230517 LeadersReport
North Ayrshire Council · 17 May 2023
Back to North Ayrshire Council — 17 May 2023 and its agenda
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Official Information Official Information LEADER’S REPORT For the period covering: 20 March – 7 May 2023 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: 20 March – 7 May 2023 MEETING WITH MSYPs, 20 March On 20 March, together with North Ayrshire Council Depute Leader and Cabinet Member for Education, Councillor Shaun Macaulay, I met with North Ayrshire Members of the Scottish Youth Parliament (MSYP) at the Volunteer Rooms in Irvine. It was a productive meeting, with MYSPs discussing some of the work they are currently involved in and their hopes for future collaborative working. There was also some discussion about the recent Scottish Youth Parliament report on the right to food. My thanks to our MSYPs (Mais Al-Diri, Pyper Quayle, Logan Gilmour and Justin Jones) for the useful discussion. ARDROSSAN TASK FORCE MEETING, 22 March On 22 March, I co-chaired a meeting of the Ardrossan Task Force, together with the Scottish Government Transport Minister Jenny Gilruth. Attendees received verbal updates from each of the project partners and also an update on the vessel. The Minister for Transport, with agreement of all partners (Transport Scotland, Peel, NAC, CMAL and CalMac), had previously asked for more frequent meetings to focus on accelerating the process of issuing the invitation to tender for the marine and landside works. Progress in accelerating programme timelines was recognised at the March Taskforce meeting as was the requirement to maintain momentum. NHS ENDOWMENT TRUST MEETING, 23 March I attended a meeting of the NHS Endowment Trust on 23 March. Attendees were asked to consider the General Fund budget for 2023/24 and approve. The next meeting will be held on 27 June 2023.
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LEADER’S REPORT • • • 2 Official Information Official Information CWB COMMISSION MEETING, 24 March On 24 March, I was delighted to welcome Scottish Government Minister for Community Wealth and Public Finance Tom Arthur to Cunninghame House to attend the Community Wealth Building Commission. The Minister gave an overview of the Scottish Government Consultation on CWB Legislation which closes in early May. North Ayrshire Council together with Commission partners will contribute to this by providing responses to the three main areas of focus which are: • What are your views on the proposals for a duty to advance CWB as outlined in the consultation paper? • Are there other non-legislative measures that are required to accelerate the implementation of CWB in Scotland? For example, this might include resourcing / funding considerations / the role of national organisations • Are there areas of legislative change required to advance the approach and the five pillars of CWB in Scotland? Attendees also received updates from the most recent Lead Officers Working Group and also updates on the Procurement workstream and the Regional Economic Strategy. The next CWB Commission meeting will be held on 14 June. NHS AYRSHIRE AND ARRAN BOARD MEETING , 28 March On 24 March, I attended an NHS Ayrshire and Arran Board meeting to discuss a packed agenda. Updates from the Corporate, Audit and Risk, Healthcare Governance, Integrated Governance, Performance Governance and Staff Governance Committees were received and noted. Attendees then received updates on the following: • Health and care delivery planning • Primary Care General Medical Services (GMS) • Urgent care services • Performance
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LEADER’S REPORT • • • 3 Official Information Official Information • Financial management • South Ayrshire Health and Social Care Partnership annual performance report 2021- 2022 • Revenue Plan 2023-2024 • Internal Audit Plan 2023-2024 • New accommodation for medical students • East Ayrshire Integration Joint Board • North Ayrshire Integration Joint Board • South Ayrshire Integration Joint Board DUKE OF EDINBURGH AWARDS CEREMONY, 29 March I was delighted to be asked to give the welcome speech at the Duke of Edinburgh Awards ceremony held at the Ardrossan Civic Centre on 29 March. After a four-year hiatus due to the coronavirus pandemic, it was interesting to hear what our young people have been doing to achieve their Awards during the pandemic. The event provided the platform to meet the hard-working leaders and volunteers who give up so much of their valuable time to support young people through their Awards. It was also great to meet some of the proud parents, guardians and carers who also motivate participants and see the value in their achievements. But most importantly, it was a privilege to meet the enthusiastic young people who have committed anything from three months all the way up to 18 months of weekly effort in order to gain their Duke of Edinburgh’s Awards. Congratulations to all those who achieved their awards which was made all the more impressive given the difficult past few years. NHS AYRSHIRE AND ARRAN COMMUNITY WEALTH BUILDING WORKSHOP, 30 March On 30 March 2023, I attended an NHS Ayrshire and Arran Community Wealth Building (CWB) workshop where attendees were split up into different groups to discuss the following areas: • Fair Work • Procurement • Climate Change • Financial Powers • Land and Assets
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LEADER’S REPORT • • • 4 Official Information Official Information • Pleural Diverse/Inclusive Ownership There was also some discussion about the Scottish Government CWB Legislation Consultation and suggested input from NHS Ayrshire and Arran. COSLA CONVENTION, 31 March On 30 March, I attended COSLA Convention where delegates were asked to approve the COSLA budget for 2023-24. At Convention in March 2021, a four-year Budget was approved covering 1 April 2021 to 31 March 2025. Convention members were asked to approve an updated third year of that Budget, as recommended by the Audit Group, following their meeting on 9 March. Convention also received presentations from the Ethics Standards Commissioner, European Charter on Local Self Government and updates from various COSLA spokespeople. The next COSLA Convention will be held at the Crieff Hydro in September 2023. SPECIAL COSLA LEADERS’, 31 March Following COSLA Convention on 31 March, I then attended a special COSLA Leaders’ meeting where agenda items included the following: • Freedom of Information Reform (Scotland) Bill Consultation • Electoral Reform • National Transfer Scheme for Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children • Funding to Support Ukraine Humanitarian Programmes • National Care Home Contract • Learning Estate Investment Programme – Project Costs Review A number of councils have not yet claimed their full allocation of the £11.2m Scottish Government grant funding set up to support costs incurred by local government in responding to the resettlement of Ukrainian people. The deadline is 31 March 2023. The issue is in relation to capital funding, as the majority of costs incurred are in relation to revenue expenditure. Twenty local authorities have submitted costs amounting to £4m between March – September 2022, the majority of which have been paid. 22 local Authorities submitted claims for costs incurred October – December 2022 amounting to £3.5m, these are currently being checked and processed. There has been no clarity from the UK Government
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LEADER’S REPORT • • • 5 Official Information Official Information on the £150m UK ‘Moving on’ funding and what the share will be for Scotland. However, it has been indicated that this will be on a ‘per arrival basis’ and based on current figures would equate to less than £1,500 per arrival. This will not meet resettlement costs. Local authorities have been advised of the Welcome Accommodation being provided within each area. Continuing Welcome Accommodation in longer term without adequate funding for local authorities will significantly limit the support that can be provided. It is being proposed that a more flexible funding model is sought by Scottish Government to help with increased pressure on services and to help to plug the gap caused by the overall reduction in UK Government funding. HOUSING CEREMONIES, 17 April On 17 April, I was delighted to attend two housing ceremonies. The first of these was the ceremony at Lady Margaret Court in Millport, Cumbrae where 18 new homes have been built as part of the second phase of the new homes at St Beya Gardens. The £3.7 million development was supported by £1.3m of Scottish Government funding and includes a mix of general needs houses, homes for wheelchair users and amenity bungalows. All of the new homes have been built to the Scottish Government’s Greener Standard. Later in the afternoon, I went along to the ceremony at St Colm’s Gardens in Largs which replaces the former sheltered housing unit on the site and features a range of one and two- bedroom homes. The £4.7m development is also supported by £1.7m of Scottish Government funding . The properties have been delivered with the specific needs of older residents in mind, ensuring the high-quality homes complement the communal facilities to support tenants’ wellbeing. Both developments were created in partnership with Ashleigh Scotland and Hub South West and form part of our ongoing extensive housebuilding programme. STAFF ENGAGEMENT SESSION WITH CHIEF EXECUTIVE, 19 April On 19 April, together with North Ayrshire Council Chief Executive Craig Hatton, I took part in the first of several Staff Engagement sessions being held since the pandemic. The “Have your Say” event held at Saltcoats Town Hall provided the platform for attendees to hear about the Council’s plans for the next few years and to hear about the Administration’s key priorities which are the Cost-of-Living Crisis, Climate Emergency and Working with Communities.
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LEADER’S REPORT • • • 6 Official Information Official Information ELECTED MEMBER DEVELOPMENT VISIT TO SHEWALTON SITE, 20 April On 20 April, I took part in the Elected Member Development site visit to Shewalton Waste Transfer Station. The visit also included a presentation on our Zero Waste Strategy which will start in 2023 upon publication of the Scottish Government Route Map and Circular Economy Bill. It is proposed to develop this strategy through the Policy Advisory Panel and specific Elected Member workshops, where the strategy will be considered and implementation plan outlined. This session detailed the situation at National and Local level and included a useful site tour of Shewalton Waste Transfer Station. It also showed the level and type of contamination that happens when items are placed incorrectly in the recycling bins which can adversely influence our recycling performance and processing costs. My thanks to all the officers involved in putting this useful visit together. NHS AYRSHIRE AND ARRAN HEALTHCARE GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE MEETING, 24 April On 24 April, I attended a meeting of the NHS Ayrshire and Arran Healthcare Governance meeting. Attendees received reports on various items in relation to looking after patient safety and there were also various updates on quality improvement for services within NHS Ayrshire and Arran. MOORPARK PRIMARY SCHOOL TOPPING OUT CEREMONY, 26 April I was delighted to go along to the Moorpark Primary school topping-out ceremony held in Kilbirnie on 26 April. The new school is part of North Ayrshire Council’s Capital Investment Programme, which will see improvements for school estate worth £140 m over the next 10 years. In line with one of the Council’s key priorities, sustainability has been at the forefront when designing and building the schools. The building will have an effective natural ventilations strategy which will provide natural, fresh air throughout the year and solar pv panels will also be installed to provide free, renewable electricity for the school building. I look forward to visiting the building upon completion later this year.
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LEADER’S REPORT • • • 7 Official Information Official Information AYRSHIRE ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP BOARD MEETING, 27 April On 27 April, I attended an Ayrshire Economic Partnership Board meeting where attendees received an update on digital projects included in the Ayrshire Growth Deal. It was agreed that South Ayrshire Council would be the Lead Authority for the pan-Ayrshire Digital projects within the Ayrshire Growth Deal. Recently a scoping exercise has been undertaken and identified potential future project options. These will be reviewed and assessed before any decision is made. COSLA LEADERS, 28 April On 28 April, I attended a meeting of COSLA Leaders to discuss a packed agenda covering the following items: • Partnership Agreement between Scottish and Local Government • Local Government Finance • National Care Service • National Care Home Contract Update • Strategic Housing and Humanitarian • Early Learning and Childcare • Scottish Veterinary Service Work has been ongoing since summer 2022 to draft a Partnership Agreement between the Scottish Government and local government. The draft Agreement includes some very specific commitments that would significantly benefit local government, such as the incorporation into Scots Law of the European Charter of Local Self Government, the review of ring-fenced funding, renewed engagement arrangements with the Scottish Government and the conclusion of the Local Governance Review. A detailed programme of work will be developed to underpin the agreement, and this will be brought back for Leaders’ endorsement.
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LEADER’S REPORT • • • 8 Official Information Official Information STAFF ENGAGEMENT SESSION WITH CHIEF EXECUTIVE, 3 May On 3 May, together with North Ayrshire Council Chief Executive Craig Hatton, I took part in the second of our Staff Engagement sessions held this time in Cunninghame House. Attendees heard about the Administration’s key priorities which are the Cost-of-Living Crisis, Climate Emergency and Working with Communities and this was followed by a Question-and-Answer session. Councillor Marie Burns Leader of North Ayrshire Council