Agenda Contents
North Ayrshire Council · 21 June 2023
Back to North Ayrshire Council — 21 June 2023 and its agenda
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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, 21 June 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 livestreamed and available to view at https://northayrshire.publici.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 Minutes The accuracy of the Minutes of the Meeting of the Council held on 17 May 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 8 May 11 June 2023 (copy enclosed). 5 Leader's Report Submit report by the Leader of the Council for the period covering 8 May 11 June 2023 (copy enclosed).
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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 2 December 2022 7 June 2023. 7 Outside Body Appointment Council is invited to (a) note the resignation of Councillor Scott Davidson as the Council's representative on the COSLA Environment and Economy Board, effective from 13 June 2023; (b) consider a nomination, duly proposed and seconded, for Councillor Gurney to fill this vacancy; and (c) consider any further nominations intimated prior to 12 noon on 21 June 2023, in terms of Standing Order 8.4. 8 North Ayrshire Council Plan 202328 Submit report by the Chief Executive on the Council Plan 202328 (copy enclosed) 9 Boundaries Scotland: 2023 Review of Scottish Parliament Boundaries Submit report by the Head of Service (Democratic) on the Boundaries Scotland’s 2023 Review of Scottish Parliament Constituency Boundaries (copy enclosed), 10 Review of North Ayrshire IJB Scheme of Integration Submit report by the Chief Executive on the requirement to review the Scheme of Integration between North Ayrshire Council and NHS Ayrshire and Arran (copy enclosed). 11 North Ayrshire Council Unaudited Annual Accounts 2022/23 Submit report by the Head of Service (Finance) on the unaudited Annual Accounts for the year to 31 March 2023 (copy enclosed). 12 North Ayrshire Council Charitable Trusts: Unaudited Trustees' Annual Report 2022/23 Submit report by the Head of Service (Finance) on the unaudited Trustees' Annual Report for the year to March 2023, for approval by the Council as trustees (copy enclosed). 13 Treasury Management and Investment Annual Report 2022/23 Submit report by the Head of Service (Finance) on the Treasury Management and Investment Annual Report and Prudential Indicators for 2022/23 (copy enclosed). 14 School Meal Debt Submit report by the Executive Director (Communities and Education) on options in response to the Council motion of 17 May 2023 to "scrap all school meal debt by the start of the 2023/24 school year" (copy enclosed).
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North Ayrshire Council, Cunninghame House, Irvine KA12 8EE 15 Questions In terms of Standing Order 14, submit: (1) a question by Councillor Marshall to the Cabinet Member for Education in the following terms: “According to the Corporate Health and Safety Group Meeting dated 25 May 2023, Appendix 1 records Aggression and Violence Incidents in NAC Secondary Schools in Quarter 3 as 52 compared to 31 last year a rise of almost 70% in a comparable quarter. How many of these incidents involve teaching staff and what steps are being taken to address this problem?” (2) a question by Councillor Montgomerie to the Cabinet Member for Green Environment and Economy in the following terms: "The Cabinet Member for Green Environment and Economy made a strong and robust argument in favour of Town Centre parking charges back in February, despite the campaign waged against them by local businesses and residents. Given his and the SNP Administrations unequivocal vote to impose parking charges on people shopping in North Ayrshire Towns, does the Cabinet Member believe it is fair that he has claimed parking costs on his Council expenses?” (3) a question by Councillor McClung to the Cabinet Member for Health and Social Care in the following terms: “According to recently released Public Health Scotland statistics, between 2017 and 2021 there were 111 deaths by suicide in North Ayrshire. Can the Cabinet Member for Health and Social Care please give an update on what work has been undertaken by NAC to reduce the number of deaths by suicide?” (4) a question by Councillor Inglis to the Cabinet Member for Education in the following terms: “PreInspection bully surveys have highlighted issues with bullying in Greenwood Academy and the lack of confidence parents and carers have in the school to handle any problems that have been raised by a child. What can the Cabinet Member do to reassure all parents in North Ayrshire that all schools and staff are equipped to deal with bullying in schools?” (5) a question by Councillor Foster to the Leader of the Council in the following terms: "NHS Ayrshire and Arran has not set a balanced budget for 2023/24. As the Council’s representative on the local health board, what assurances can the Council Leader give that the health board has a plan to sustain and indeed improve health services for the people of North Ayrshire?" (6) a question by Councillor McLean to the Cabinet Member for Green Environment and Economy in the following terms: “What has made the Member change their mind regarding investment zones?”
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North Ayrshire Council, Cunninghame House, Irvine KA12 8EE (7) a question by Councillor Kerr to the Leader of the Council in the following terms: “With the resignation of the sixth Transport Minister to have held the position since the reformation of the Ardrossan task force in 2017, does the Council Leader believe the appointment of a seventh will have any impact on the Ardrossan Harbour project?” (8) a question by Councillor Inglis to the Cabinet Member for Green Environment and Economy in the following terms: “To ask the Cabinet Member for Green Environment and Economy if the Council has been in contact with the owners of Rankins pub in Stevenston to ask what their intentions with the building are as it is a blight on Stevenson town centre?” (9) a question by Councillor Kerr to the Cabinet Member for Health and Social Care in the following terms: To ask the Cabinet Member for Health and Social Care what impact the NHS Ayrshire and Arran budget deficit will have on the IJB?” (10) a question by Councillor Billings to the Leader of the Council in the following terms: “In May 2023, the Accounts Commission published the report ‘Local Government in Scotland – Overview 2023. The report contained some dire warnings about the fragility of local services in Scotland and made a number of very challenging recommendation on how to mitigate the effects of underfunding of local authority services and the staffing difficulties we are currently experiencing. What approach does North Ayrshire Council’s Administration intend to take to implements the Account Commission’s recommendations?” (11) a question by Councillor Billings to the Cabinet Member for Health and Social Care in the following terms: “In 2022, it was agreed to pilot on Arran the use of selfemployed carers for people choosing selfdirected care. Please could the Cabinet Member provide an update on this pilot, including the number of selfemployed carers that the service makes payment to and the number of residents making use of this service?” (12) a question by Councillor McLean to the Cabinet Member for Green Environment and Economy in the following terms: “Does the Cabinet Member believe that the current funding allocated the roads budget is sustainable, considering the recent report the Irvine Locality Partnership showing that there is a backlog of carriageway maintenance that is currently 7 times the annual roads budget allocated in 23/24?” (13) a question by Councillor Marshall to the Cabinet Member for Green Environment and Economy in the following terms: “To ask the Portfolio holder for Green Environment and Economy to:
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North Ayrshire Council, Cunninghame House, Irvine KA12 8EE a. Visit and sit for 30 minutes on the newly installed black seating benches either on the Seafront in Largs or in Ardrossan and rate their comfort on a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 being uncomfortable and 10 being comfortable. b. State the cost of one bench. c. State who placed the order for such and what other options were considered. d. Confirm that the benches meet relevant safety standards.” (14) a question by Councillor Gallacher to the Cabinet Member for Green Environment and Economy in the following terms: "To ask the Cabinet Member how many cases of Japanese knotweed have been reported in Irvine in the past 2 years?" 16 Motions In terms of Standing Order 15, submit: (1) a motion by Councillor Kerr, seconded by Councillor Foster, in the following terms: “Council: 1. Notes the use of zerohour contracts has risen over the last decade, meaning there is an increasing number of workers who do not have a guaranteed number of working hours each week 2. Does not accept the rhetoric that zerohour contracts provide ‘flexibility’ both for the worker and the employer, and instead notes that such contracts nearly always provide onesided flexibility in favour of the employer. 3. Notes workers on zerohour contracts face financial insecurity as a result of: a. the insecurity of not knowing how many hours they are working from weektoweek and, sometimes, from dayto day b. getting too few hours to financially make ends meet spending money to be able to work and then being outof pocket when hours are cancelled (travel costs, childcare costs etc.); c. getting hours at the last minute and having to make urgent arrangements for childcare or other caring responsibilities, or cancel social plans d. the fear of refusing hours lest it results in fewer hours being offered or bullying and harassment from the employer. 4. Recognises any one of these issues can result in the interference and employer control of the worker’s life outside of working time. This can result in debt, health issues because of household poverty and
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North Ayrshire Council, Cunninghame House, Irvine KA12 8EE mental anguish and anxiety. This can not only affect the worker themselves, but the whole family unit. 5. Further notes: a. that despite the government promising on numerous occasion new legislation to provide better security for workers on zerohour contracts, it has failed to do so. b. Zerohour contracts are not only used in the private sector and some local authorities directly employ workers on such contracts. 6. Is proud to be a local authority that does not and will not use zero hour contracts 7. Supports the work of Zero Hours Justice, an organisation which seeks to end exploitative zerohours contracts by providing help for workers on such contracts, and supporting businesses and other organisations that either do not use zerohours contracts or only do so in accordance to minimal criteria This Council resolves to lead by example, and to reaffirm our commitment to providing security to our workers by applying to the Zero Hours Justice Accreditation Scheme, and thus to become an employer that does not both directly employ our workers on zerohour contracts, and indirectly employ workers on zerohour contracts via agency or any thirdparty contractor.” 17 Urgent Items Any other items which the Provost considers to be urgent. Webcasting Please note: this meeting may be filmed/recorded/livestreamed to the Council's internet site and available to view at https://northayrshire.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/livestreamed. 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
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North Ayrshire Council, Cunninghame House, Irvine KA12 8EE 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@northayrshire.gov.uk.
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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: