East Ayrshire Council
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1378 PLEASE NOTE THAT THE MINUTE REQUIRES TO BE APPROVED AS A CORRECT RECORD AT THE NEXT MEETING OF COUNCIL AND MAY BE AMENDED EAST AYRSHIRE COUNCIL MINUTES OF MEETING HELD ON THURSDAY 20 AUGUST 2015 AT 1000 HRS IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS, COUNCIL HEADQUARTERS, LONDON ROAD, KILMARNOCK PRESENT: Provost Jim Todd and Councillors Ellen Freel, Eòghann MacColl, John McGhee, Helen Coffey, Elaine Cowan, Maureen McKay, Tom Cook, Lillian Jones, Iain Linton, Douglas Reid, Jim Buchanan, Depute Provost John Campbell, Councillors Gordon Cree, Drew McIntyre, John Knapp, Hugh Ross, George Mair, Bobby McDill, John McFadzean, Neil McGhee, Stephanie Primrose, Jim Roberts, David Shaw, Billy Crawford, Barney Menzies, Kathy Morrice, John Bell, Elaine Dinwoodie and Moira Pirie. ATTENDING: Fiona Lees, Chief Executive; Alex McPhee, Depute Chief Executive and Chief Financial Officer: Economy and Skills; Chris McAleavey, Depute Chief Executive: Safer Communities; Eddie Fraser, Director of Health and Social Care Partnership; Bill Walkinshaw, Head of Democratic Services; Stuart McCall, Legal Manager; Julie Haig, Public Relations Officer; and Julie McGarry, Administration Manager. ALSO ATTENDING: Jill Cronin, Head of Service: Ayrshire and Arran Tourism Team; John Griffiths, Chief Executive and Adam Geary, Cultural and Countryside Manager, East Ayrshire Leisure Trust; and Stewart Turner, Head of Roads: Ayrshire Roads Alliance. CHAIR: Provost Jim Todd, Chair. ADDITIONAL ITEM 1. The Provost advised of an additional item which he intended at Item Number 4. The Provost welcomed Kelly Kerr who was at East Ayrshire Council for two months working on a mini intern within the Legal Section before beginning her studies at Glasgow University. DEATH OF PAST PROVOST JANE DARNBROUGH 2. The Provost began the Council meeting by reflecting on the recent passing of Past Provost Jane Darnbrough. The Provost advised that he had first met Janie while she was lobbying as a community activist against the lorries from the quarry driving through Shortlees many years ago. He advised that Janie was elected as one of our first Councillors in 1995 and was Vice-Chair and then Chair of Social Work before serving as Provost from 2003 to 2007 when she stood down. He advised that Janie was a dedicated Provost and Councillor and that she would be greatly missed by her husband John, family and many friends. Councillor Maureen McKay, Leader of the Opposition Group then commented that we were in a fortunate position, that there were Members with us today who remembered and appreciated Janie as a friend and colleague. Councillor McKay intimated that it 1379 was really important to remember that Janie was an active community based campaigner before she became a councillor and reflected that it was sometimes easy to forget about what motivated a person to become a Councillor when Members are caught up in the varied day to day business of the Council. Janie never forgot that the community was at the heart of who she was and what she wanted to deliver, both in her Ward and East Ayrshire as a whole. She commented that Janie had left a legacy for former Provost Stephanie Young and present Provost Jim Todd for the role of the Provost and that she remembered many times Janie was not "feart" to dig her heels in when she was Provost in effectively managing Council meetings, which was a good legacy to have left. Councillor McKay stated that she was proud to have known Janie and to have worked with her and that Janie had been too young to have been taken but that she would never be forgotten within her Ward, the wider community and the Labour Party. Councillor McKay expressed regret at Janie's passing but gave thanks for the contribution Janie had made Councillor Reid, Leader of the Council also intimated that he knew Janie as a community activist before 1995 and got to know her well as Provost, a role which she carried out with fairness, dignity and grace. Councillor Reid stated that it was in her role in Social Work where she excelled as she wanted to change lives for the better for others who were disadvantaged. He particularly made reference to the Rosebank Centre which Janie had poured her heart and soul into and had played a great part in the planning stages for what has become such a wonderful facility. He commented that Janie had given great service to the community and that he had followed her with house moves when they had both lived for some time in Treeswoodhead Road and that they also stayed in the same close in Gibson Street in Kilmarnock. Councillor Reid acknowledged that Janie had loved Shortlees and the East Ayrshire people and had been taken too early. Councillor Reid intimated that his thoughts were with her family at this sad time. Councillor Cook, Depute Leader of the Council then added that he had met Janie through her charity and community work and that she had been friendly and approachable with a keen interest in all events which she had attended. He advised that Janie had been committed to her constituents, had an open door approach and had held respect within the community. He also advised that she had been an excellent Provost even when laterally her health had started to fail she remained diligent to her duties as Provost. Councillor Cook finished by recording his thanks to Janie as a great ambassador for East Ayrshire and that his sympathies were with John and his family at this time. The Council then stood and observed one minute silence. PROVOST'S REMARKS 3. The Provost referred to news of another sad death, that being of former Councillor John Smith who was first elected as Councillor at Cumnock and Doon Valley District Council in 1988 and was elected as one of our first Councillors in 1995 before retiring in 1999. During his time with East Ayrshire Council, John held the positions of Vice-Chair of Community Services Committee, Chair of the Leisure Sub-Committee, Chair of the Doon Valley Local Committee and Vice-Chair of Southern Local Planning Committee before being appointed as Chair of Community Services Committee in 1998. Our thoughts will be with John's family at this sad time. 1380 The Provost began his remarks by expressing his pride that Cameron Muir, a pupil at Grange Academy and Kilmarnock swimming sensation who had been selected to represent Team Scotland at the European Youth Olympic Festival in Tbilisi, Georgia. The Provost was sure that Members would join him in wishing Cameron every success for the future against some of swimming's biggest names in some of the most iconic contests in the world and hoped that we would see him standing proudly on the podium at a future Olympic Games. The Provost stated that Cameron was a credit and an inspiration to us all. The Provost advised that Cameron had found the conditions in Tbilisi tough as did all the GB swimmers with the heat and very different foods and had felt unwell and whilst the team as a result had failed to perform to their potential, Cameron had battled hard and finished 15th and 24th in his individual races. The Provost advised that he had written to Cameron extending him best wishes on behalf of all in East Ayrshire. The Provost then referred to an invitation by Mayor General Nick Eeles, CBE, Governor of Edinburgh Castle and Brigadier Simon Allen, Colonel, The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards to attend a Waterloo Reception in The Great Hall, Edinburgh Castle on Friday 26 June where the Deputy Colonel in Chief, HRH The Duke of Kent had been present. The Provost advised that everyone in attendance had been very impressed by the celebrations which had been and were being held throughout Kilmarnock and East Ayrshire showcasing the work the textile team had achieved in recreating the Standard and honouring Ensign Charles Ewart. The Provost advised that the Waterloo 200 exhibition continued at the Dean Castle until the end of the year and that a donation had been made recently of an original campaign medal and urged all Members to go and view this fantastic exhibition. The Provost then stated that he had enjoyed visiting a few bowling clubs recently to join them in celebrating significant anniversaries and, in particular, Kilmarnock Bowling Club which was situated off London Road, Kilmarnock, on the occasion of their 275th Anniversary on 28 June. The Provost advised that it had been a privilege to join the oldest Scottish Bowling Club on such a momentous juncture. The Provost then advised that Gardening Leave charity had invited him to join them at a rededication ceremony of the refurbished Veterans Horticultural Therapy Garden at SRUC (Scotland's Rural College), Auchincruive on 28 June which had been conducted by Sergeant Johnson Beharry VC who was an old friend of Gardening Leave. The Provost stated that veterans and volunteers from East Ayrshire would be made welcome to visit the therapy garden. The Provost then expressed his delight to have accepted an invitation from railway engineers, Wabtec Rail Scotland, to visit their premises on West Langlands Street, Kilmarnock on 14 July to see first-hand how the company maintained, repaired and refurbished railway carriages and their component parts. The Provost advised that Wabtec Rail Scotland was an industry leading engineering firm, specialising in supporting train owners and operators in Scotland and the North England with a full range of skills, resources and technologies to maintain their carriages and keep them running on the tracks. The Provost then stated that Managing Director Paul Bain had taken him on a tour of the high-tech 100,000 sq ft facility which was split into two distinct centres for vehicle and component overhaul.