2. 260127 - Cabinet Minute
North Ayrshire Council · 17 February 2026
Back to Cabinet — 17 February 2026 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
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Cabinet 27 January 2026 At a Meeting of the Cabinet of North Ayrshire Council at 2.30 p.m. involving a combination of participation by remote electronic means and physical attendance within the Council Chambers, Irvine Present (Physical Participation) Marie Burns, Tony Gurney, Alan Hill, Christina Larsen, Shaun Macaulay and Chloe Robertson, and for consideration of Education Authority Business Jacqui MacKenzie. In Attendance C. Hatton, Chief Executive; S. Anson, Executive Director, A. McClelland, Head of Service, K. McCormick, Executive Manager and L. Morris, Executive Manager (Education); D. Hammond, Executive Director, Y. Baulk, Head of Service (Housing & Public Protection) and R. Leith, Head of Service (Connected Communities) (Communities and Housing); R. McCutcheon, Executive Director, L. Cree, Head of Service (Sustainability, Transport and Corporate Property), L. Kirk, Head of Service (Economic Development, Growth and Regeneration) and C. Fitzsimmons, Senior Manager (Regeneration) (Place); M. Boyd, Head of Service (Finance); F. Walker, Head of Service (People Services) (People & ICT); A. Craig, Head of Democratic Services, I. Cruickshanks, Senior Manager (Policy, Performance & Democracy), J. Hutcheson, Senior Communications Officer (Media and Internal Communications) and C. Stewart, Committee Services Officer (Democratic Services) (Corporate Services). In Attendance (Remote Participation) C. Cameron, Director (Health and Social Care Partnership). Also Present Eleanor Collier. Chair Marie Burns in the Chair. Apologies Elizabeth Turbet, Lay Member. 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. Minutes The Minutes of the Meeting of the Cabinet held on 2 December were confirmed and the Minutes signed in accordance with Paragraph 7 (1) of Schedule 7 of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973.
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3. Early Years Capacity Review Submitted a report by the Executive Director (Education) providing a summary of the Early Years Capacity (ELC) Review and outlining actions to ensure that North Ayrshire’s Early Years service provision remains aligned to local needs. The ELC Delivery Models and capacity versus demand in NAC schools and ELC settings 2024-25 and 2025-26 was attached at Appendix 1 to the report. Officers responded to Members’ questions and the Cabinet agreed to (a) approve the proposal to change Elderbank Early Years from a model 3 to model 2 provision from August 2026; and (b) give the Education Head of Service ongoing delegated authority to make operational changes in line with capacity versus demand reviews of Early Learning and Childcare provision. 4. Achievement of Curriculum for Excellence Levels 2024-25 Submitted a report by the Executive Director (Education) providing a summary of achievement levels across the Broad General Education (P1, P4, P7 and S3) in literacy and numeracy and outlining next steps to secure further improvement. Officers responded to Members’ questions and the Cabinet agreed to note (i) the content of the report, including the progress being made by learners in literacy and numeracy, and (ii) the measures being undertaken to make further improvements to attainment and achievement levels across the Broad General Education phase in North Ayrshire. 5. School Attendance Analysis Report 2024-25 Submitted a report by the Executive Director (Education) providing Cabinet with a summary analysis of school attendance statistics and trends in North Ayrshire and an update on current and future planned activity to improve attendance and reduce persistent absence. Universal supports for this school session included the launch of a local poster campaign to promote positive attendance, examples of which are attached at Appendix 1 to the report. Officers responded to Members’ questions and the Cabinet agreed to (a) receive further updates, for example through the Standards and Quality Report and through a subsequent separate annual attendance report, as necessary; and (b) otherwise note the contents of the report. 6. Joint Planning Approach for Children and Families Submitted a report by the Executive Director (Education) providing an update on progress in developing a joint plan for children and families from 2026. Officers responded to Members’ questions and the Cabinet agreed to (a) note (i) the progress made to date in developing a joint plan and (ii) the proposed governance arrangements for the plan; and (b) support the continued development work in relation to the joint plan.
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7. Our Council Plan Progress Report – Mid Year 2025 to 2026 and LGBF Analysis Submitted a report by the Head of Democratic Services advising Cabinet on progress in delivering Our Council Plan 2023-2028 as at Mid-Year 2025-2026, attached at Appendix 1 to the report. The Cabinet agreed to (a) approve the Mid-Year Report and note it would be considered by the Audit and Scrutiny Committee; and (b) otherwise note the status of the Council’s performance indicators within the LGBF Analysis of the October 2025 Data Release. 8. Revenue Budget 2025/26: Financial Performance to 30 November 2025 Submitted a report by the Head of Finance on the financial performance for the Council at 30 November 2025. Officers responded to Members’ questions and the Cabinet agreed to (a) 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 section 2.6 of the report. 9. Capital Programme Performance to 30 November 2025 Submitted a report by the Head of Finance on the progress in delivering the Capital Investment Programme 2025/26 performance to 30 November 2025. Officers responded to Members’ questions and the Cabinet agreed (a) to approve the virement proposal noted within the HRA programme detailed in Appendix 2 to the report; (b) note (i) the revisions to budgets outlined in the report; (ii) the General Services and HRA revised budgets at 30 November 2025 and the forecast expenditure to 31 March 2026; and (iii) the estimated performance against the Prudential Indicators set out in the Treasury Management and Investment Strategy. 10. The Future of Council Tax in Scotland – Consultation Response Submitted a report by the Head of Finance seeking approval on the North Ayrshire Council response to the Scottish Government’s consultation on the future of Council Tax in Scotland, attached at Appendix 1 to the report. Officers responded to Members’ questions and the Cabinet agreed to (a) note the proposed consultation response contained in appendix 1 of the report; and (b) authorise officers to submit the consultation response to the Scottish Government by the 30 January 2026 deadline. The response would be submitted in draft, subject to confirmation of Cabinet approval following the expiry of the call-in period. 11. Community Asset Transfer – Arran Youth Foundation Submitted a report by the Executive Director (Communities and Housing) requesting amendment of the previously agreed Community Asset Transfer (CAT) to Arran Youth Foundation (AYF) in relation to Arran Youth Hut, Arlington, Arran to a 25-Year Lease.
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The Cabinet agreed to (a) the variation of the decision made at Cabinet on 17th March 2020 from a full ownership CAT to a 25-year full repairing and insuring lease of the Arran Youth Hut, Arlington, on the grounds of Arran High School; (b) authorise relevant Council officers to engage with Arran Youth Foundation and their legal representatives to agree suitable lease terms; and (c) approve the rental level being discounted to represent the 95% reduction previously agreed at Cabinet in 2020. 12. Proposals for Community Investment Fund (CIF) Expenditure Submitted a report by the Executive Director (Communities and Housing) on applications by Locality Partnerships on the allocation of CIF funding to proposed projects. Applications from Community Roots, Craufurd Simson Park, West Kilbride Community Sports Club, Friends of Kirktonhall Glen and Saltcoats Victoria Football Club were attached at Appendices 1 to 5, respectively, to the report. The Cabinet (a) reviewed the applications from the North Coast and Cumbrae and Three Towns Locality Partnerships in line with CIF criteria; and (b) agreed to approve (i) the CIF application in relation to Community Roots (Appendix 1 to the report), (ii) the CIF application in relation to Craufurd Simson Park (Appendix 2 to the report), (iii) the CIF application in relation to West Kilbride Community Sports Club (Appendix 3 to the report), (iv) the change of use of funding previously awarded to the Friends of Kirktonhall Glen (Appendix 4 to the report) and (v) the CIF application in relation to Saltcoats Victoria Football Club (Appendix 5 to the report). 13. Pride in Place Impact Fund Submitted a report by the Executive Director (Place) seeking approval for the approach to the Pride in Place Impact Fund (PiPIF) and the geographic allocation of the programme. Officers responded to Members’ questions and the Cabinet agreed to (a) approve the proposed delivery methodology and approach to the allocation of the PiPIF; and (b) receive a further report updating on the progress of the PiPIF allocation. 14. Local Growth Fund Submitted a report by the Executive Director (Place) on the recently announced Local Growth Fund. Officers responded to Members’ questions and the Cabinet agreed to (a) note the update on the Local Growth Fund; and (b) receive further updates following engagement with the UK Government. 15. Climate Change Consultation Submitted a report by the Executive Director (Place) seeking approval of the proposed response to the Scottish Government on the Draft Climate Change Plan, attached at Appendix 1 to the report. Officers responded to Members’ questions and the Cabinet agreed to note the draft response and approve its submission to the Scottish Government.
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16. Urgent Items There were no urgent items. 17. Exclusion of the Press and the Public Cabinet 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 items of business on the grounds indicated in terms of Paragraph 9 of Part 1 of Schedule 7A of the Act. Note: Councillor Gurney left the meeting at this point. 18. Exempt Report: Trust Housing Association - Affordable Housing Account Funding Request Submitted a report by the Executive Director (Communities and Housing) on the above. The Cabinet agreed to approve the recommendation as detailed in the report. 19. Exempt Report: Lease to a Nominated Party: The Circuit, Quarry Road, Irvine Submitted a report by the Executive Director (Place) on the above. Officers responded to Members’ questions and Cabinet agreed to approve the recommendation as detailed in the report The meeting ended at 4.50 p.m. The full meeting proceedings can be viewed at https://north-ayrshire.public-i.tv/core/portal/home