Democracy Spraffa

Agenda Contents

North Ayrshire Council · 17 May 2023
Back to North Ayrshire Council — 17 May 2023 and its agenda

Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.

Original council PDF · Download plain text

Page 1

North Ayrshire Council, Cunninghame House, Irvine KA12 8EE         
North Ayrshire Council 
A Meeting of North Ayrshire Council will be held in the Council Chambers, Ground
Floor, Cunninghame House, Irvine, KA12 8EE on Wednesday, 17 May 2023 at
14:00 to consider the undernoted business. 
Meeting Arrangements - Hybrid Meetings
This meeting will be held on a predominantly physical basis but with
provision, by prior notification, for remote attendance by Elected
Members in accordance with the provisions of the Local Government
(Scotland) Act 2003.  Where possible, the meeting will be live-streamed
and available to view at https://north-ayrshire.public-
i.tv/core/portal/home.   
1 Apologies 
2 Declarations of Interest
Members are requested to give notice of any declarations of interest in
respect of items of business on the Agenda. 
3 Previous Minute
The accuracy of the Minutes of the Meeting of the Council held on 29
March 2023 will be confirmed and the Minutes signed in accordance with
Paragraph 7(1) of Schedule 7 of the Local Government (Scotland) Act
1973. 
4 Provost's Report
Submit report by the Provost for the period covering 20 March 2023 - 7
May 2023 (copy enclosed). 
5 Leader's Report
Submit report by the Leader of the Council for the period covering 20
March 2023 - 7 May 2023 (copy enclosed).

Page 2

North Ayrshire Council, Cunninghame House, Irvine KA12 8EE 
6 Minute Volume (issued under separate cover)
Submit, for noting and for approval of any recommendations contained
therein, the Minutes of Meeting of committees of the Council held in the
period 27 January - 2 May 2023. 
7 Appointments to Committee
The Council is invited (a) in respect of the North Ayrshire Integration Joint
Board, to note (i) the resignation of Councillor McPhater effective from 5
May 2023 and (i) the appointment of Councillor Foster to fill this vacancy
in terms of Standing Order 8.5, effective from 17 May 2023; and (b) in
respect of the Police and Fire and Rescue Committee, to note (i) the
resignation of Councillor Gallacher effective from 5 May 2023 and (ii) the
appointment of Councillor S. Ferguson to fill this vacancy in terms of
Standing Order 8.5, effective from 20 May 2023. 
8 Appointment to Outside Body
The Council is invited, in respect of the Corporate Health and Safety
Group (a) to note the resignation of Councillor Foster, effective from 5
May 2023; and (b) to consider (i) a nomination, duly proposed and
seconded, for Councillor McPhater to fill this vacancy with immediate
effect and (ii) any other nominations duly intimated prior to 12 noon on 17
May 2023, in terms of Standing Order 8.4 
9 Annual Review of Governance Documents
The Council is invited to consider the following reports in terms of the
annual review of the Council's suite of Governance documents which
regulate the operation of Council, its committees and officers. 
9.1  Scheme of Administration
Submit report by the Chief Executive on the Council's Scheme of
Administration (copy enclosed). 
9.2  Revision of Standing Orders Relating to Meetings and Proceedings
of the Council and Committees
Submit report by the Chief Executive on the review of the Standing
Orders Relating to Meetings and Proceedings of the Council and
Committees (copy enclosed). 
9.3  Scheme of Delegation to Officers
Submit report by the Chief Executive on the Council's Scheme of
Delegation to Officers (copy enclosed). 
9.4  Other Key Governance Documents
Submit report by the Chief Executive on other key governance
documents regulating the operation of the Council, its committees and
officers (copy enclosed).

Page 3

North Ayrshire Council, Cunninghame House, Irvine KA12 8EE 
10  Questions
In terms of Standing Order 14, submit:-  
(1) a question by Councillor Marshall to the Cabinet Member for
Finance in the following terms:
“Noting that the Scottish Government is consulting on a proposal to
permit Councils to double Council Tax on second homes from 2024 and
to apply larger multipliers in subsequent years, does the Member support
this proposal and can she outline both the benefits and disbenefits of
such a policy?”  
(2) a question by Councillor Sweeney to the Cabinet Member for the
Economy and Climate Change in the following terms:
“The Administration failed to secure the purchase of the former Lonsdale
pub site in Stevenston, with the site being sold to a new private
owner.  Months later and following a promise from the Cabinet Member
that the Council would approach the new owners to discuss their plans
for the site, the “sold” sign is still up and the site remains in a state of
disrepair. Can the Cabinet Member provide an update on plans for the
site?”  
(3) a question by Councillor Murdoch to the Leader of the Council in
the following terms:
“I asked the following question at the Full Council Meeting held on
Wednesday 8 September 2021:  
“Can the Leader of the Council please provide any examples of a North
Ayrshire Sole Trader winning a tender for work with NAC through the
Community Wealth Building Initiative and can you please provide details
of how many North Ayrshire Sole Traders or small businesses with one or
two employees are on the tendering list?”  
Can the Leader of the Council please inform me what the current answer
to this question is and what has changed in the Community Wealth
Building process since 8 September 2021?”  
(4) a question by Councillor Marshall to the Cabinet Member for
Finance in the following terms:
“For the period from April 2021, can the Cabinet Member please list the
names of Consultants employed by the Council  the value of contract
awarded, the specification or purpose of contract, name of the authorising
Service and source of the budget?”

Page 4

North Ayrshire Council, Cunninghame House, Irvine KA12 8EE  
(5)  a question by Councillor Foster to the Cabinet Member for
Finance in the following terms:
“At the budget meeting on 1 March, the SNP Administration voted against
raising the amount the Council give in holiday meal entitlement to £4 per
day, yet two weeks later raised the amount by a paltry 5p per day.  Can
the Cabinet Member advise Council how they managed to do this given
Standing order 15.4 which states “A notice of motion or amendment shall
not be deemed competent for inclusion or consideration on the agenda if,
in the opinion of the Solicitor to the Council the motion or amendment is:
the same or similar to a motion determined at Council in the previous 6
months”?  
(6) a question by Councillor McDonald to the Cabinet Member for
Education in the following terms:
“The SNP Administration’s budget made cuts to school meals which
would remove the Council’s Food for Life accreditation. Can the Cabinet
Member tell us the impact on the nutritional standards of school meals?”  
(7) a question by Councillor McPhater to the Cabinet Member for the
Economy and Climate Change in the following terms:
“Can I ask can the Cabinet Member how much more rent did a tenant at
Redburn Grove pay to the Council 22/23 in comparison to Housing
Revenue Account tenants?”  
(8) a question by Councillor Cullinane to the Cabinet Member for
Education in the following terms:
“The new First Minister has announced a £4.5million capital fund to
support Councils in providing after school and holiday clubs. Can the
Cabinet Member advise us whether the Administration intends to submit
a funding bid that could improve access to out of school services in North
Ayrshire?”  
(9) a question by Councillor Montgomerie to the Cabinet Member for
the Economy and Climate Change in the following terms:
“The toilets at the Melbourne Park have been closed to approaching two
years now.  Can the Cabinet Member tell me when this toilet block will be
repaired and opened back up for public use?”  
(10) a question by Councillor Kerr to the Cabinet Member for the
Economy and Climate Change in the following terms:
“In September 2020, the Fraser of Allander Institute published ‘The
impact of Covid-19 on the Arran Economy’, a report commissioned by the
last Administration. Included in the report was an assessment that the
ferry is worth around £170,000 per day to the island’s economy. Can the
Cabinet Member tell us how much the Arran economy has lost due to
cancelled ferry services since the report was published?”

Page 5

North Ayrshire Council, Cunninghame House, Irvine KA12 8EE  
(11) a question by Councillor Foster to the Provost in the following
terms:
“Given the role of the Provost as civic head of the Council and the
supposed role as impartial chair of Council meetings, does the Provost
regret amplifying views on her social media account stating that Anas
Sarwar is a “hypocrite for celebrating Pakistan’s separation from India”,
that “the SNP came out just fine after the Salmond fiasco”, that “it’s a
witch hunt for Peter Murrell and Nicola Sturgeon”, that “we trust the SNP
to get us there, whatever way the money is spent is good as far as I’m
concerned” and that “Police leaks are behind the press being given
information about the investigation into the SNP”?”  
(12) a question by Councillor McDonald to the Cabinet Member for
Education in the following terms:
“Can the Cabinet Member tell me how many breakfast clubs there are in
our schools and early years centres?”  
(13) a question by Councillor McPhater to the Cabinet Member for
Finance in the following terms:
“The SNP Administration has now launched its job cuts fund.  Can the
Cabinet Member now advise us (a) what roles the Administration aim to
cut and (b) the annual savings they expect to achieve?” 
11  Motions
In terms of Standing Order 15, submit:-  
(1) a motion by Councillor Marshall, seconded by Councillor
Murdoch, in the following terms:
“Cal Mac is to introduce a new e-ticketing system (At Turas) which will
result in the removal of the season ticket scheme for those who commute
daily from Cumbrae to the mainland.  This will result in a 70% increase in
fares for commuters including care workers, teachers, nurses, doctors
and all those who travel daily from or to the island to perform services for
the community. The cost of a typical season ticket of £463 will be
replaced by an equivalent cost for a day return over 220 days of £792.   
We move that the Council instruct the Chief Executive to write to Kevin
Stewart the Transport Minister and Robbie Drummond as Cal Mac Chief
Executive requesting that the season ticket is reinstated, acknowledging
that the increase in costs is unacceptable in the present climate for a
fragile community and does not align with the governments objectives for
Islands to make them sustainable in the long term."

Page 6

North Ayrshire Council, Cunninghame House, Irvine KA12 8EE  
(2) a motion by Councillor McDonald, seconded by Councillor Bell, in
the following terms:
"Council notes that some areas currently don't have an active Community
Council. Council further notes that Community Councils as the first tier of
Local Government are an important and vital part of local democracy.
Council therefore agrees to instruct officers to bring to a special Council
meeting a report outlining the current operation of Community Councils in
our area and highlighting which areas do not have an active Community
Council.  Officers are also requested to advise Council of the process for
the review of the Scheme of Establishment of Community Councils and
its implications in the event that Council decides at a special meeting to
review the Scheme.”  
(3) a motion by Councillor Foster, seconded by Councillor Cullinane,
in the following terms:
“North Ayrshire Council agrees in principle to scrap all school meal debt
by the start of the 2023/24 school year and asks that a report is brought
to the June meeting outlining options including financial implications on
how to achieve this aim.”  
(4) a motion by Councillor Foster, seconded by Councillor McPhater,
in the following terms:
“Council asks that a report is tabled to the first meeting of Council
following the summer recess outlining the ownership position and options
for bringing the old forum building, old Ruby Tuesdays building and
subsequent surrounding buildings that have fallen into disrepair back into
a usable state.” 
12  Urgent Items
Any urgent items which the Provost considers to be urgent.

Page 7

North Ayrshire Council, Cunninghame House, Irvine KA12 8EE  
Webcasting
Please note: this meeting may be filmed/recorded/live-streamed to the
Council's internet site and available to view at https://north-
ayrshire.public-i.tv/core/portal/home, where it will be capable of repeated
viewing.  At the start of the meeting, the Provost/Chair will confirm if all or
part of the meeting is being filmed/recorded/live-streamed.  
You should be aware that the Council is a Data Controller under the Data
Protection Act 2018.  Data collected during the webcast will be retained in
accordance with the Council’s published policy, including, but not limited
to, for the purpose of keeping historical records and making those
records available via the Council’s internet site.  
Generally, the press and public seating areas will not be filmed. However,
by entering the Council Chambers, using the press or public seating area
or (by invitation) participating remotely in this meeting, you are
consenting to being filmed and consenting to the use and storage of
those images and sound recordings and any information pertaining to you
contained in them for webcasting or training purposes and for the
purpose of keeping historical records and making those records available
to the public. If you do not wish to participate in a recording, you should
leave the meeting.  This will constitute your revocation of consent.  
If you have any queries regarding this and, in particular, if you believe
that use and/or storage of any particular information would cause, or be
likely to cause, substantial damage or distress to any individual, please
contact dataprotectionofficer@north-ayrshire.gov.uk.

Page 8

North Ayrshire Council, Cunninghame House, Irvine KA12 8EE 
North Ayrshire Council Sederunt 
John Bell
Timothy Billings
Marie Burns
Eleanor Collier
Joe Cullinane
Scott Davidson
Anthea Dickson
Stewart Ferguson
Todd Ferguson
Robert Foster
Scott Gallacher
John Glover
Tony Gurney
Alan Hill
Cameron Inglis
Margaret Johnson
Amanda Kerr
Christina Larsen
Shaun Macaulay
Jean McClung
Nairn McDonald
Matthew McLean
Louise McPhater
Davina McTiernan
Tom Marshall
Jim Montgomerie
Ian Murdoch
Donald Reid
Donald L Reid
Chloe Robertson
Ronnie Stalker
Angela Stephen
John Sweeney 
Chair: 
Apologies: 
Attending: