260901 - Cabinet Minute
North Ayrshire Council · 29 September 2026
Back to Cabinet — 29 September 2026 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 OFFICIAL INFORMATION Cabinet 1 September 2026 IRVINE, 1 September 2026 - At a Meeting of the Cabinet of North Ayrshire Council at 2.30 p.m. Present (Physical Participation) Tony Gurney, Christina Larsen, Eleanor Collier, Alan Hill, Margaret Johnson, Jean McClung, and for consideration of Education Authority Business Elizabeth Turbet and Jacqui MacKenzie. In Attendance C. Hatton, Chief Executive; S. Anson, Executive Director, A. McClelland, Head of Service and K. McCormick, Executive Manager (Education); R. McCutcheon, Executive Director, and L. Cree, Head of Service (Sustainability, Transport and Corporate Property) (Place); A. Elliot, Senior Manager (Housing Operations), L. Forsyth, Senior Manager (Information and Culture), J. Greenlees, Senior Manager (Connected Communities) (Communities and Housing); E. Currie, Principal Manager (Finance) (Health and Social Care Partnership); M. Boyd, Head of Service, P. Brown, Senior Manager (Audit, Fraud, Safety & Risk), and J. Walls, Team Manager (Corporate Health & Safety) (Finance); F. Walker, Head of Service (People & ICT); A. Craig, Head of Service (Democratic Services), I. Cruickshanks, Senior Manager (Policy, Performance and Democracy); J. Hutcheson, Senior Communications Officer (Media and Internal Communications) and H. Young, Senior Committee Services Officer (Democratic Services) (Corporate Services). Chair Tony Gurney in the Chair. 1. Chair Remarks Prior to commencing with the business of the meeting, Councillor Gurney, Chair, advised Cabinet that Councillor Johnson had resumed the position as Cabinet Portfolio holder for the Health and Social Care Partnership, and that Councillor Jean McClung had been appointed as the new Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Education and welcomed Councillor McClung to her first meeting of Cabinet 2. 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. 3. Minutes The Minutes of meeting of the Cabinet held on 2 June 2026, and the Special meeting held on 19 June 2026 were confirmed and signed in accordance with Paragraph 7 (1) of Schedule 7 of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973.
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OFFICIAL INFORMATION OFFICIAL INFORMATION 4. Education Service Standards and Quality Report 2025-26 Submitted a report by the Executive Director (Education) providing a draft of the statutory annual Standards and Quality Report for the Education Service. The Education Service Standards and Quality Report 2025-26 was attached at Appendix 1 to the report. The Cabinet agreed (a) to approve the contents of the report; and (b) to note that the report would be published and submitted to Scottish Ministers in line with statutory requirements. 5. Education Authority Service Improvement Plan 2026-29, including high-level actions for 2026-27 Submitted a report by the Executive Director (Education) presenting the new Education Service Improvement Plan 2026-2029. The Plan sets out the Education Service’s strategic improvement priorities for the next three years and the high-level activities to be taken forward during session 2026-27 Officers responded to Members’ questions and Cabinet agreed (a) to approve the Education Service Improvement Plan 2026-29, including the high-level actions to be taken forward during session 2026-27; and (b) noted that the plan would be published and submitted to Scottish Ministers, in line with statutory requirements. 6. Pupil Equity Funding in North Ayrshire - Progress Report Submitted a report by the Executive Director (Education) providing an update on (a) the use of Pupil Equity Funding (PEF) in North Ayrshire during session 2025-26 and (b) the range of approaches used by schools to support learners impacted by poverty. Officers responded to Members’ questions and Cabinet agreed to note (a) the use of PEF investment to date; and (b) the positive impact PEF is having within school communities. 7. Our Council Plan Year End Progress Reporting Submitted a report by the Head of Democratic Services advising on progress in delivering Our Council Plan 2023 to 2028 as at Year End 2025 to 2026. Cabinet agreed (a) to approve the Year End Progress Report and Annual Performance Report and note its submission to the Audit and Scrutiny Committee for consideration; (b) to note the status of the Council’s performance indicators within the LGBF Analysis of April 2026 Data Release; and (c) to approve the revisions to four Education 2025 to 2026 targets and the revision of 2027 to 2028 targets outlined in section 4 of the report.
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OFFICIAL INFORMATION OFFICIAL INFORMATION 8. Health and Safety Annual Report 2025/26 Submitted a report by the Head of Finance providing an annual report on the Health and Safety performance within Council Services during 2025/26. The Annual Report 2025/26 and 3 Year Statistical Comparison 2023-2026 was attached at Appendix 1 to the report. Officers responded to Members’ questions and Cabinet agreed to note the Annual Health & Safety Performance update for 2025/26 and 3 Year Statistical Comparison 2023-2026 attached at Appendix 1 to the report. 9. Capital Programme and Treasury Management Performance to 30 June 2026 Submitted a report by the Head of Finance providing an update on the progress in delivering the Capital Investment Programme 2026/27 and the associated Treasury Management performance to 30 June 2026. Officers responded to Members’ questions and Cabinet agreed (a) to note (i) the revisions to budgets outlined in the report; (ii) the General Services and HRA revised budgets at 30 June 2026; and (iii) the forecast expenditure to 31 March 2027; (b) to approve the virement proposal noted within the HRA programme detailed at Appendix 2 to the report; and (c) to note the estimated performance against the Prudential Indicators set out in the Treasury Management and Investment Strategy. 10. Revenue Budget 2026/27: Financial Performance to 30 June 2026 Submitted a report by the Head of Finance providing an update on the financial performance for the Council at 30 June 2026 Officers responded to Members’ questions and Cabinet agreed (a) to note (i) the information and financial projections outlined in the report; and (ii) the latest financial projection for the Health and Social Care Partnership highlighted at 2.6; and (b) to approve the virements detailed at Appendix 8 to the report. 11. Alteration to Community Asset Transfer – Irvine Community Sports Club Submitted a report by the Executive Director (Communities and Housing) requesting an amendment to the Community Asset Transfer previously agreed by Cabinet for land at Irvine Community Sports Club. Officers responded to Members’ questions and Cabinet agreed (a) to approve the amendment to the Community Asset Transfer application from Irvine Community Sports Club as previously agreed by Cabinet on 29 October 2019 by approving the plan attached at Appendix 2 to the report; and (b) to authorise officers to conclude the Community Asset Transfer process, including initiating the necessary court action to dispose of Common Good land.
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OFFICIAL INFORMATION OFFICIAL INFORMATION The following item is subject to the call-in procedure per the Council's Scheme of Administration and will be considered at a Special meeting of Audit & Scrutiny Committee. 12. Locality Planning 2.0 Implementation Update Submitted a report by the Executive Director (Communities and Housing) providing an update on progress in implementing recommendations from the North Ayrshire Locality Planning review. Cabinet agreed (a) to note the progress update provided regarding the review; and (b) to approve the planned next steps for review implementation outlined at paragraph 2.20- 2.22. 13. STAR Rape Crisis Centre Funding Submitted a report by the Executive Director (Communities and Housing) seeking approval for a fixed term funding award of £30,000 per annum for three years to support STAR Rape Crisis Centre. Cabinet agreed to continue consideration of the matter to a future meeting. 14. Sale Disposal: Abbey Park Football Ground, Bankhead Road, Kilwinning, and 26 Dovecot Lane, Kilwinning Submitted a report by the Executive Director (Place) providing an update on the outcome of the public consultation and seeking approval for the disposal of the former Abbey Park Football Ground and the adjacent yard at 26 Dovecot Lane, byway of a sale. Officers responded to Members’ questions and Cabinet agreed (a) to note the outcome of the public consultation; (b) to approve the disposal of Abbey Park Football Ground and adjacent yard at 26 Dovecot Lane, by way of a sale, following completion of the public consultation period; and (c) to note that any planning application in relation to the site will be considered and determined by the Planning Authority in accordance with the provisions of the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997. 15. Urgent Items There were no urgent items. 16. 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.
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OFFICIAL INFORMATION OFFICIAL INFORMATION 17. 10 Year lease: Block 7 Annickbank Innovation Campus, Irvine Submitted a report by the Executive Director (Place) seeking approval to grant a 10-year Full Repairing and Insuring (FRI) lease of Block 7, Annickbank Innovation Campus, Irvine. Officers responded to Members’ questions and Cabinet agreed to approve the recommendation as detailed in the report. The meeting ended at 3.55 p.m. The full meeting proceedings can be viewed at https://north-ayrshire.public-i.tv/core/portal/home