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EAST COUNCIL

MINUTES OF MEETING HELD ON THURSDAY 28 JUNE 2012 AT 1000 HOURS IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS, COUNCIL HEADQUARTERS, LONDON ROAD,

PRESENT: Provost Jim Todd and Councillors Ellen Freel, Eòghann MacColl, John McGhee, Helen Coffey, Andrew Hershaw, Maureen McKay, Tom Cook, Lillian Jones, Iain Linton, Douglas Reid, Jim Buchanan, Depute Provost John Campbell, Councillors John Knapp, Hugh Ross, Alan Brown, George Mair, Bobby McDill, John McFadzean, Neil McGhee, Stephanie Primrose, Jim Roberts, David Shaw, Billy Crawford, Barney Menzies, Kathy Morrice, Eric Ross, John Bell, Elaine Dinwoodie and Moira Pirie. ATTENDING: Fiona Lees, Chief Executive; Elizabeth Morton, Depute Chief Executive/Executive Director of Neighbourhood Services; Graham Short, Executive Director of Educational and Social Services; Alex McPhee, Executive Director of Finance and Corporate Support; Bill Walkinshaw, Head of Democratic Services; Craig McArthur, Head of Finance; Martin Rose, Head of Human Resources; David Mitchell, Head of Legal, Procurement and Regulatory Services; Eddie Fraser, Head of Service: Community Care; Julie Jamieson, Chief Accountant; Joe McLachlan, Corporate Accounting Manager; Pauline Minnery, Corporate Officer (Business Support); Gwen Barker, Policy, Planning and Performance Manager; and Julie McGarry, Administration Manager. APOLOGIES: Councillors Gordon Cree and Drew McIntyre. CHAIR: Provost Jim Todd, Chair.

PROVOST’S REMARKS 1. The Provost began the Council meeting by congratulating Gillian Pryce from Kilmarnock’s James Hamilton Academy who had led her team of senior pupils in the finals of Young Enterprise Ayrshire Awards recently and had then won the award for best link teacher. The Provost advised that the Johnnie Walker Bond building had received royal approval on Friday 11 May by HRH Duke of Rothesay, Prince Charles. The Provost advised that his Royal Highness had toured the building which had been extensively redeveloped and provided modern, accessible and energy efficient accommodation for over 300 Council employees. The Provost also advised that the renaissance of the Johnnie Walker Bond reflected the Council’s commitment to regenerate Town Centres across , to put public services into the heart of local towns and to boost the local lunch time economy. The Provost advised that HRH took the time to chat with employees from the services based in the new building before unveiling a specially commissioned plaque to mark the official opening of the building. The Provost also referred to the Opera House development in John Finnie Street, which would, when completed, mean that some 900 Council employees would be accommodated in the heart of Kilmarnock Town Centre. The Provost referred to his first engagement as Provost where he had attended “These Kids Have Talent” on Thursday 17 May, where 500 talented youngsters had put on a musical show to a packed audience in Kilmarnock’s Palace Theatre featuring everything from “Ring on the Olympics” to “Hairgel”. 80

The Provost then expressed his delight at attending his first opening of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland on Saturday 19 May. The Provost advised that this had been a tremendous day especially the outgoing Moderator’s speech which had been both humorous and humble. The Provost advised that Kilmarnock had been the only town that the Moderator had mentioned visiting. The Provost also referred to a section of the former Moderator’s speech, when introducing the new Moderator, which he had particularly liked. This had been when the new Moderator had been referred to as “a rock and roller”; and that he played in a band called “The Living Stones”, which, the Provost hoped would “keep on rolling”. The Provost then informed that regeneration projects in East Ayrshire had been given the ro