220311 - ASSJC minute
North Ayrshire Council · 10 June 2022
Back to Ayrshire Shared Services Committee — 10 June 2022 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
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1 AYRSHIRE SHARED SERVICES JOINT COMMITTEE Minutes of Meeting held remotely on 11 March 2022 at 10.00 a.m. Present: Councillors Ian Cochrane (Chair), Alec Clark, Bob Pollock and P. Saxton (South Ayrshire Council); and Councillors Douglas Reid, Tom Cook. Jim Roberts and John McGhee (East Ayrshire Council). Attending: K. Kelly, Depute Chief Executive (East Ayrshire Council); K. Carr, Assistant Director – Place (South Ayrshire Council); P. Whip, Group Finance Manager; (East Ayrshire Council); K. Braidwood, Head of Roads - Ayrshire Roads Alliance; A. Nelson, Co-ordinator – Democratic Services (South Ayrshire Council); and F. Maher, Committee Services Officer (South Ayrshire Council). 1. Declarations of Interest There were no declarations of interest by Members in terms of the Joint Committee’s Order No. 25 and the Councillors’ Code of Conduct. 2. Minutes of Previous Meeting The Minutes of 5 November 2021 (issued) were submitted and approved. 3. Ayrshire Roads Alliance – Revenue Financial Monitoring Report There was submitted a report (issued) of 11 March 2022 by the Chief Financial Officer and Head of Finance & ICT providing an update on the revenue budget monitoring position for the year to 2 January 2022, for the Ayrshire Roads Alliance. Comments and questions from Members included: (a) Have ARA included projections going forward for the increase in gas, electricity and vehicle fuel; and the Group Finance Manager (EAC) advised that this was factored in as part of budget setting and will remain on the radar. The Head of Roads – ARA added that rising costs (e.g. bitumen, fuel, white diesel) will be closely monitored in 2022/23. (b) Are ARA still taking on Modern Apprentices and other vacancies; and the Head of Roads – ARA advised that they were still taking on Modern Apprentices and were shortly going to be advertising for road workers. ARA intend to retain as much work as possible in-house. (c) Did ARA submit independent response or was this factored through the Councils; and the Head of Roads – ARA advised that response was through colleagues in Planning. (d) The Depute Chief Executive (EAC) gave re-assurance that business continuity plans were in place (referring to Ukraine crisis/leaving the EU) and fuel contingencies were also in place. The situation will be kept under review both financially and in terms of business continuity. Decided: (1) to note the financial management position of the Ayrshire Roads Alliance;
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2 (2) to request a further financial update at the next meeting of the Joint Committee; and (3) to otherwise note the contents of this report. 4. Roadworks Programme 2021/22 There was submitted a report (issued) of 11 March 2022 by the Head of Roads, Ayrshire Roads Alliance to advise the Joint Committee of work completed through the roads improvement programmes within East Ayrshire and South Ayrshire for financial year 2021-2022. Comments and questions from Members included: (a) Have ARA had a meeting with residents; and the Head of Roads – ARA advised that a report was sent to the spokesperson (Mr Stroud) and he came back with questions. Next step is for ARA to assess response and find acceptable solution for residents. (b) Complaints being received regarding the level of LED lighting; and the Head of Roads – ARA advised that, although the LEDs emit an acceptable level of lighting, ARA have also experienced a number of complaints. Level of lighting on footways to be reviewed. (c) Active Travel Strategy – will this be taken on board for safer walking and cycle routes; and the Head of Roads – ARA advised that yes, this will be taken on board and a paper had been taken to the Leadership Panel. Programme will be put together for annual review and this will evolve over it’s 10 year lifespan and will take into account rural villages. (d) What strength will electric vehicle chargers be and how long does it take to charge the vehicle; and the Head of Roads – ARA advised 7 kw (takes approximately 2 hrs to charge), whereas the rapid charger is 22 kw and takes 20-30 minutes). Discussion also took place on whether or not there should be a charge to the public and whether this should be per hour, per day and also fine for over-use. ARA will ensure all three Ayrshire Councils are aligned in terms of policy and pricing structure. (e) Poor condition of Dailly Back Road; and the Head of Roads – ARA advised this has been carried into 2022/23 programme – dates being set in conjunction with Scottish Roadworks Register and, once confirmed, these dates will be issued to Members. (f) Is Ellis Drive included in the programme; complaints have been received regarding LED lighting in Fairyhill Road; Kilmarnock Bus Station renovation programme update; Academy Steps (off Stirling Street) – south steps have been completed, people need to be kept informed of the position with the north steps; and the Head of Roads – ARA advised that Ellis Drive will be included as part of the Howard Street project; Fairyhill Road will get checked; Kilmarnock Bus Station works will commence early Summer. ARA will work with Comms and agree timeline for press statement. Completion should be early 2023; Academy Steps – update will be provided to the public. (g) Bridge of Coyle and Girvan Harbour Jetty – what is the situation with budget; and the Head of Roads – ARA advised that Bridge of Coyle works now complete, with weight restrictions in place – no more spend required. Girvan Harbour Jetty – contractor highlighted some issues, however money can be moved from Bridges capital budget to cover this. (h) Troon flood risk management strategy will be in place by the summer and a paper will be produced for this.
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3 Decided: (1) to note the Ayrshire Roads Alliance works completed in 2021/22; and (2) to otherwise note the contents of the report. 5. Ayrshire Roads Alliance Risk Register There was submitted a report (issued) of March 2022 by the Head of Roads, Ayrshire Roads Alliance advising on the management of risk associated with the Ayrshire Roads Alliance. A comment was made regarding Ash Die Back and what the current situation was; and the Head of Roads – ARA advised that through the Roads Scotland Act owners of affected ash trees will be identified and will be written to advising that ash die back has affected their tree and will advise that it requires to be removed. Failure to do so will result in ARA bringing the tree down with a charge back to the owner. Decided: (1) to note the risk register as detailed in the report; (2) to continue to receive updates on progress; and (3) to otherwise note the contents of the report. 6. Ayrshire Roads Alliance – Update on Performance Scorecard There was submitted a report (issued) of March 2022 by the Head of Roads, Ayrshire Roads Alliance regarding progress made to date against the Performance Scorecard. The Head of Roads – ARA advised that improvements were being made to the ARA website and this will include a dedicated area for Members to access. Decided: (1) to note the performance scorecard presented in the report; (2) to agree to continue to receive performance scorecard updates; (3) to otherwise note the contents of the report. 7. Ayrshire Roads Alliance – Service Plan Improvement Actions There was submitted a report (issued) of March 2022 by the Head of Roads, Ayrshire Roads Alliance regarding the management of the Action Plan detailed in the 2021/22 service plan. The Head of Roads – ARA advised that this will become a standard agenda item going forward. A Member commented on the Levelling Up Fund, and requested an update on A75/A77; and the Head of Roads – ARA advised that there are 3 projects which ARA
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4 are involved with – namely the A75/A77 economic impact assessment, which will feed into the UK connectivity; the Bellfield Interchange in Kilmarnock, with a plan to improve capacity and the A70 which cuts across South Ayrshire and East Ayrshire – consultants working on junction improvement, active travel, electric vehicle charging points and improved road safety. Decided: (1) to note the Service Plan Improvement Actions presented in this report; (2) to continue to receive updates on progress; and (3) to otherwise note the contents of the report. The meeting ended at 11h24.