Agenda Document Pack - Ayrshire Economic Joint Committee - 19/02/2024
North Ayrshire Council · 19 February 2024
Back to Ayrshire Economic Joint Committee — 19 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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North Ayrshire Council, Cunninghame House, Irvine KA12 8EE Ayrshire Economic Joint Committee A Special Meeting of the Ayrshire Economic Joint Committee of North Ayrshire Council will be held remotely on Monday, 19 February 2024 at 14:00 to consider the undernoted business. Meeting Arrangements - Not live streamed 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. Exclusion of the Public - Para 9 Resolve in terms of Section 50(A)4 of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973, to exclude from the Meeting the press and the public for the following item of business on the grounds indicated in terms of Paragraph 9 of Part 1 of Schedule 7A of the Act. Non Disclosure of Information In terms of Standing Order 21 (Disclosure of Information), the information contained within the following report is confidential information within the meaning of Section 50A of the 1973 Act and shall not be disclosed to any person by any Member or Officer. 1 Declarations of Interest Members are requested to give notice of any declarations of interest in respect of items of business on the Agenda. 2 Minutes The accuracy of the Minutes of (a) Ordinary meeting of the Joint Committee held on 20 November 2023 and (b) Special meeting of the Joint Committee held on 15 January 2024 will be confirmed and the Minutes signed in accordance with Paragraph 7 (1) of Schedule 7 of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 (copy enclosed). 1
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North Ayrshire Council, Cunninghame House, Irvine KA12 8EE 3 Exempt Item Ayrshire Growth Deal Spaceport Project Submit report by the Chief Executive (South Ayrshire Council) on the Ayrshire Growth Deal (AGD) Spaceport Project and seeking approval for next steps (copy enclosed). 2
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North Ayrshire Council, Cunninghame House, Irvine KA12 8EE Ayrshire Economic Joint Committee Sederunt North Ayrshire Council Councillor Marie Burns Councillor Joe Cullinane Councillor Anthony Gurney Craig Hatton Russell McCutcheon Neale McIlvanney Louise Kirk East Ayrshire Council Councillor Douglas Reid Councillor Iain Linton Councillor Maureen McKay Councillor Stephen Canning (sub) Councillor Barry Douglas (sub) Councillor William Lennox (sub) Eddie Fraser David McDowall Graham Saunders South Ayrshire Council Councillor Martin Dowey Councillor William Grant Councillor Bob Pollock George Hunter Theo Leijser Mike Newall Others Simon Foster, Spirit Aerosystems Jane Martin, Scottish Enterprise Angela Cox, Ayrshire College Paul Zealey, Skills Development Scotland Chair: Apologies: Attending: 3
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Ayrshire Economic Joint Committee 20 November 2023 At a Meeting of the Ayrshire Economic Joint Committee at 2.00 p.m. involving participation by remote electronic means. Present Councillors Marie Burns and Anthony Gurney (North Ayrshire Council); Maureen McKay (East Ayrshire Council); and Martin Dowey, William Grant and Bob Pollock (South Ayrshire Council). In Attendance R. McCutcheon, N. McIlvanney and A. Finlayson (North Ayrshire Council); R. Grieveson, D. McDowall, G. Saunders and P. Davies (East Ayrshire Council); M. Newall, L. Reid and S. Yeardley (South Ayrshire Council); J. Martin (Scottish Enterprise); C. Stewart and H. Clancy (North Ayrshire Council). Apologies Councillors Iain Linton, Douglas Reid (East Ayrshire Council) and William Grant (South Ayrshire Council); C. Hatton and L. Kirk (North Ayrshire Council); E. Fraser, J. McLachlan, E. Mackay and D. Watt (East Ayrshire Council); A. Cox (Ayrshire College) and P. Zealey (Skills Development Scotland). Chair Councillor Marie Burns in the Chair. 1. Declarations of Interest There were no declarations of interest by Members in terms of Standing Order 11 and Section 5 of the Code of Conduct for Councillors 2. Appointment of Chair The Joint Committee agreed (a) to note the appointment of Councillor Marie Burns (North Ayrshire Council) as Chair of the Ayrshire Economic Joint Committee (AEJC) for the period from September 2023 to 31 August 2024; and (b) to ratify the appointment of Councillor Marie Burns as Chair of the Ayrshire Economic Partnership Board (AEPB) for the period from September 2023 to 31 August 2024. 3. Minutes The Minutes of Special meetings of the Joint Committee held on 7 August 2023 and 18 September 2023 were confirmed and the Minutes signed in accordance with Paragraph 7 (1) of Schedule 7 of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973. 4. Ayrshire Growth Deal (AGD) Internal Audit Annual Report 2022/23 Submitted report by the Chief Auditor (East Ayrshire Council) providing an annual report on internal audit activity in line with obligations laid out in Ayrshire Growth Deal (AGD) Governance Document. Agenda Item 2 5
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A Member asked a question and was provided with further information in relation to the difference in terminology, regarding the words used in the Audit report, i.e., ‘general risk and control’ as compared to ‘general risk and compliance’. The Joint Committee agreed to note (i) the current arrangements for Internal Audit as laid out at Appendix 1 to the report, (ii) note the work carried out prior to and since inception, including during 2022/23 as laid out at Appendix 2 to the report and (iii) the AGD Annual Internal Audit Opinion of continuing reasonable assurance as laid out in sections 10-11 of the report. 5. Ayrshire Growth Deal (AGD) Internal Audit Plan 2023/24 Submitted report by the Chief Auditor (East Ayrshire Council) providing an annual consolidated internal audit plan in line with obligations laid out in Ayrshire Growth Deal (AGD) Governance document. The Joint Committee agreed to note (i) the current arrangements for Internal Audit as laid out in Appendix 1 to the report, (ii) the regulatory responsibility for each Council to approve days spent on AGD work as laid out at paragraph 7 and the subsequent annual consolidated internal audit plan for the AGD as presented at Appendix 2 to the report and (iii) (c) note the previously agreed arrangements to report the outcomes of individual internal audit assignments laid out at section 8 to the report. 6. Ayrshire Growth Deal (AGD) - Programme Update Submitted report by the Head of Economic Growth (East Ayrshire Council) advising of the progress of the Ayrshire Growth Deal (AGD) and the development of its component projects as at 30 October 2023. The Ayrshire Growth Deal Update of Programme and Projects and the Quarterly Communications Report, as at October 2023, were attached at Appendices 1 and 2, respectively, to the report. The Joint Committee agreed (a) that officers be authorised to liaise with both Governments to progress the projects having regard to the updated position in line with the formal change requirements contained within the Deal protocols; and (b) to note (i) the updates provided in the report (as of 30 October 2023), (ii) the progress across the Ayrshire Growth Deal Programme, and (iii) the proposal for realignment of the reporting requirements, principally the undertaking of the Annual Performance Report, Financial Plan, Implementation Plan and Benefit Realisation Plan at the end of March 24, and onwards at the same time ever year, all subject to agreement from the Government. 7. Ayrshire Growth Deal (AGD) – Programme Risk Register Update (October 2023) Submitted report by the Head of Economic Growth (East Ayrshire Council) providing an update on the AGD Programme Risk Register as at the end of October 2023. The updated risk register was set out at Appendix 1 to the report. The Joint Committee agreed to approve the content of the updated Programme Risk Register dated October 2023, as referred to within the report and set out at Appendix 1 to the report. 6
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8. Schedule of Future Meeting Dates - 2024 The Joint Committee was invited to note that Ordinary Meetings of the Ayrshire Economic Joint Committee (AEJC) would take place at 2.00 p.m. on: Monday 19 February 2024 Monday 20 May 2024 Monday 9 September 2024 Monday 25 November 2024 Noted. 9. Exclusion of the Public – Paras 9 & 10 The Joint Committee resolved in terms of Section 50(A)4 of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973, to exclude from the Meeting the press and the public for the following item of business on the grounds indicated in terms of Paragraphs 9 & 10 of Part 1 of Schedule 7A of the Act. 10. Ayrshire Growth Deal Subsea Cable and Infill projects re-scoping proposal Submitted report by the Project Lead – Digital, Ayrshire Growth Deal (AGD) on the above. The Joint Committee agreed to endorse the recommendations in the report. The meeting ended at 2.25 p.m. 7
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Ayrshire Economic Joint Committee 15 January 2024 At a Special Meeting of the Ayrshire Economic Joint Committee at 2.30 p.m. involving participation by remote electronic means. Present Councillors Marie Burns, Joe Cullinane and Anthony Gurney (North Ayrshire Council); Douglas Reid and Iain Linton (East Ayrshire Council); and Martin Dowey, William Grant and Bob Pollock (South Ayrshire Council). In Attendance R. McCutcheon, N. McIlvanney, L. Kirk, E. McMullen, L. Neill and J. King (North Ayrshire Council); E. Fraser, R. Grieveson, D. McDowall and G. Saunders (East Ayrshire Council); M. Newall and L. Reid (South Ayrshire Council); J. Martin (Scottish Enterprise); P. Zealey (Skills Development Scotland); C. Stewart and S. Wilson (North Ayrshire Council). Apologies Councillor Maureen Mackay (East Ayrshire Council), C. Hatton (North Ayrshire Council) and A. Cox (Ayrshire College). Chair Councillor Marie Burns in the Chair. 1. Declarations of Interest There were no declarations of interest by Members in terms of Standing Order 11 and Section 5 of the Code of Conduct for Councillors 2. Ayrshire Growth Deal (AGD) Community Wealth Building Change Request Submitted report by the Executive Director, Place (North Ayrshire Council) on the summary mid-term review of the Ayrshire Growth Deal (AGD) Community Wealth Building (CWB) Programme and seeking approval to extend the programme by one year. The AGD CWB Programme Review Report was set out at Appendix 1 to the report. The Joint Committee agreed to approve the project change request proposal to extend the programme by one year, noting that the proposal had been supported by the Scottish Government and endorsed by the Ayrshire Economic Partnership Board. 3. Ayrshire Skills Investment Fund (ASIF) Governance Submitted report by the Chief Executive (North Ayrshire Council) seeking approval of the detailed governance arrangements for the Ayrshire Skills and Investment (ASIF) sub-committee of the Ayrshire Economic Joint Committee (AEJC) including the Terms of Reference and Standing Orders. Agenda Item 2 9
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The Joint Committee agreed (a) to approve the Terms of Reference for the Ayrshire Economic Joint Committee Ayrshire Skills Investment Fund Sub-Committee; (b) to note that the agreed governance arrangements had been implemented, creating the AEJC, Ayrshire Skills and Investment Fund Sub-Committee, with delegated authority to award the fund; (c) to ratify the appointment of Councillor Marie Burns (North Ayrshire Council) as Chair and appoint Councillor Bob Pollock (South Ayrshire Council) as Vice-Chair of the Ayrshire Skills and Investment Fund Sub-Committee (ASIF sub-committee); (d) to note the grant funding approved at the meeting of the ASIF sub-committee in November 2023 as detailed in Appendix 3 of the report, in accordance with the general delegation granted by the AEJC on 20 June 2022 and ratify the delegation for approval of grant funding awarded; and (e) that an update be provided to the Joint Committee every 6 months on funding awards and achievements. The meeting ended at 2.40 p.m. 10