Leaders Report
North Ayrshire Council · 26 March 2025
Back to North Ayrshire Council — 26 March 2025 and its agenda
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Official Information Official Information LEADER’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 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: 3 February – 16 March 2025 NHS AYRSHIRE AND ARRAN BOARD MEETING, 3 February On 3 February, I attended an NHS Ayrshire and Arran Board meeting where attendees received updates on various Patient Safety Reports. The Board also received and discussed reports relating to Performance Governance, Healthcare Governance and Board Governance, including a report on Health and Care delivery planning for Ayrshire and a report detailing the Capital Investment Plan for 2025 – 2030. Minutes from Integration Joint Board meetings held for East, South and North Ayrshire Councils in October and November 2024, were also agreed. OPENING OF IRVINE SENIORS INFORMATION DAY, 10 February On 10 February, I was delighted to be asked along to the Volunteer Rooms in Irvine to give the opening speech at the Irvine Seniors Information Day. As Older People’s Champion it has been my objective to develop and strengthen existing relationships with our elderly community groups and to create new ones. It is important that our elderly residents feel they are being listened to and included in influencing local democracy, Council and other Partner strategies. We do this through our robust participation engagement framework, primarily our “Older Peoples Voice Participation Strategy”. This strategy is made up of our Older People’s Voice Network, Executive Older People’s Council and our annual Older People’s Conference. All of these are supported by our Community and Learning Development staff and provide channels for our elderly communities to raise issues and ensure that their needs are considered in the planning and delivering of policies and services. ELECTED MEMBER DEVELOPMENT SESSION, COUNCIL’S TRANSFORMATION PROGRAMME, 17 February On 17 February, I attended an elected member development session in Cunninghame House, for an update on North Ayrshire Council’s Transformation Programme. The Programme consists of several of our major projects progressing across the Council and form part of our medium to long - term financial plans.
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LEADER’S REPORT • • • 2 Official Information Official Information AYRSHIRE ECONOMIC JOINT COMMITTEE MEETING, 17 February Later on 17 February, I attended a meeting of the Ayrshire Economic Joint Committee (AEJC). Following an update on the Ayrshire Growth Deal (AGD) Programme Risk Register, attendees then received a report on the change request to adopt a phased approach to Full Business Case development and demonstrator project delivery, following approval by the UK and Scottish Governments. This included the proposal for next steps to deliver the programme of pathfinder projects and the feasibility assessment and re-scoping of the Centre of Excellence facility. The Community Renewable Energy (CoRE) project is one of three AGD projects being delivered by East Ayrshire Council. CoRE aims to showcase how a Green recovery can transform our rural towns and villages and make our communities better connected, healthier and improve the standard of living through a just transition, whilst support the creation of long-term sustainable jobs. The project is supported by an investment of £17 million from the UK Government and £7.5 million from East Ayrshire Council. TRADE UNION AND PRESS BUDGET BRIEFINGS, 20 February On 20 February, I attended two separate budget briefings: the first with Trade Unions and the second with the Press. These were in advance of the Budget Council meeting held on 26 February. Despite The Council facing unprecedented budget challenges, I am pleased that we have been able to set a balanced budget for 2025/26 while protecting our valuable services within our communities. THE GREAT HARBOUR PHASE 1 PHOTOCALL, 24 February On 24 February I attended an official photo call to mark the first phase of the Ayrshire Growth Deal (AGD) project “The Great Harbour” which is set to transform Irvine’s Harbourside area. The £14 million Ayrshire Growth Deal project is being supported with £9 million from the Scottish Government. The “Great Harbour” is a key component of the £251m Ayrshire Growth Deal and one of the most ambitious and transformational regeneration tourism proposals for the region. Contractors McLaughlin Construction are carrying out the first phase works which will include the development of a themed regional playpark. A skatepark is also being
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LEADER’S REPORT • • • 3 Official Information Official Information constructed, while there will be repairs to the Pilot House building and new landscaped park setting that reflects the coastal location, improved active travel connections and the re-lining of the Beach Drive car park to increase capacity. 1ST TIER JOINT CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE & CORPORATE HEALTH AND SAFETY GROUP MEETING, 25 February On 25 February, 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. The LiveWell Group continues to promote wellbeing activities and campaigns to support the wellbeing of our workforce via a range of communication channels including email, News in Brief, SharePoint and social media platforms. The LiveWell Programme is split into five key themes: PlayWell, BeWell, WorkWell, EatWell and SaveWell, and over the past few months have arranged the following, to name but a few: • The LiveWell group teamed up with the Outdoor Partnership to offer our employees the opportunity to try outdoor and water-based activities. Two sessions of canoeing on the River Irvine took place enabling 22 people to take part. For LiveWell the main objective was to use outdoor activities to encourage work colleagues to socialise and as a means of exercise. • KA Leisure and walking groups. • Active Travel and Trinity Hub initiatives, including free social bike ride sessions and Learn to Cycle sessions for pre-school and adults. • Honeybee Meditation and Soundbath Taster • Everyday Mindfulness, 4-week Course • Various Health Check sessions held throughout various locations in North Ayrshire for Council staff • A survey in relation to our Menopause guide which was initially introduced in 2019. As a result of this survey, and discussions with the trade unions, a new menopause guide has been published. • A new Employee Assistance Programme has also been launched. This provides employees a confidential support line offering a range of support for both personal and work matters.
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LEADER’S REPORT • • • 4 Official Information Official Information COLLABORATING TO REDUCE HEALTH INEQUALITIES: LAUNCH EVENT, 25 February Later on the 25 February I attended a launch event at Saltcoats Town Hall, “Collaborating To Reduce Health Inequalities” to mark the beginning a new working partnership and ambitious project. This bold new collaboration will work to enable people to live longer, healthier lives across North Ayrshire. North Ayrshire Council has started work with the Collaboration for Health Equity in Scotland, which brings the Council and NHS Ayrshire & Arran together with Public Health Scotland and the Institute of Health Equity to strengthen our local plans and improve wellbeing in our communities. Over the next two years, the partnership will support us to understand the actions which will have the greatest impact on health inequalities locally. By doing this, we aim to address the root causes of health inequalities and prevent illness before it starts. My thanks to everyone who attended the event, to all the speakers in particular Professor Marmot and of course, to North Ayrshire Council Director for Education, Sam Anson and team for organising such an interesting and informative event. OFFICIAL OPENING OF THE DIGITAL PROCESSING MANUFACTURING CENTRE (DPMC), 27 February On 27 February I was pleased to be invited along to the official opening of the Digital Processing Manufacturing Centre (DPMC) in Irvine. Hosted by the National Manufacturing Institute Scotland (NMIS), as part of the University of Strathclyde, the official opening was well attended by several guests including the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Scotland, Kirsty McNeill. The Digital Process Manufacturing Centre is a new centre designed to support process manufacturing industries with next-generation technologies to fuel economic growth and help to position the Ayrshire region as a leader in smart manufacturing and digital skills. For North Ayrshire Council it has been an important project to secure, using the Ayrshire Growth Deal as a catalyst, as it brings a key anchor organisation to Irvine and Ayrshire in the form of the University of Strathclyde and NMIS. This closely aligns with the Council’s pioneering work on Community Wealth Building and we hope that the pilot and future planned permanent facility will support the transformation of digital skills in Ayrshire and beyond. I would like to thank all the partners involved in helping us to get to this stage, it is a great achievement and shows the strength of partnership working with the Council as an enabler,
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LEADER’S REPORT • • • 5 Official Information Official Information the professional expertise and vision of NMIS and CPI and also the vital support from Booth Welsh and Scottish Enterprise NHS AYRSHIRE AND ARRAN HEALTHCARE GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE, 3 March On 3 March, 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: • Health Visiting Pathway assurance report • Child Death Overview Process • Quality and Safety Walkrounds • Recommended Summary Plan for Emergency Care and Treatment (ReSPECT) update The minutes from various Corporate Governance meetings were also approved, including the Acute Services Clinical Governance Group, the Area Drug and Therapeutic Committee, the Paediatric Clinical Governance Group and the Prevention and Control of Infection Committee. Attendees also received various Risk reports including the Healthcare Governance Committee Risk Register, Significant Adverse Event Review progress report, Significant Adverse Event Review Key Performance Indicators and Improvement Plan. The Committee will meet again on 28 April 2025. COMMUNITY PLANNING PARTNERSHIP BOARD MEETING, 10 March On 10 March, I chaired a meeting of the Community Planning Partnership (CPP) Board at Fullarton Conexions. The Partnership received various updates on Child Poverty and the Cost of Living from the North Ayrshire Council Fairer Futures Team and also an update from KA Leisure on the work taking place around the North Ayrshire Wellbeing Alliance. Under the previous Child Poverty and Cost of Living Board, important developments have included the progress on working towards a Single Shared Assessment (SSA) funded by the Child Poverty Accelerator Fund and the establishment of the No Wrong Door approach. There are also a range of initiatives funded through the Child Poverty and Early Intervention Fund (CPEIF). Successful allocation of Fairer Futures Partnerships (FFP) funding has now enabled the formation of a dedicated Child Poverty Strategy Team, situated within the Education Directorate, with a key oversight role in collectively delivering holistic support, alongside the transition to a wellbeing economy, in reducing child poverty rates in North Ayrshire.
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LEADER’S REPORT • • • 6 Official Information Official Information IRVINE CLEAN UP CREW, BEACH COMMUNITY CLEAN UP, 15 March On 15 March, together with North Ayrshire Council Depute Leader, Councillor Shaun Macaulay, I took part in a community beach clean-up at Irvine beach. This provided the opportunity to meet with some of the volunteers of the Irvine Clean Up Crew and to get involved in some of the invaluable work they do to keep our local streets and beaches clean and tidy. I would like to thank all the volunteers who help regularly with the community clean ups, it is a first-class example of a community working together to help benefit their local area for everyone to enjoy. Councillor Marie Burns Leader of North Ayrshire Council