250318 - Cabinet Minute
North Ayrshire Council · 6 May 2025
Back to Cabinet — 6 May 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 18 March 2025 IRVINE, 18 March 2025 - At a Meeting of the Cabinet of North Ayrshire Council at 2.30 p.m. Present (Physical Participation) Marie Burns, Tony Gurney, Alan Hill, Margaret Johnson, Christina Larsen and Shaun Macaulay and for consideration of Education Authority Business Elizabeth Turbet, Andrew Bruce and Jacqui McKenzie. In Attendance C. Hatton, Chief Executive; S. Anson, Executive Director; A. McClelland, Head of Service (Education); K. McCormick, Executive Manager (Education); D. Hammond, Executive Director; and F. Ellis, Senior Manager (Housing Strategy and Development) (Communities and Housing); R. McCutcheon, Executive Director; T. Reaney, Head of Neighbourhood Services; L. Kirk, Head of Economic Development, Growth and Regeneration; L. Cree, Head of Sustainability, Transport and Corporate Property; and J. Wraith, Senior Manager (Energy and Sustainability) (Place); E. Stewart, Head of Service (Children, Families & Criminal Justice) (HSCP); D. Forbes, Senior Manager (Strategic Business Partner) and J. McCallum, Senior Manager (Audit, Fraud, Safety and Risk) (Finance); F. Walker, Head of People and ICT; and J. Smillie, Senior Manager (People Services); A. Craig, Head of Democratic Services; L. Jolly, Communications Officer (Public Relations); and H. Young, Senior Committee Services Officer (Democratic Services) (Corporate Services). Chair 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. Minutes The Minutes of the Meeting of the Cabinet held on 18 February 2025 were confirmed and the Minutes signed in accordance with Paragraph 7 (1) of Schedule 7 of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973. 3. Education Service Digital Learning Strategy Submitted a report by the Executive Director (Education) providing an update on the Education Directorate’s 2-18 Digital Learning Strategy attached at Appendix 1 to the report. Officers responded to Members’ questions and Cabinet agreed to note the contents of the report and endorse the ambitions within the new Digital Learning Strategy attached at Appendix 1 to the report.
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4. Response to Scottish Government’s Call for Evidence for the Tackling Child Poverty Delivery Plan 2026 – 2031 Submitted a report by the Executive Director (Education) seeking approval for the North Ayrshire Council response to the Scottish Government’s Call for Evidence attached at Appendix 1 to the report. Cabinet agreed to the submission of the response attached at Appendix 1 to the report to the Scottish Government. The following item was subject to the call-in procedure per the Council's Scheme of Administration. The call-in was subsequently withdrawn and the decision implemented. 5. Scottish Government Consultation: Local Authority General Power of Competence Submitted a report by the Head of Democratic Services to advise of the Scottish Government Consultation on a possible Local Authority General Power of Competence and seeking approval for the submission of a response in accordance with the principles contained in the report and the draft response attached at Appendix 1 to the report. Cabinet agreed to note the ongoing consultation and (a) grant authority to the Head of Democratic Services to finalise and submit the Council’s response, attached at Appendix 1 to the report, following further engagement with COSLA, in consultation with the Chief Executive and Leader in accordance with the principles set out in this report; and (b) note (i) that responses to the consultation will also be submitted by other local authorities, COSLA and the Society of Local Authority Lawyers & Administrators in Scotland (SOLAR) and (ii) that further updates will be brought to Cabinet in the event that the Scottish Government decides to introduce legislative proposals relating to local authority powers. 6. Capital Programme Performance to 31 January 2025 Submitted a report by the Head of Finance advising of progress in delivering the Capital Investment Programme 2024/25. Officers responded to Members’ questions and Cabinet agreed note (i) the revisions to budgets outlined in the report; (ii) the General Services and HRA revised budgets at 31 January 2025; and (iii) the forecast expenditure to 31 March 2025. 7. Revenue Budget 2024/25: Financial Performance to 31 January 20254 Submitted a report by the Head of Finance advising of the financial performance for the Council at 31 January 2024. Officers responded to Members’ questions and Cabinet agreed to (a) note (i) the information and financial projections outlined in the report; (ii) the latest financial projection for the Health and Social Care Partnership highlighted at 2.6; and (b) approve (i) the arrangements for the provision of interim funding to the Health and Social Care Partnership for 2024/25 as detailed at 2.7; and (ii) the virements detailed at Appendix 8 to the report.
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8. Strategic Risk Register 2025/26 Submitted a report by the Head of Finance seeking approval of the Strategic Risk Register for 2025/26 attached at Appendix 1 to the report. Officers responded to Members’ questions and Cabinet agreed to approve the Council’s Strategic Risk Register for 2025/26 attached at Appendix 1 to the report. 9. Workforce Strategy Refresh Submitted a report by the Head of People & ICT providing an overview of the refreshed Workforce Strategy 2024 – 2028 attached at Appendix 1 to the report. Cabinet agreed to approve the updated and refreshed Workforce Strategy, associated action plan and performance indicators. 10. Acquisition of Land for Council House Building Submitted a report by the Executive Director (Communities and Housing) seeking approval for the remainder of the former St. Michael’s Academy site in Kilwinning to be transferred from the General Fund to the Housing Revenue Account. The location plan for St Michael’s Wynd was attached at Appendix 1 to the report. Cabinet agreed to approve the transfer of the former St. Michael’s Academy site from the General Fund to the Housing Revenue Account for the sum of £1,102,480, subject to deduction of abnormal costs. 11. Nature Network Strategy for North Ayrshire Submitted a report by the Executive Director (Place) seeking approval of the proposed North Ayrshire Nature Network Strategy 2024 - 2045 attached at Appendix 1 to the report. Officers responded to Members’ questions and Cabinet agreed to approve the proposed Nature Network Strategy 2024 – 2045 attached at Appendix 1 to the report. 12. Roads, Structures and Street Lighting Maintenance Programme 2025/26 Submitted a report by the Executive Director (Place) seeking approval of the proposed Roads, Structures and Street Lighting Maintenance Programme for 2025/26 attached at Appendix 1 to the report. Cabinet agreed to (a) note the approach taken to determining the asset maintenance programme for roads, structures and street lighting; (b) approve the maintenance programme for 2025/26 attached at Appendix 1 to the report and (c) note that the programme will be issued to the Locality Planning Partnerships for information.
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13. Crown Estates Fund 2024/25 Submitted a report by the Executive Director (Place) seeking approval for the funding proposals for the Crown Estates Scotland Net Revenue Allocation. Officers responded to Members’ questions and Cabinet agreed to (a) approve the funding proposals for the Crown Estates Scotland Net Revenue allocations towards the creation of a North Ayrshire Islands Programme Fund and improvement and repair of Kilwinning Abbey Tower; and (b) provide delegated authority to the Executive Director (Place) to agree changes to the funding allocation in consultation with the Portfolio Lead as required. 14. Urgent Items There were no urgent items. The meeting ended at 3:50 p.m. The full meeting proceedings can be viewed at https://north-ayrshire.public-i.tv/core/portal/home