240123 - Cabinet Minute FINAL
North Ayrshire Council · 20 February 2024
Back to Cabinet — 20 February 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 23 January 2024 IRVINE, 23 January 2024 - 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. Also Present Cameron Inglis and Chloe Robertson. In Attendance C. Hatton, Chief Executive, M. Boyd, Head of Service and D. Forbes, Senior Manager (Finance) (Chief Executive’s Service); A. Sutton, Executive Director, R. Leith, Head of Service and C. Hope, Senior Manager (Communities) (Communities & Education); R. McCutcheon, Executive Director, D. Hammond, Head of Service (Sustainability, Transport and Corporate Property), L. Kirk, Interim Head of Service (Economic Development & Regeneration) and N. McIlvanney, Interim Head of Service (Growth, Investment & Employability) (Place); A. Craig, Head of Service, J. Hutcheson, Senior Communications Officer (Communications) and S. Wilson, Committee Services Officer (Democratic Services). Apologies Margaret Johnson and Alan Hill. 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 5 December 2023 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. Council Plan Mid-Year Progress Report Submitted a report by the Head of Service (Democratic Services) to consider and approve the Council Plan Mid-Year Progress Report 2023-24 attached at Appendix 1 to the report. The Cabinet agreed (a) to approve the Council Plan Mid-Year Progress Report 2023-24 attached at Appendix 1; and (b) to refer the Council Plan Mid-Year Report 2023-24 to the Audit and Scrutiny Committee for consideration. 4. Capital Programme and Treasury Management Performance to 30 November 2023 Submitted a report by the Head of Service (Finance) on progress in delivering the Capital Investment Programme 2023/24 and the associated Treasury Management Performance to 30 November 2023. A Member asked a question and was provided with further information in relation to the review of local authority capital accounting arrangements and the associated risks. The Cabinet agreed to (a) approve the virement proposals noted within the HRA programme detailed in appendix 2 to the report; and (b) note (i) the revisions to budgets outlined in the report; (ii) the General Services and HRA revised budgets at 30 November 2023; (ii) the forecast expenditure to 31 March 2024; and (iii) the estimated performance against the Prudential Indicators set out in the Treasury Management and Investment Strategy. 5. Revenue Budget 2023/24: Financial Performance to 30 November 2023 Submitted a report by the Head of Service (Finance) advising Cabinet of the financial performance for the Council at 30 November 2023. Members asked questions and were provided with further information in relation to: • the overspend for residential placements for children and demand pressures affecting the Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP) and the action plan being progressed on a partnership basis to address issues;; and • the results of the Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) surveys carried out across the authority and the associated costs for remediation works. The Cabinet agreed to (a) approve the virements detailed in Appendix 7 to the report; and (b) 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.
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6. North Ayrshire Local Heat and Energy Efficiency Strategy Submitted a report by the Executive Director (Place) seeking approval of the draft North Ayrshire Local Heat and Energy Efficiency Strategy (LHEES) and Delivery Plan attached at Appendices 1 and 2, respectively, to the report. A Member asked a question and was provided with further information in relation to district heating networks and the role these played in decarbonising domestic heat demand in North Ayrshire. The Cabinet agreed to approve the draft LHEES and Delivery Plan attached at Appendices 1 and 2, respectively, to the report. 7. North Ayrshire Strategic Tourism Infrastructure Development Plans – Mainland and Islands Submitted a report by the Executive Director (Place) seeking approval for Strategic Tourism Infrastructure Development Plans for the North Ayrshire Mainland and Islands, to support funding applications for projects which helped manage infrastructure relating to domestic tourism. The draft Strategic Tourism Infrastructure Development Plan – Mainland and draft Strategic Tourism Infrastructure Development Plan – Islands were attached at Appendices 1 and 2, respectively, to the report. A Member asked a question and was provided with further information in relation to the interventions identified within the report and how these could be translated into delivery through a process of prioritisation and identification of funding sources. The Cabinet agreed to approve (i) the draft Strategic Tourism Infrastructure Development Plan – Mainland set out at Appendix 1 to the report; and (ii) the draft Strategic Tourism Infrastructure Development Plan – Islands attached at Appendix 2 to the report. 8. UK Shared Prosperity Fund – Communities and Place Fund Update Submitted a report by the Executive Director (Place) updating on the first round of the Communities and Place Fund under the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and seeking approval for the proposed approach to the second round for 2024/25. A Member asked a question and was provided with further information in relation to the likely availability of further funding beyond 2024/25. The Cabinet agreed to (a) note the update on the first round of the Communities and Place Fund in 2023/24 and (b) approve the proposed approach to the second round of the Fund in 2024/25.
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9. Levelling Up Fund – Round 3 Provisional Award Submitted a report by the Executive Director (Place) on the provisional UK Government Levelling Up Fund Round 3 award for the Levelling Up For Ayrshire – Commercial and Low Carbon Infrastructure Project and seeking approval to complete the validation and onboarding process. A Member asked a question and was provided with further information in relation to the industrial units constructed at three sites in Irvine, North Ayrshire and the letting arrangements. The Cabinet agreed to (a) approve (i) acceptance of the provisional award for the Levelling Up For Ayrshire – Commercial and Low Carbon Infrastructure under the Levelling Up Fund Round 3 subject to the successful completion of the validation and onboarding process; and (ii) the proposed amendments to the original application proposal; and (b) provide delegated authority to the Executive Director (Place) to conclude the validation and onboarding process and, subject to successful completion, progress project development and delivery; and (c) receive a further update on progress as part of the annual Regeneration Delivery Plan update report. 10. Amendment to the Approved Community Asset Transfer of Ardeer Quarry Football Ground and Adjacent Land Submitted a report by the Executive Director (Communities and Education) seeking approval for an amendment to the Community Asset Transfer of Ardeer Quarry Football Ground. A map of the site at Ardeer, Garnock Road, Stevenston was attached at Appendix 1 to the report. The Cabinet agreed to (a) amend the previously approved Asset Transfer of Ardeer Quarry Football Ground and adjacent land from North Ayrshire Council to Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SCIO), "TASS Community Sports” to include an additional area of adjacent land; and (b) authorise officers to conclude the associated legal and community asset transfer processes for Ardeer Quarry Football Ground and adjacent land, inclusive of the additional piece of land. 11. Proposals for Community Investment Fund (CIF) Expenditure Submitted a report by the Executive Director (Communities and Education) on applications by Locality Partnerships on the allocation of Community Investment Fund (CIF) funding to proposed projects. Applications from Beith Community Association SCIO, Garnock Valley Locality Partnership Working Group, Bourtreehill and Broomlands Community Association, Fullarton Community Association, Turning Point PEAR Project and Stevenston Community Council were attached at Appendices 1 – 6, respectively, to the report. Having reviewed the applications in line with the CIF criteria, the Cabinet agreed to approve CIF awards to (i) Beith Community Association SCIO (£22,098.04); (ii) Garnock Valley Locality Partnership Working Group (£51,200); (iii) Bourtreehill and Broomlands Community Association (£12,777); (iv) Fullarton Community Association
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(£100,000); (v) Turning Point PEAR Project (£96,112); and (vi) Stevenston Community Council (£29,988). 12. Public Conveniences Submitted a report by the Executive Director (Communities and Education) updating on the current position and future operation in relation to public conveniences in North Ayrshire. The Chair, on behalf of the Cabinet, acknowledged that a community consultation period was planned and requested that the paper be amended to remove “or close thereafter” from the site recommendations pending the outcome of the consultation process. The Cabinet agreed to (a) approve the proposals for the future of the remaining Council-operated public conveniences as set out in this report, subject to the above- mentioned amended wording; and (b) receive a further report in April 2024 to consider the results of the engagement in relation to community interest in five public conveniences. 13. Urgent Items There were no urgent items. The meeting ended at 3:35 p.m.