EAST COUNCIL

CABINET – 13 MARCH 2013

RENEWABLE ENERGY FUND AYRSHIRE RIVERS TRUST

Report by the Depute Chief Executive/Executive Director of Neighbourhood Services

1 PURPOSE OF REPORT

1.1 To recommend approval of a Renewable Energy Fund (REF) grant submission by the Ayrshire Rivers Trust.

2 CURRENT BUDGETARY POSITION

2.1 Based on anticipated receipts to 31 March 2014 £163,500 is available in the REF for distribution at the present time.

2.2 Details of all the projects supported to date are provided in Appendix 1. Appendix 1 includes actual income and expenditure to date and does not include anticipated income from the Whitelee wind farm development or expenditure for the Whitelee Action Plan.

3 FUNDING APPLICATION – AYRSHIRE RIVERS TRUST

3.1 An application from Ayrshire Rivers Trust has been received for a 3 year project to control Giant Hogweed and other riparian non-native plants on the River Irvine and tributaries, primarily the . Last year all Giant Hogweed within Ayrshire was controlled for the first time and received support from the REF of £8,143. In this involved eradicating Giant Hogweed and Japanese Knotweed on the River Irvine & tributaries, primarily the Annick Waters at . Some work was also undertaken in the Upper River Irvine in Fenwick, Craufurdland and . Seminars were also delivered to EAC staff in November 2011 to advise on best practice, recognition, strategic control, etc in relation to controlling invasive weeds. Some volunteers have also been trained in the Stewarton area to assist with this project. The current application aims to maintain strategic control and eventually exhaust the seed bank along the above rivers. However rivers within the Galston, , , and Kilmarnock areas will also be worked on over the next 3 years. The project will pay for volunteers to be trained to City & Guilds standard to ensure sustainability for the project once the funding period has ended.

3.2 This grant application is for a total of £20,832.75 being paid as follows: - 2012/13 £7,798.69 2013/14 £6,448.57 2014/15 £6,585.49

3.3 The above grant application is part of a wider invasive weeds project covering Ayrshire. The total funding package for the Ayrshire wide project is £272,323.56 supported by: - £204,242.67 EU Interreg, £ 24,849.52 SEPA Restoration £ 13,956.58 South Ayrshire Council £ 8,442.04 North Ayrshire Council East Ayrshire’s contribution of £20,832.75 is based on the percentage of the work area and the scale of invasive weed problems on our riverbanks. East Ayrshire’s riverbanks have a bigger problem with invasive weeds than those in the catchment areas of North and South Ayrshire.

3.4 The assessing officer has recommended support for the project and has indicated that it will make a huge difference to increasing environmental awareness as well as reducing the risk to public health.

4 POLICY AND LEGAL IMPLICATIONS

4.1 Any proposal to utilise monies paid to the Council in terms of Policy CS15 of the Adopted East Ayrshire Local Plan must support local projects within a 10 kilometre radius of the boundary of the windfarm.

4.2 Any offer of a Renewable Energy Fund grant will be subject to the same standard conditions applied by the Council under the Community Grant Scheme and such other terms and conditions deemed necessary by the Head of Planning and Economic Development in consultation with the Solicitor to the Council to protect the interests of the Council.

5 FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

5.1 The Renewable Energy Fund is managed in accordance with the Council’s approved Accountancy Policy Bulletin procedures which together with appropriate terms and conditions of grant should minimise any financial risk to the Council.

5.2 Details of all funding received and expenditure and commitments to the Whitelee Access Project as well as all grants awarded to date is contained in Appendix 1.

6 RISK MANAGEMENT IMPLICATIONS

6.1 It will be a condition of any grant that where appropriate, Public Liability and other insurance cover will be required. In addition evidence that projects are undertaken and completed in accordance with all relevant warrants, consents, approvals and current Health & Safety legislation and guidelines will be sought. Any other identified risk management implications dependent on the nature of the project such as the requirement for consent from other agencies or bodies will require to be addressed within the terms and conditions of any offer of grant.

7 COMMUNITY PLANNING AND POLICY IMPLICATIONS

7.1 The projects supported through the Renewable Energy Fund will contribute to the achievement of the objectives of the Delivering Community Regeneration of the East Ayrshire Community Plan.

8 RECOMMENDATIONS

8.1 It is recommended that Cabinet:-

(i) Approves the grant award of £20,832.75 to Ayrshire Rivers Trust.

ELIZABETH MORTON Depute Chief Executive / Executive Director of Neighbourhood Services (LS/KD) 6 March 2013 FV-AN

Implementation Officer – Alan Neish, Head of Planning and Economic Development (01563 576767)

APPENDIX 1 Total Income Received to Date is £543,182. Whitelee Action Plan Total Expenditure to Date is £122,962. Total Grants Awarded to Date is £65,643.

Project Type Applicant Grant Award Total Project Cost Contribution to SOA Outputs Environmental Ayrshire Rivers Trust £8,143 £100,820 Project aimed at supporting the Improvements Ayrshire Local Biodiversity Plan; Increasing access to public open space. Stewarton Community £7,000 £90,000 Project aimed at supporting the Allotments Ayrshire Local Biodiversity Plan;

River Irvine Angling £2,000 £6,698 Project aimed at supporting the Imp Society Ayrshire Local Biodiversity Plan;

Darvel Improvement £6,500 £7,000 Environmental Improvements carried Group out within settlements Community Galston Parish Church £7,000 £14,000 Community Facilities enhanced; Environmental Project Number of Carbon Reduction projects. Newmilns Snow & £21,000 £881,584 Community Facilities enhanced. Sports Complex Educational Projects Onthank Nursery £7,000 £10,500 School sustainable development Schools project Feasibility Studies Dunlop & £7,000 £10,000 Feasibility Studies supported. Community Council