231205 - Cabinet Minute FINAL
North Ayrshire Council · 23 January 2024
Back to Cabinet — 23 January 2024 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
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Cabinet 5 December 2023 IRVINE, 5 December 2023 - At a Meeting of the Cabinet of North Ayrshire Council at 2.30 p.m. Present Marie Burns, Tony Gurney, Christina Larsen and Shaun Macaulay; and Elizabeth Turbet and Rev. Mark Goodman (Church Representatives); and Jacqui McKenzie (Teaching Representative). In Attendance C. Hatton, Chief Executive, M. Boyd, Head of Service and S. Quinn, Senior Manager (Finance) (Chief Executive’s Service); A. Sutton, Executive Director and R. Leith, Head of Service (Communities) (Communities & Education); R. McCutcheon, Executive Director, D. Hammond, Head of Service (Sustainability, Transport and Corporate Property), Y. Baulk, Head of Service (Housing & Public Protect), L. Kirk, Interim Head of Service (Economic Development & Regeneration), N. McIlvanney, Interim Head of Service (Growth, Investment & Employability), J. Barrett, Senior Manager (Homeless & Community Safety) and M. Ritchie, Senior Manager (Hunterston, Great Harbour and Tourism) (Place); C. Cameron, Director (Health and Social Care Partnership); and R. Lynch, Senior Manager (Legal Services), M. McColm, Senior Manager (Communications) and S. Wilson, Committee Services Officer (Democratic Services). Apologies Alan Hill and Margaret Johnson. 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 7 November 2023 were confirmed and the Minutes signed in accordance with Paragraph 7 (1) of Schedule 7 of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973. 3. Eary Learning and Childcare - Re-design of Service Submitted a report by the Executive Director (Communities and Education) seeking approval to engage with parents and carers on the proposed redesign of Early Learning and Childcare (ELC) in North Ayrshire to match capacity to demand in the context of a reducing pupil roll and a corresponding revised funding allocation.
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The Cabinet, noting the importance of partnership working with parents and carers, agreed to approve further engagement with the purpose of informing a future report to Cabinet early in 2024 on ELC provision in North Ayrshire. 4. North Ayrshire Council Strategic Community Learning and Development Plan 2021-24 Progress Report Submitted a report by the Executive Director (Communities and Education) providing an update on the North Ayrshire Council Strategic Community Learning and Development Plan 2021-2024 through the six-monthly update report. The North Ayrshire CLD Strategic Plan 2021-2024 Year 2 update and the North Ayrshire Council's Strategic Community Learning & Development Plan were attached at Appendices 1 and 2, respectively, to the report. The Cabinet, having reviewed the North Ayrshire CLD Strategic Plan 2021-2024 Progress Report, agreed to grant authority to Officers to take forward the actions within the plan. 5. HMIe Progress Review of Community Learning and Development Submitted a report by the Executive Director (Communities and Education) advising Cabinet of the outcomes of the recent Progress Review of Community Learning and Development by HMIE. The Community Learning and Development Progress Visit Report was attached at Appendix 1 to the report. The Cabinet agreed to (a) note the Progress Review carried out by HMIE against the CLD Strategic Plan and the positive feedback received, to be presented at a future Audit and Scrutiny Committee; and (b) approve the actions planned as a result of the outcome of the review. 6. Procurement Activity Report 2022-23 Submitted a report by the Head of Service (Finance) providing an update on Procurement activity for the period 2022/23. The top 20 suppliers were listed by aggregate spend at Appendix 1 to the report. Members asked questions and were provided with further information in relation to: • large construction contracts procured in North Ayrshire and how many of the subcontractors were local businesses; and • the increase in local spend and the steps taken to reach the 30% target set out in the Council Plan. Noted. 7. Review of the Management of Temporary Furnished Accommodation Submitted a report by the Executive Director (Place) advising on the outcome of the review of the North Ayrshire Temporary Accommodation policy and seeking approval for the establishment of a Temporary Accommodation Fund to support students and people in employment who have no entitlement to Housing Benefit. The Review of
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Temporary Accommodation and Management was attached at Appendix 1 to the report. A Member asked a question and was provided with further information in relation to the procedure the Council used to confirm that any person who presented as homeless had been a resident within North Ayrshire for 6 out of 12 months or 3 out of 5 years. The Cabinet, having considered the outcome of the Temporary Accommodation Review, agreed to approve the creation of a Temporary Accommodation Grant Fund from 1 April 2024 to support students and people in employment who had no entitlement to Housing Benefit. 8. Sustainable North Ayrshire Strategy Submitted a report by the Executive Director (Place) seeking approval of the proposed Sustainable North Ayrshire Strategy 2024-27 attached at Appendix 1 to the report. A Member asked a question and was provided with further information in relation to supplier events in early December 2023 and the proposed next steps. The Cabinet agreed to approve the Sustainable North Ayrshire Strategy 2024-27 as detailed at Appendix 1 to the report. 9. Community Transport Pathfinder Submitted a report by the Executive Director (Place) providing Cabinet with an update on the Community Transport Pathfinder work and proposed next steps. An initial Review of Community Transport Models was attached at Appendix 1 to the report. A Member asked a question and was provided with further information in relation to the investment made in the Community Transport Pathfinder project and how this was utilised. The Cabinet agreed to approve the next steps detailed at section 2.15 of the report. 10. Consultation Response on Scotland’s Strategic Framework for Biodiversity Submitted a report by the Executive Director (Place) seeking approval of the proposed consultation response to Scotland’s Strategic Framework for Biodiversity attached at Appendix 1 to the report. A Members asked a question and was provided with further information in relation to the role of other stakeholders and partners. The Cabinet agreed to approve the draft consultation response at Appendix 1 to the report for submission to the Scottish Government.
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11. Great Harbour Masterplan Submitted a report by the Executive Director (Place) seeking approval for the Great Harbour Masterplan for Irvine Harbourside, attached at Appendix 1 to the report, to be referred to the Planning Committee for consideration as a material planning consideration, related to the adopted Local Development Plan and setting out the wider development aspirations for the area. The Cabinet agreed to refer the Great Harbour Masterplan to the Planning Committee for consideration as a material planning consideration related to the adopted Local Development Plan. 12. Irvine Town Centre: Long-Term Plan for Towns Levelling Up Fund Award Submitted a report by the Executive Director (Place) updating on the award of funding for Irvine under the Levelling Up Fund and seeking approval for the interim governance structure and early commencement of work to develop a Long-Term Plan for the investment. A Member asked a question and was provided further information in relation to the timescale to develop the long-term plan and the level of detail required at the Summer 2024 deadline. The Cabinet agreed to (a) approve (i) the acceptance of the award of £20m for Irvine under the Levelling Up Fund, (ii) the interim governance structure referred to in the report and (iii) early commencement of work to develop a Long-Term Plan for the investment; and (b) to receive a further report on progress and the updated approach, informed by the forthcoming detailed guidance. 13. Urgent Items There were no urgent items. The meeting ended at 3.35 p.m.