240214 LeaderReportFinal
North Ayrshire Council · 14 February 2024
Back to North Ayrshire Council — 14 February 2024 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 LEADER’S REPORT For the period covering: 4 December 2023 – 4 February 2024 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: 4 December 2023 – 4 February 2024 NHS AYRSHIRE AND ARRAN BOARD MEETING, 4 December On 4 December, I attended an NHS Ayrshire and Arran Board meeting attendees received updates on various Patient Safety Reports. The Board also received updates from some of the key items from the most recent meetings of the Audit and Risk Committee, HealthCare Governance Committee and Staff Governance Committee. There were also further updates and discussions on the Children’s Services and the Children and Young People’s Service Plans for 2023 – 2026 from North, South and East Ayrshire Councils. SPECIAL MEETING OF THE AYRSHIRE ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP BOARD, 4 December On 4 December, I chaired a special meeting of the Ayrshire Economic Partnership Board to consider a report submitted by South Ayrshire Council on a project from the Ayrshire Growth Deal. MEETING WITH RUTH MAGUIRE MSP, 4 December Also on 4 December, I attended a meeting with Ruth MaGuire MSP for Cunninghame South and North Ayrshire Council’s Chief Executive, Craig Hatton to discuss local issues including, the Irvine Town Centre Fund, Levelling Up Round 3 Award and an update on work at the Great Harbour. IRVINE LOCALITY PARTNERSHIP MEETING, 4 December Later on 4 December, I attended a meeting of the Irvine Locality Partnership at Fullarton Connexions. The Partnership were asked to consider three Community Investment Fund applications from the following local groups: • Broomlands and Bourtreehill Community Association (BABCA) for a community and memorial garden to grow fruit and vegetables.
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LEADER’S REPORT • • • 2 Official Information Official Information • Fullarton Community Association for a “green” outdoor gym and also a separate request to develop projects and fund staffing to cover recently awarded national funding. • Turning Point Scotland for the development of a course, to be delivered by Ayrshire College, for people in recovery from substance or alcohol use. The Partnership also received an update from Irvine Tennis Club on the impact of Community Investment funding and there was discussion to consider partnership opportunities. COMMUNITY WEALTH BUILDING COMMISSION, 5 December On 5 December, I chaired a meeting of the North Ayrshire Community Wealth Building (CWB) Commission in Cunninghame House, Irvine. Attendees received updates from the Lead Officer Working Group, the Ayrshire Regional Economic Strategy and the Ayrshire Growth Deal CWB Fund (Project updates). Attendees also received presentations to hear updates on two streams of CWB work, the Fair Employment workstream and Procurement workstream. COMMUNITY PLANNING PARTNERSHIP BOARD MEETING, 7 December On 7 December, I chaired a meeting of the Community Planning Partnership (CPP) Board. The Board received a presentation from Claire Burden, Chief Executive of NHS Ayrshire and Arran, entitled “Caring for Ayrshire” which asked attendees to consider opportunities to support the work taking place across North Ayrshire. There was also an engagement session facilitated by Green Health Scotland. The CPP are supporting the Green Health Partnership and Greenspace Scotland in developing a new Green Health Framework for North Ayrshire. This links closely across all of the Locality Output Improvement Plan (LOIP) themes, especially World and Wellbeing. There were also presentations and further updates on Democracy Matters 2 (DM2) and work being done on the Cost of Living. DM2 is underway as part of the ongoing review of local governance in Scotland. NHS AYRSHIRE AND ARRAN ENDOWMENT TRUSTEES MEETING, 15 December
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LEADER’S REPORT • • • 3 Official Information Official Information On 15 December, I attended a meeting of the NHS Ayrshire and Arran Endowment Trustees. The Committee received a presentation from the Investment Portfolio Manager at EdenTree. Trustees also received various reports on expenditure in certain funds including the General Fund and the Restricted Fund Plan. COSLA SPECIAL LEADERS, 21 December On 21 December, I attended a special meeting of COSLA Leaders’ to discuss the Scottish Budget and Local Government Settlement 2024/2025. Leaders also received an update on latest developments on the proposed National Care Service. NHS AYRSHIRE AND ARRAN MENTAL HEALTH WORKSHOP, 9 January On 9 January, I attended an NHS Ayrshire and Arran Workshop to discuss Mental Health issues. The aim of the workshop was to raise awareness and the profile of the mental health services agenda with the NHS Board. This included an overview of system wide provision in Ayrshire and Arran including achievements and existing challenges. There was also discussion on the implications of the Public Health paper presented to the Board in October 2023 in the context of the National Strategy and Local Challenges. This was followed by a case study presentation. NHS AYRSHIRE AND ARRAN DEVELOPMENT SESSION, 11 January On 11 January, I attended a development session for NHS Ayrshire and Arran Board Members to discuss Blueprint for Good Governance, Self-assessment and Improvement Plan. The session included presentations, survey results and group discussions to agree areas for improvement. AFTON COURT OPENING CEREMONY, 12 January On 12 January, I attended the official opening of the Afton Court housing development in Stevenston. This new development consists of six new amenity bungalows which have been constructed using environmentally friendly techniques and ensure first-class, modern and energy efficient housing for their residents. GREEN HOME SYSTEMS VISIT, 12 January On 12 January, together with Provost Dickson and Councillor Gurney, Cabinet member and portfolio holder, I visited Green Home Systems based in Irvine. This family-run business specialises in domestic energy efficiency providing effective insulation, heating, renewable
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LEADER’S REPORT • • • 4 Official Information Official Information energy systems and charge point installation services. The business has won numerous awards for their work in the field of Energy Efficiency and their most recent award was for the British Chamber of Commerce UK Planet Saver Award. NHS AYRSHIRE AND ARRAN HEALTHCARE GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE, 15 January On 15 January, I attended an NHS Ayrshire and Arran Healthcare Governance Committee where attendees received reports on patient safety and patient experiences. There was also discussion on quality improvement in areas including maternity care, emergency care and Older People’s care. SPECIAL MEETING OF THE AYRSHIRE ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP BOARD, 15 January On 15 January, I chaired a special meeting of the Ayrshire Economic Partnership Board to consider a report submitted by North Ayrshire Council to note progress on the Ayrshire Growth Deal Community Wealth Building Programme and to approve the mid-term review. The Board were also asked to note and endorse the change request proposal to extend the programme by one year. The request proposal has been supported by the Scottish Government. SPECIAL MEETING OF THE AYRSHIRE ECONOMIC JOINT COMMITTEE, 15 January On 15 January, I chaired a special meeting of the Ayrshire Economic Partnership Board to consider the Community Wealth Building item previously discussed at the Ayrshire Economic Partnership Board (AEPB) earlier that day. The Committee were also asked to consider and approve the Terms of Reference for the Ayrshire Economic Joint Committee Ayrshire Skills Investment Fund Sub Committee (ASIF) and note the agreed governance arrangements that have been implemented. IRVINE LOCALITY PARTNERSHIP MEETING, 15 January Later on 15 January, I attended a meeting of the Irvine Locality Partnership. The Partnership were asked to consider two Community Investment Fund applications which were:
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LEADER’S REPORT • • • 5 Official Information Official Information • Funding for a Community development worker to support the work of the Irvine Locality Partnership and help achieve the aims of the Locality Outcomes Improvement Plan (LOIP) • A bid from “The Micah Project”, a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SCIO) since November 2022 which continues to lead several wellbeing initiatives aimed at supporting families and helping to restore dignity, reduce stigma and decrease waste. The group also runs the New 2U community clothes closet, distributes food surplus and facilitates wellbeing workshops such as sewing and cooking. The Partnership also received an update from Louise Kirk, Interim Head of Service at North Ayrshire Council and Claire Fitzsimmons, Senior Manager from the Economic Development, Growth and Regeneration on the subject of Long-Term Plan for Towns and exploring opportunities for partnership working. BOURTREEHILL PARK VISIT, 19 January On19 January, together with senior officers from the Council and other Irvine East Ward members, I visited Bourtreehill Park to identify and discuss areas within the area that need improvement and upgrading. My thanks to Rhonda Leith, Head of Service for Connected Communities and Thomas Reaney, Head of Service for Neighbourhood Services for organising the visit and taking this much needed work forward. TACKLING CHILD POVERTY AND COST OF LIVING BOARD WORKSHOP, 19 January Also on 19 January, as part of the continued work of the Tackling Child Poverty and Cost of Living Board, I attended a Cost-of-Living Fund Workshop where attendees discussed the Cost- of-Living Fund proposals and the allocation of funding. Proposals for current fund include: • No Wrong Door + • Sustainable childcare provision • Employability travel plans • Care Experienced Young People’s Active Schools programme. There was also some discussion about proposals for future funding which included: • Lend and Mend initiative. • Financial education in schools • Rainbow House – families and young people with disabilities • Support for volunteers
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LEADER’S REPORT • • • 6 Official Information Official Information My thanks again to attendees and officers for your continued work and support with the work of the Tackling Child Poverty and Cost of Living Board. NHS AYRSHIRE AND ARRAN AUDIT AND RISK COMMITTEE, 24 January On 24 January, I attended an NHS Audit and Risk Committee meeting where attendees discussed various Audit and governance papers. The Committee also received reporting on Fraud with an update on the Counter Fraud Services Strategy, The Committee also reviewed and approved the Draft Workplan for 2024/24. TACKLING CHILD POVERTY AND COST OF LIVING BOARD WORKSHOP, 24 January Later on 24 January, I chaired a meeting of the Tackling Child Poverty and Cost of Living Board, where attendees were provided with an update on the Child Poverty Accelerator Fund. The Board were also asked to finalise the proposed Cost of Living input measure. The North Ayrshire Active Schools Team also delivered a presentation on an active schools project to support care experienced learners and families impacted by poverty. The Board will meet again on 6 March. COSLA LEADERS’ MEETING, 26 January On 26 January, I attended a meeting of COSLA Leaders’. It was another packed agenda which included the following items for discussion: • Local Government Finance • Ukraine Funding • Learning Estate Investment Programme (LEP) Update • Council Tax Multipliers • Minimum Learning Hours • National Care Service • MyJobScotland Q1 2024 update • Peer Collaborative Improvement proposals • CHAS Funding
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LEADER’S REPORT • • • 7 Official Information Official Information North Ayrshire Council has successfully engaged with the Scottish Government via the Scottish Futures Trust (SFT) in securing funding through the Learning Estate Investment Programme (LEIP). By promoting best value and contributing towards the achievement of the desired outcomes of the Learning Estate Strategy, both North Ayrshire Council LEIP funded projects will deliver high quality, sustainable, digitally enables, energy efficient learning environments that support inclusive economic growth, the transition to net zero and build resilient and sustainable places. COMMUNITY BUDGET ENGAGEMENT EVENT, 30 January On 30 January, together with North Ayrshire Council Chief Executive Craig Hatton and North Ayrshire Council Head of Finance, Mark Boyd, I met with members from the community and other North Ayrshire Council Elected Members to discuss the budget for the forthcoming financial year. Each year, the process of balancing the budget gets ever more difficult, meaning tough choices undoubtedly must be made therefore, it is important to hear from our communities which services are important to them and give them a say in how we plan for the year ahead. The event also provided the platform to share the results from our recent online Budget Challenge survey. My thanks to all the officers, in particular, Mark Boyd and his team, who have worked so hard in recent months on budget related matters. I would also like to thank the representatives of various community groups and members of the public, who took time to join the online event and share their thoughts with us. Councillor Marie Burns Leader of North Ayrshire Council