The Executive of North Ayrshire Council

6 June 2007


Agenda Item 1



IRVINE, 6 June 2007 - At a Meeting of the Executive of North Ayrshire Council at 2.00 p.m.

Present
David O'Neill, John Reid, Tom Barr, John Bell, Margaret McDougall and Peter McNamara


In Attendance
I. Snodgrass, Chief Executive; B. Docherty, Corporate Director (Social Services); T. Orr, Corporate Director (Property Services); J. Travers, Corporate Director (Educational Services); A. Fraser, Manager Legal Services (Legal and Protective); D. Nibloe, Chief Accountant (Finance); G. Lawson, Corporate Support Manager, M. McKeown, Corporate Support Officer, and A. Wattie, Communications Officer (Chief Executive's).


Chair
Councillor O'Neill in the Chair.




1. Remit of Executive

The Scheme of Administration approved by the Council at its meeting held on 22 May 2007 provides for an Executive of 6 Members of the Council, comprising the Leader and Depute Leader of the Council, plus 4 additional members of the Labour administration.

The overall role of the Executive is to formulate and keep under review the policy objectives and priorities of the Council. The detailed remit of the Executive was attached to the agenda for the meeting.

The Executive agreed the remit.

2. Executive Members' Portfolios

Submitted report by the Chief Executive on the proposed Portfolios for Members of the Executive.

The Council has agreed that each Member of the Executive should, in addition to collectively exercising the Executive's remit, have specific Portfolio responsibility for an area of Council business. The proposed Portfolios were set out in the report.


The Executive agreed (a) to approve the following allocation of Portfolios:-

Strategic and Corporate Portfolio Councillor David O'Neill
Depute Leader PortfolioCouncillor John Reid
Children's Services Portfolio (up to school leaving)Councillor John Bell
Community Services (from school leaving) Councillor Peter McNamara
Environment PortfolioCouncillor Tom Barr
Community Planning PortfolioCouncillor Margaret McDougall

and (b) that information about the Portfolios be made available to staff and the general public using available means, including the Council's website and "NOW".

3. Capital Building Programme - Transfer of Land for New Children’s Units

Submitted report by the Corporate Director (Social Services) on the proposed transfer of Land at Redstone Avenue, Kilwinning and West Byrehill, Kilwinning, to facilitate the construction of 2 new Children's Units.

The Council's Capital Programme includes provision for the construction of 4 new build six-bedded Children's Units. The first 2 Units located at Nelson Road, Saltcoats, and James Crescent, Irvine, will be operational by June 2007 and June 2008 respectively. Possible sites for the remaining 2 Units have been identified at Redstone Avenue and West Byrehill, Kilwinning. The report summarised issues surrounding each site. The Executive discussed the justification of locating both Units in the same town and need for Local Members to be consulted on the proposals in advance of a final decision being taken on the siting of the Units.

The Executive agreed (a) to continue consideration of the matter to a future meeting; (b) that the Local Members be consulted and a site visit arranged if required; and (c) that the Corporate Director (Social Services) submit a more detailed report to include information about the likely catchment areas of the proposed Units.

4. Kilwinning: 3 Almswall Road: Shop Premises

Submitted report by the Corporate Director (Property Services) on the proposed lease of the shop premises at 3 Almswall Road, Kilwinning.

The Executive agreed to lease the shop premises at 3 Almswall Road, Kilwinning, to Mrs Tanzella Rahman, for a period of 20 years on a full repairing and insuring terms at an initial rental of £15,000 per annum, reviewable every 5 years, as set out in the report.


5. Approval of Business Grants Etc

Submitted report by the Assistant Chief Executive (Legal and Protective) on a proposed mechanism for approving grants awarded by North Ayrshire Council in its own right and as agent for other funding bodies.

The Chief Executive, in consultation with the Chair and Vice Chairs of the former Corporate Services Committee, had previously been remitted authority to approve the award of business grants made by the Council in its own capacity, and as an agent for other funding bodies.

The report set out proposals to implement a similar arrangement whereby the assessment and determination of applications will in future be undertaken by the Chief Executive, or his nominee, in consultation with the Leader and Depute Leader of the Council. Scrutiny will be undertaken by the Scrutiny Committee and, to enable this arrangement to operate more effectively, a member of the Scrutiny Committee should be identified to work with the Executive members in carrying out this task. Reports will be submitted to the Scrutiny Committee on a 6 monthly basis.

The Executive agreed (a) to approve the proposals for the assessment and determination of applications for business grants, loans and service schemes, as set out in the report; (b) that a member of the Scrutiny Committee be identified in due course to work with the Executive on this function; and (c) that reports on the exercise of the delegated function be submitted to the Scrutiny Committee on a 6 monthly basis.

6. State Aids

Submitted report by the Chief Executive on a European Commission consultation on the General Block Exemption Regulation.

The European Commission has over the last few years been engaged in a fundamental review of the State Aid Rules and Procedures which govern the ways in which national, regional, and local government bodies, can support economic development. Early in 2007, the Commission published its official draft of the General Block Exemption Regulation for consultation. The consultation relates to the Regulations covering how aid is granted in a range of different policy areas e.g.
    • Regional Aid
    • Small & medium sized enterprise (SME) investment aid
    • Aid for environmental protection
    • Aid for consultancy and SME participation in fairs
    • Risk capital

    • Research & Development
    • Training
    • Aid for the employment of disadvantaged and disabled workers
The consultation is particularly significant for Councils since the greater part of local authority business support activities come within its scope. Responses to the consultation were sought by 3 June 2007. The Scottish Executive had also requested a copy of Scottish partners' responses by 21 May 2007.

In light of the aforementioned timescales, the Chief Executive responded to the consultation on behalf of North Ayrshire Council. The terms of this response were set out in the report. In addition, the West of Scotland European Consortium (WoSEC), of which the Council is a member, submitted a regional response to the Commission and the Scottish Executive.

The Executive agreed to approve the actions of the Chief Executive in responding to the consultation on the terms set out in the report.

7. Western Scotland European Forum

Submitted report by the Chief Executive on a proposal for the establishment of a Western Scotland European Forum.

Since 1996, local authorities in the West of Scotland have cooperated on European issues, particularly in relation to EU Structural Funds, through the West of Scotland European Consortium (WoSEC). Radical changes to WoSEC's operating environment come into operation during 2007, as a result of which the Consortium has concluded that its current structure will no longer be 'fit for purpose'. The Consortium proposes that a new Forum should be established to replace WoSEC and continue its lobbying work in relation to European issues which affect the West of Scotland. The proposed Membership and key objectives of the proposed new Forum were detailed in the report.

The Executive agreed (a) to join the proposed new Western Scotland European Forum as detailed in the report; (b) that Councillor O'Neill, or in his absence Councillor Reid, represent the Council on the Forum; and (c) that Council Members be kept up to date with developments within the Forum.

8. Schools Estates Review

Submitted report by the Corporate Director (Educational Services) on a proposed review of the Council's schools estate.


Since the Council was established in 1996, there have been extensive changes in pupil rolls, population patterns, class sizes and educational provision in North Ayrshire. The School Estate Management Plan for 2003/2008 is now approaching its conclusion and a new Management Plan for 2008/2013 will be required. School provision is a constantly changing area, and there is now a need to undertake a review of the schools estate and to plan future provision for pupils in North Ayrshire. The report set out proposals recommending that the Scrutiny Committee establish a Member/Officer Working Group to review the schools estate and to identify opportunities for rationalisation and improvement of school provision.
    The Executive agreed (a) to remit to the Scrutiny Committee to establish a Member/Officer Working Group to undertake the review of the school estate in North Ayrshire; (b) that the Member/Officer Working Group in undertaking the review should (i) receive reports from Officers on current school provision in all sectors; (ii) identify areas for potential rationalisation and improvement; (iii) establish a timetable for reporting back on a phased basis to the Scrutiny Committee; (iv) produce an initial report on the primary sector by November 2007 so that account can be taken of recommendations in drawing up the 2008/2011 revenue and capital budgets; (v) consider school catchment areas as part of the review; and (vi) agree proposals for consideration by the Scrutiny Committee and thereafter by the Executive; and (c) that schools and teacher representatives be consulted as appropriate.

    9. Review of Library Services

    Submitted report by the Corporate Director (Educational Services) on a proposed review of the Public Library Service in North Ayrshire.

    Since 1996, there have been considerable changes in the services that libraries provide. These are in part the result of changing work and leisure patterns, the developing role of libraries within Lifelong Learning and the increasing development of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in delivering services. The Public Library Service must also respond to changing population patterns and community expectations. It was proposed that a review of the Public Library Service should be undertaken.

    The Education Resource Service and the Public Library Service have been integrated within one management structure, based at Greenwood Teachers’ Centre. This development has strengthened North Ayrshire’s vision of the future of libraries not only as centres of information and reading for pleasure, but also as community hubs promoting local and national cultural opportunities and as centres of lifelong learning. A logical development would be the further integration of the two services to achieve improvements in efficiency. Key to developing this vision are:


    · a review of the library estate against changing demographic and population patterns.

    · a review of opening hours to meet changing community expectations and social patterns.

    · a rationalisation of the administrative and logistical systems and processes which underpin the provision of services to communities.

    · a restructuring of staff to achieve further integration of services and improve efficiency.
      The Executive agreed to remit to the Scrutiny Committee to establish a Member/Officer Working Group to undertake a review of public library operations in North Ayrshire and to report to the Executive by October 2007 with proposals for rationalisation and improvement of services to local communities.

      10. PPP Project Board

      NOTE: Please refer to Minutes of the Meeting of the Executive held on 26 June 2007.

      Submitted report by the Corporate Director (Educational Services) seeking the appointment of elected Members to the Project Board which oversees the PPP for Schools Project.

      The Executive agreed that elected member representation on the PPP Project Board should consist of all Members of the Executive.

      11. Urgent Items

      The Chair agreed that the following item of business be considered as a matter of urgency.

      12. Arran High School

      Submitted report by the Corporate Director (Educational Services) on progress of the new Arran High School.

      In line with the timetable agreed by the PPP Project Board and approved by the former Corporate Policy Committee, the Council was due to take possession of the new Arran High School on 14 August 2007. The contractor, PPP Services (North Ayrshire) Limited, has now advised that they can no longer be confident of completing the new school in time for the new school session in August. Their view is that site progress is not sufficiently advanced to guarantee the Council's requirements for an effective and smooth hand-over of the new building in time for the return of the staff and pupils after the summer break.

      In consultation with PPP Services and the Head Teacher, it is therefore intended to delay taking possession of the new school until Monday 8 October. This date marks the start of Arran High School’s two-week October break and the intention is to take access to the school for furniture and IT set-up from 10 September until 8 October. This will leave the further two weeks of the school holiday for final removals and preparations for the staff return. As with the original plan, there will be pupil-free days both before and after the October holiday to allow school staff an opportunity to conduct final packing and unpacking activities. The financial consequences of the delay will fall on the Council's private sector partners.

      The Executive agreed (a) to approve the revised timetable for taking possession of Arran High School; and (b) that the Corporate Director (Educational Services) take immediate steps to advise teaching staff, parents and other parties affected.

      The meeting ended at 3.05 p.m.