dalry Burns Club annual art exhibition in Dalry Primary School. The enthusiasm for the project gets the whole school involved. There was poetry, drawing and painting and so much talent on show. North Ayrshire Young Musician of the Year, Saltcoats Town Hall, 13 February It was another delightful evening at the North Ayrshire Young Musician of the Year in Saltcoats Town Hall on 13 February. The event showcased the exceptional musical talent we have in our schools. All nine of our secondary schools participated. The winner of the event, Stella McIntyre from St Matthew’s Academy, will go on to represent North Ayrshire at the national final of the Scottish Young Musicians in May. Older People’s Voice Conference, Saltcoats Town Hall, 14 February It was a pleasure to welcome everyone to the annual Older People’s Voice Conference in Saltcoats Town Hall on 14 February. The interesting event is jointly planned and hosted by the Council’s Community Learning and Development team in partnership with older people across the six localities to encourage as many people as possible to have a voice.
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PROVOST’S REPORT • • • 2 OFFICIAL INFORMATION OFFICIAL INFORMATION World Wheelchair Curling Championships, Auchenharvie Leisure Centre, Stevenston, 1 – 16 March On 1 March, I attended the Opening Ceremony of the World Wheelchair Championships, in Auchenharvie Leisure Centre, Stevenston. It was a great pleasure to welcome all the competitors to Stevenston and indeed North Ayrshire. This annual event attracts interest from all over the world and in recent years has been held in Gangneung, South Korea, Richmond, Canada, and Beijing, China. The Championships were organised by Scottish Curling with support from several partner organisations including North Ayrshire Council, KA Leisure, SportScotland and British Curling. On 5 March, HRH Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh visited the Championships. As Patron of the British Paralympic Association, His Royal Highness met with the competitors and organisers. On 6 March, I attended a reception in Seamill Hydro hosted by Scottish Curling to celebrate the championships and to meet the key people involved in delivering the event. Visit to Clyde Coast and Cumbraes Men’s Shed, Bath Street, Largs, 4 March On 4 March, I visited the Clyde Coast and Cumbraes Men’s Shed in Largs. The group have gone from strength to strength in the last two years and have quickly established themselves as a vibrant local community organisation. They are now set to take ownership of the Brisbane Centre in a community asset transfer and have exciting plans for expansion. Royal Visit, Stevenston, 5 March On 5 March, the Depute Provost and I welcomed HRH Prince Edward, when he visited the Doon The Beach Café, in Stevenston where he had a chance to meet the team there and chat with some members of local groups. The facility offers a café, toilets and community hub using shipping containers for the structure. Raise Your Voice with Ardeer (RYVA) is the charity behind this project, which is a fine example of community empowerment and is now home to a bustling social hub.
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PROVOST’S REPORT • • • 3 OFFICIAL INFORMATION OFFICIAL INFORMATION Provost’s Visit, Dalgarven Mill Museum of Costume and Country Life, Kilwinning, 6 March On 6 March, I visited Dalgarven Mill Museum of Costume and Country Life in Kilwinning. The museum is housed in a three-storey grain mill which dates from 1880. It is filled with artefacts showing the lives of past rural workers. It is also home to a fabulous costume collection dating from the mid-1700s to the present day. The museum is a registered charity and run by a Board of Trustees and a band of volunteers. There are no paid members of staff at the museum. Their funding comes from admission charges and the on-site tearoom. It was a pleasure to be able to see the excellent work caried out by volunteers and recognise the vital role they play in keeping the museum operating. Dalry Burns Club Concert, St. Margaret’s Parish Church, Dalry, 7 March On 7 March, I attended “The Twa Fiddles” concert in St. Margaret’s Parish Church, Dalry. The concert marked the 200 anniversary of Darly Burns Club. This was a thoroughly enjoyable event, with great performances celebrating Scottish music and literature. Scottish Schools Pipe Band Championships, Kilmarnock Academy, Kilmarnock, 9 March On 9 March, I attended the Scottish Schools Pipe Band Championships in Kilmarnock. I was also invited on to the judging panel for the Eilidh McLeod Endeavour Award. Eilidh was a talented musician who died in the 2017 Manchester Arena bombing. I witnessed some fantastic performances during the day and there was a great enthusiasm throughout for traditional music. Congratulations to Isle of Arran Pipe Band who came joint equal in the Novice Class. Mr and Mrs McKenzie, Diamond Wedding Anniversary, Irvine, 13 March On 13 March, I visited Mr and Mrs McKenzie at their home in Irvine where they were celebrating their Diamond Wedding anniversary. It is always a pleasure to be able to mark these milestones and to listen to recollections of years gone by. Provost’s Visit, Love Hall Youth Group, Kilwinning, 13 March I visited Love Hall Youth Group in Kilwinning on 13 March. The Group supports young people between S1 and S3, meeting weekly and participating in many activities. They are now looking to become a youth forum to support the community and take part in fundraising events. It is a privilege to witness first-hand the fantastic work that goes on in our local communities.
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PROVOST’S REPORT • • • 4 OFFICIAL INFORMATION OFFICIAL INFORMATION Councillor Anthea Dickson Provost North Ayrshire Council