241203 - Cabinet Minute (Final)
North Ayrshire Council · 21 January 2025
Back to Cabinet — 21 January 2025 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
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Cabinet 3 December 2024 IRVINE, 3 December 2024 - At a Meeting of the Cabinet of North Ayrshire Council at 2.30 p.m. Present (Physical Participation) Marie Burns, Tony Gurney, Alan Hill, Shaun Macaulay and for consideration of Education Authority Business Elizabeth Turbet and Jacqui McKenzie. In Attendance C. Hatton, Chief Executive; R. McCutcheon, Executive Director; L. Cree, Head of Service (Sustainability, Transport and Corporate Property); L. Kirk, Head of Service; and L. Neill, Senior Manager (Employability and Skills) (Economic Development, Growth and Regeneration); and T. Reaney, Head of Service (Neighbourhood Services) (Place); S. Anson, Executive Director; and A. McClelland, Head of Service (Education); D. Hammond, Executive Director (Communities and Housing); C. Cameron, Director; and E. Stewart, Head of Service (Children, Families and Criminal Justice) (Health and Social Care Partnership); M. Boyd, Head of Service; and S. Bignell, Senior Manager (Corporate Procurement) (Finance); F. Walker, Head of Service (People & ICT); R. Lynch, Senior Manager (Legal); M. Sugden, Communications Officer (Media and Internal Communications); and S. Wilson, Committee Services Officer (Democratic Services) (Corporate Services). Also Present Eleanor Collier. Chair Marie Burns in the Chair. Apologies Margaret Johnson and Christina Larsen. 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 29 October 2024 were confirmed and the Minutes signed in accordance with Paragraph 7 (1) of Schedule 7 of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973. 3. Chief Education Officer’s Update Report Submitted a report by the Executive Director (Education) providing a summary of current key educational issues, both in national and local contexts; and informing of current and future improvement activities within the Education Service.
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Officers responded to Members’ questions and the Cabinet agreed to (a) note the contents of the report and (b) receive a further update from the Chief Education Officer within six months. 4. Annual Report – School and Early Learning and Childcare Inspections 2023-24 Submitted a report by the Executive Director (Education) informing of the performance of North Ayrshire schools and early learning and childcare settings in external inspections, with a focus on those published during session 2023-24. The 2023-24 inspection reports were attached at Appendix 1 to the report. Officers responded to Members’ questions and the Cabinet agreed to note the contents of the report and commended the performance of schools and ELC settings in inspections conducted by Education Scotland and the Care Inspectorate. 5. Proxy Voting for Councillors Submitted a report by the Head of Democratic Services advising of a consultation on a proposal to allow proxy voting for councillors and seek views and agreement on the proposed response attached at Appendix 1 to the report. The Cabinet agreed (a) to note the consultation on proxy voting for Councillors; and (b) agreed to (i) submission of the consultation response attached at Appendix 1 and (ii) receive further updates as the consultation process progresses. 6. Procurement Annual Activity Report 2023-24 Submitted a report by the Head of Finance providing an update on procurement activity for the period 23/24. Top 20 Supplier Spend was attached at Appendix 1 to the report. Officers responded to Members’ questions and the Cabinet agreed to note the contents of the report. 7. Brighter Pathways Re-modelling Care Options Submitted a report by the Director (Health and Social Care Partnership) providing an update on the work of the Brighter Pathways transformation work which was to address (i) current pressures on placement availability and accommodation for leavers; (ii) to shift the balance of care from high- cost external residential resources to family-based care or internal residential resources; and (iii) to build capacity and provide more local resources and choice to young people who require to be looked after with increased family-based care. Officers responded to Members’ questions and the Cabinet agreed to note the progress and ongoing work of the Brighter Pathways Programme.
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8. Integration Joint Board Financial Position Submitted a report by the Director (Health and Social Care Partnership) providing an update on the financial position of the Integration Joint Board. Officers responded to Members’ questions and the Cabinet agreed to note the financial position of the IJB and the action being taken to manage the overspend position. 9. Strategic Housing Investment Plan 2025-2030 Submitted a report by the Executive Director (Communities and Housing) seeking approval of the Strategic Housing Investment Plan 2025 – 2030 attached at Appendix 1 to the report. The Cabinet agreed to (a) approve (i) the Strategic Housing Investment Plan 2025- 2030 attached at Appendix 1 to the report for submission to Scottish Government; and (ii) the projects set out within the SHIP shadow programme attached at Appendix 1 to the report; (b) give delegated authority to the Executive Director (Communities and Housing) and the Cabinet Member for Communities and Islands to liaise directly with the Scottish Government in agreeing the acceleration of projects in the main SHIP programme, as required; and (c) note that acceleration of any projects from the SHIP shadow programme will require Cabinet approval. 10. Consultation response: Developing a Universal Definition of “Care Experience” Submitted a report by the Executive Director (Communities and Housing) seeking approval of the proposed response to the Scottish Government consultation on developing a universal definition of “care experience” attached at Appendix 1 to the report. The Cabinet agreed to approve the consultation response attached at Appendix 1 to the report for submission to the Scottish Government. 11. Roads Winter Service and Weather Emergencies Plan 2024/25 Submitted a report by the Executive Director (Place) seeking approval for the Roads Winter Service and Weather Emergencies Plan 2024/25. The Winter Preparation Action Plan and the Roads and Winter Service and Weather Emergencies Plan 2024/25 were attached at Appendices 1 and 2, respectively, to the report. Officers responded to Members’ questions and the Cabinet agreed to (a) approve the Roads Winter Service and Weather Emergencies Plan 2024/25 attached at Appendix 2 to the report; and (b) note the preparations and actions taken which are contained in the Winter Preparation Action Plan attached at Appendix 1 to the report.
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12. Highlands and Islands Regional Economic Strategy Submitted a report by the Executive Director (Place) seeking endorsement for the Highlands and Islands Regional Economic Strategy attached at Appendix 1 to the report. Officers’ responded to Members’ questions and the Cabinet agreed to (a) note (i) the input provided by Officers to the development of the Highlands and Islands Regional Economic Strategy; (ii) the constrained fiscal environment within which the Strategy will be delivered and that the requirement to ensure the development of a suitable governance structure and delivery plan, which takes cognisance of the financing and resourcing challenges associated with its delivery will be intimated to HIREP; and (b) endorse the Highlands and Islands Regional Economic Strategy as provided at Appendix 1 to the report. 13. Lochshore Disability Employment Hub Submitted a report by the Executive Director (Place) seeking approval for the creation of a Disability Employment Hub at Lochshore Park, within the Garnock Valley, offering a wide range of opportunities for people with disabilities and long-term health conditions to develop skills for employment. Officers responded to Members’ questions and the Cabinet agreed to the proposal to create a Disability Employment Hub at Lochshore Park to deliver opportunities which will improve outcomes and contribute to reducing the disability employment gap. 14. Urgent Items There were no urgent items. 15. 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. 16. Disposal of 27 Vernon Street, Saltcoats Submitted a report by the Executive Director (Place) seeking approval to dispose of 27 Vernon Street, Saltcoats to The Ayrshire Community Trust. The Cabinet agreed to approve the recommendation as detailed in the report. The meeting ended at 4:05 p.m The full meeting proceedings can be viewed at https://north-ayrshire.public-i.tv/core/portal/home