Cunninghame House, Irvine. 24 October 2013 Kilwinning Area Committee You are requested to attend a Meeting of the above mentioned Committee of North Ayrshire Council to be held in the Reference Room, Kilwinning Library, St Winnings Lane, Kilwinning on THURSDAY 31 OCTOBER 2013 at 2.00 p.m. to consider the undernoted business. Yours faithfully Elma Murray Chief Executive 1. Declarations of Interest Members are requested to give notice of any declarations of interest in respect of items of business on the Agenda. 2. Minutes The accuracy of the Minutes of (i) the ordinary meeting of the Committee held on 12 September; and (ii) the special meeting held on 25 September 2013 will be confirmed and the Minutes signed in accordance with Paragraph 7 (1) of Schedule 7 of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 (copies enclosed). 3. Presentation: Transport Scotland/TranServ: Whitehirst Park Wetland Area Receive verbal presentation by the Area Manager South, Transport Scotland and the Area Manager, TranServ. North Ayrshire Council, Cunninghame House, Irvine KA12 8EE 4. Community Planning 4.1 North Ayrshire Community Planning Partnership (CPP) Board: Minutes of Meeting held on 12 September 2013 Submit report by the Chief Executive on the minutes of the meeting of the North Ayrshire Community Planning Partnership (CPP) Board held on 12 September 2013 (copy enclosed). 4.2 Police Scotland Police Scotland will report on activity within the Kilwinning area. 4.3 Scottish Fire and Rescue Service Submit report by the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service on activity within the Kilwinning area (copy enclosed). 5. Abbey Primary School: Education Scotland Report Submit report by the Corporate Director (Education and Skills) on the Education Scotland Report in respect of Abbey Primary School, Kilwinning (copy enclosed). 6. Eglinton Country Park Submit report by the Corporate Director (Education and Skills) on recent initiatives at Eglinton Country Park (copy enclosed). 7. North Ayrshire Council (Kilwinning) Charitable Trust Submit report by the Chief Executive on the new Charitable Trust Fund established for the town of Kilwinning (copy enclosed). 8. Community Development Grants Scheme and Local Youth Action Fund: Application for Financial Assistance Submit report by the Corporate Director (Education and Skills) on applications for financial assistance received in respect of the Community Development Grants Scheme and Local Youth Action Fund (copy enclosed). 9. Date and Venue of Next Meeting The next meeting of the Kilwinning Area Committee will be held on Thursday 12 December 2013 in Kilwinning Library. 10. Urgent Items Any other items which the Chair considers to be urgent. North Ayrshire Council, Cunninghame House, Irvine KA12 8EE 2 Kilwinning Area Committee Sederunt: John Ferguson Chair: (Chair) Joe Cullinane Donald Reid Robert Steel Attending: Apologies: Meeting Ended: North Ayrshire Council, Cunninghame House, Irvine KA12 8EE 3 4 Agenda item 2(i) Kilwinning Area Committee 12 September 2013 KILWINNING, 12 September 2013 - At a Meeting of the Kilwinning Area Committee of North Ayrshire Council at 2.00 p.m. Present John Ferguson, Joe Cullinane, Donald Reid and Robert Steel. In Attendance M. Docherty, Head of Service (Education 3-18), F. Rodman, Senior Manager (Early Years and Childcare), A. Train, Head Teacher (Kilwinning Early Years Centre), J. McHarg, Community Engagement Manager (Community Development Team) and B. Anderson, Performance/Grants Information Officer (Education and Skills); C. Forsyth, Team Manager, Transportation, Development Planning Service (Development and Environment); and D. McCaw, Committee Services Officer (Chief Executive's Service). Also In Attendance Station Commander M. Gallacher (Scottish Fire and Rescue Service). Chair Councillor Ferguson in the Chair. 1. Declarations of Interest In terms of Standing Order 16 and Section 5 of the Code of Conduct for Councillors, Councillor Reid declared a non-pecuniary interest in Urgent Agenda Item 11.1 (Community Development Grants Scheme and Local Youth Action Fund: Application for Financial Assistance) and took no part in the determination of the application from Kilwinning Community Events. 2. Minutes The accuracy of the Minutes of (i) the previous ordinary meeting of the Committee held on 13 June 2013; and (ii) the Special Meeting held on 28 June 2013, was agreed and the Minutes signed in accordance with paragraph 7(1) of Schedule 7 of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973. 3. Community Planning 3.1 North Ayrshire Community Planning Partnership (CPP) Board: Minutes of Meeting held on 13 June 2013 Submitted report by the Chief Executive on the meeting of the North Ayrshire Community Planning Partnership (CPP) held on 13 June 2013. Page 1 5 Councillor Steel, as a representative of the Community Planning Partnership Board, gave an update to the meeting and highlighted the priority of the Board in terms of employment within North Ayrshire. Noted. 3.2 Police Scotland Submitted report by Police Scotland detailing statistical information on crimes reported and detected in the Committee's area during the period 1 June to 31 July 2013. The report provided comparative information from 2011/12 and highlighted a number of crimes that had taken place in the Committee's area, and a range of events which involved local officers. Noted. 3.3 Scottish Fire and Rescue Service Submitted report by Scottish Fire and Rescue Service on activity within the Kilwinning area from 1 July to 1 September 2013. Information was provided on:- the ongoing concern that accidental dwelling fires are mainly attributed to members of the public cooking while under the influence of alcohol or drugs; commercial waste refuse fires at the rear of shops in the Town Centre area; the success of the multi agency approach taken in relation to secondary fires in the Dubbs Road, Longford Avenue and Nethermains areas of Kilwinning; deliberate derelict building fires; false alarms and other special services; the success of the Eglinton Country Park fun day initiative involving Police Scotland and the Park Ranger Service; the work being put in place in the lead up to Bonfire night through schools liaison, the campus officers and local Councillors to encourage organised displays throughout North Ayrshire; and the open doors day and charity car wash scheduled to take place at Kilwinning Fire Station on Saturday 14 September. Members asked questions and were provided with information in relation to:- other special services offered by the Fire and Rescue Service; and the euro bin containers for commercial waste at the rear of the Town Centre shops. Noted. Page 2 6 4. Kilwinning Early Years Centre: Education Scotland Report Submitted report by the Corporate Director (Education and Skills) on the Education Scotland Report in respect of the Kilwinning Early Years Centre. The inspection, undertaken in May 2013, covered key aspects of the work and effectiveness of the Centre, the quality of the learning and teaching, the support provided to families in Kilwinning Early Years Centre, children's achievements, the environment for care and learning and the processes in place for self-evaluation. The HM Inspectors' report was published on 18 June 2013 and identified a significant number of key strengths and one area for improvement, which has been agreed between Education Scotland, the Centre and the Education Authority, as detailed in the report. In consultation with the Senior Manager Early Education and Childcare and staff, the Head of Centre has put plans in place to incorporate the recommendation of the Education Scotland report in the Centre's Improvement Plan. The Centre, and the Authority, will build on the strengths identified in the inspection report and work together to address the recommendation identified. In terms of follow-through, HMIE will make no further visits given the high level of confidence in the Centre to continue its improvement journey and, due to the innovative practice identified during the inspection, would like to explore this further and share it with others. The Committee (a) asked that the Head of Centre pass on its congratulations to the staff within the centre; (b) noted (i) that in terms of follow-through, HMIE will make no further visits given the high level of confidence in the Centre to continue its improvement journey; (ii) that due to the innovative practice identified during the inspection, HMIE would like to explore this further and share with others; and (iii) the steps taken to address the key point for action. 5. Whitehirst Park: Wetland Area Submitted report by the Corporate Director (Development and Environment) giving an update on progress in relation to the wetland area to the front of Whitehirst Park, Kilwinning. Environmental and Related Services have confirmed that the boundary fence erected around the wetland area is intended to prevent very young children from accidentally running into this area, rather than preventing older children who are intent on entering the area. The height and type of fencing necessary to prevent access by older children would be out of keeping with the surroundings and expensive to construct and maintain. Transport Scotland have confirmed that the existing gully connection(s) on Stevenston Road still require to be checked with dye before a solution to the problem can be identified. They do not have a date from Scotland TranServ for when this work will be carried out but will continue to press them regarding this issue. Page 3 7 The Committee agreed to