240220 - Cabinet Minute FINAL
North Ayrshire Council · 19 March 2024
Back to Cabinet — 19 March 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 20 February 2024 IRVINE, 20 February 2024 - At a Meeting of the Cabinet of North Ayrshire Council at 2.30 p.m. Present 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, C. Cameron, Director (Health and Social Care Partnership); M. Boyd, Head of Service (Finance) (Chief Executive’s Service); A. Sutton, Executive Director, R. Leith, Head of Service (Communities), A. McClelland, Head of Service, and F. Hopkins, Senior Manager (Education) (Communities & Education); R. McCutcheon, Executive Director, D. Hammond, Head of Service (Sustainability, Transport and Corporate Property), N. McIlvanney, Interim Head of Service (Growth, Investment & Employability), L. Kirk, Interim Head of Service (Economic Development & Regeneration), E. McMullen, Senior Manager (Economic Policy), M. Paterson, Economic Policy Manager (Community Wealth Building), and C. Fitzsimmons, Senior Manager (Regeneration) (Place); A. Craig, Head of Service, M. Sugden, Communications Officer (Communications) and S. Wilson, Committee Services Officer (Democratic Services). Also In Attendance Cameron Inglis, Davina McTiernan and Chloé Robertson. Apologies Rev. Mark Goodman. 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 23 January 2024 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 Learning and Childcare – Redesign of Service Submitted a report by the Executive Director (Communities and Education) seeking approval for the proposed refresh of North Ayrshire Council’s Early Learning and Childcare provision. The Cabinet agreed to approve the proposed redesign of North Ayrshire’s Early Learning and Childcare provision as outlined in the report. 4. Review of Early Learning and Childcare (ELC) Hourly Rate for Funded Providers Submitted a report by the Executive Director (Communities and Education) seeking approval to increase the sustainable rate of payment to funded providers of early learning and childcare (ELC) in North Ayrshire who are contracted by the Council to deliver funded ELC to eligible 2–5-year-olds. The Cabinet agreed to (a) increase the current hourly rate paid by the Council to funded providers from 1st of April 2024; and (b) receive a further report in advance of the next annual review of the sustainable rate for funded providers. 5. Naming of the New Primary School at Montgomerie Park, Irvine Submitted a report by the Executive Director (Communities and Education) to select a name for the new non-denominational primary school at Montgomerie Park, Irvine. The Cabinet reflected on consultation responses, considered the proposed names and selected “Montgomerie Park Primary School” as the name for the school. 6. Proposals for Community Investment Fund (CIF) Expenditure Submitted a report by the Executive Director (Communities and Education) on an application from the Irvine Locality Partnership on the allocation of Community Investment Fund (CIF) funding. The application from the Irvine Locality Partnership, in relation The Micah Project, was attached at Appendix 1 to the report. Having reviewed the application in line with the CIF criteria, the Cabinet agreed to approve a £50,000 CIF award to the Irvine Locality Partnership. With the consent of the Chair and on behalf of the Cabinet, Councillor Macaulay took the opportunity to pay tribute to Audrey Sutton, Executive Director (Communities and Education) for the work undertaken throughout her time with North Ayrshire Council, highlighting her bright personality and positive outlook, and wished her well in her upcoming retirement.
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7. Scottish Maritime Museum Trust – Memorandum of Understanding Submitted a report by the Executive Director (Place) seeking approval to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the Scottish Maritime Museum Trust, to develop the Maritime Heritage Hub project at Irvine harbourside as part of the Ayrshire Growth Deal funded Great Harbour programme. A Member asked a question and was provided with further information in relation to the overall implications if the museum was unable to raise the funds needed for the project to progress. The Cabinet agreed to approve the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between North Ayrshire Council and the Scottish Maritime Museum Trust to facilitate collaboration between parties to develop the Maritime Heritage Hub project as part of the Ayrshire Growth Deal funded Great Harbour programme. 8. International Marine Science & Environment (IMSE) Ayrshire Growth Deal Project - Collaboration Agreement Submitted a report by the Executive Director (Place) outlining progress in developing a business case pathway for Ayrshire Growth Deal investment in IMSE with partners Field Studies Council and University of Stirling. A Member asked a question and was provided with further information in relation to the risks associated with the project. The Cabinet agreed to approve (i) the strategic direction for the IMSE project and (ii) the establishment of a Collaboration Agreement between the Council, Field Studies Council and University of Stirling to develop related project activity. On behalf of the Cabinet, the Chair, took the opportunity to pay tribute to Neale McIlvanney, Interim Head of Service (Growth, Investment & Employability) who was attending his last meeting of the Cabinet prior to leaving North Ayrshire Council in the coming weeks. The Chair expressed her gratitude to Neale for the contributions he made to North Ayrshire Council, particularly with the Ayrshire Growth Deal, and wished him well in his new role and future career. 9. Transport Scotland - Public consultation for the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services (CHFS3) Contract Submitted a report by the Executive Director (Place) seeking approval for the proposed North Ayrshire Council submission to Transport Scotland’s public consultation for the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services (CHFS3) contract. The proposed response to the consultation was attached at Appendix 1 to the report. The Cabinet agreed to approve the submission of the proposed response to the consultation attached at Appendix 1 to the report.
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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. 10. Community Wealth Building Refresh Strategy Submitted a report by the Executive Director (Place) providing an update on progress of the Council’s Community Wealth Building Strategy 2020-2025 and seeking approval of the refreshed Community Wealth Building Strategy 2024-2027, which was attached at Appendix 1 to the report. Members asked questions and were provided with further information in relation to: • how Community Wealth Building was delivered at a locality level; and • the Scottish Government consultation on Building Community Wealth and the timeline for this new legislation being implemented. The Cabinet agreed to (a) note the progress against actions of the Community Wealth Building Strategy 2020-2025; and (b) approve the refreshed Community Wealth Building Strategy 2024-2027 attached at Appendix 1 to the report. 11. Social Housing Net Zero Standard (SHNZS) Consultation Submitted a report by the Executive Director (Place) providing details of the proposed new Social Housing Net Zero Standard (SHNZS) and seeking approval of the proposed response to the Scottish Government consultation, which was attached at Appendix 1 to the report. A Member asked a question and was provided with further information in relation to the pathfinder project. The Cabinet agreed to (a) note the potential implications arising from the introduction of the Social Housing Net Zero Standard; and (b) approve the proposed response attached at Appendix 1 to the report. 12. Scottish Government Consultation on the Proposed Heat in Buildings Bill Submitted a report by the Executive Director (Place) providing Cabinet with details of the proposed Heat in Buildings Bill and seeking approval of the proposed response to the Scottish Government consultation attached at Appendix 1 to the report. The Cabinet agreed to (a) note the potential implications arising from the proposed Heat in Buildings Bill; and (b) approve the proposed response attached at Appendix 1 to the report. Councillor Burns, Chair, intimated that there had been a change to the Cabinet structure, confirming that Councillor Hill’s portfolio included Communities, Housing and Protective Services.
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13. Urgent Items There were no urgent items. The meeting ended at 3:35 p.m.