Cunninghame House, Irvine. 4 October 2012 Garnock Valley and West Kilbride Area Committee You are requested to attend a Meeting of the above mentioned Committee of North Ayrshire Council to be held in Bridgend Community Centre, Bridgend, Kilbirnie on THURSDAY 11 OCTOBER 2012 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 Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 30 August 2012 will be signed in accordance with Paragraph 7 (1) of Schedule 7 of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 (copy enclosed). 3. Strathclyde Police: Activity Report Submit report by Strathclyde Police on activity within the Garnock Valley and West Kilbride area (copy enclosed). North Ayrshire Council, Cunninghame House, Irvine KA12 8EE 4. Strathclyde Fire and Rescue Submit report by Strathclyde Fire and Rescue on activity within the Garnock Valley and West Kilbride area in the period 18 August to 29 September 2012 (copy enclosed). 5. Road Maintenance Strategy Receive a presentation by the Roads Network Manager on the Council's Road Maintenance Strategy. 6. Dalry Primary School: Education Scotland Report Submit report by the Corporate Director (Education and Skills) on the Education Scotland Report on Dalry Primary School (copy enclosed). 7. Community Development Grants Scheme: Applications for Financial Assistance Submit report by the Corporate Director (Education and Skills) on applications received in respect of the Community Development Grants Scheme (copy enclosed). 8. Date and Venue of Next Meeting The next meeting of the Garnock Valley and West Kilbride Area Committee will be held on Thursday 29 November at 2.00 p.m. in West Kilbride Village Hall. 9. Urgent Items Any other items which the Chair considers to be urgent. North Ayrshire Council, Cunninghame House, Irvine KA12 8EE 2 Garnock Valley and West Kilbride Area Committee Sederunt: Robert Barr (Chair) Chair: John Bell Anthea Dickson Jean Highgate Elizabeth McLardy Catherine McMillan Attending: Apologies: Meeting Ended: North Ayrshire Council, Cunninghame House, Irvine KA12 8EE 3 4 Agenda Item 2 Garnock Valley and West Kilbride Area Committee 30 August 2012 WEST KILBRIDE, 30 August 2012 - At a Meeting of the Garnock Valley and West Kilbride Area Committee of North Ayrshire Council at 2.00 p.m. Present Robert Barr, John Bell, Anthea Dickson, Jean Highgate, Elizabeth McLardy and Catherine McMillan. In Attendance A. Bodie, Head of Infrastructure and Design and C. McCourt, Finance Manger (Finance and Infrastructure); J. McHarg, Assistant Manager (Community Development Team) and B. Anderson, Performance/Grants Information Officer (Community Development) (Education and Skills); and D. McCaw, Committee Services Officer (Chief Executive's Service). Also In Attendance Area Commander Chief Inspector G. Ritchie and Inspector A. Clark (Strathclyde Police); and Group Commander M. Henderson (Strathclyde Fire and Rescue). Chair Depute Provost Barr in the Chair. 1. Declarations of Interest In terms of Standing Order 16, and due to their involvement with applicant groups, the undernoted Members declared non-financial interests in Agenda item 6 - Community Development Grants Scheme and Local Youth Action Fund: Applications for Financial Assistance in respect of the following grant applications:- Councillor McMillan as a Vice-Chairperson of Dalry Community Association; Councillor Dickson as a Member of Kilbirnie Horticultural Society; Councillor Highgate as Chair of the Management Group of Youth Making Beith Better (YMBB); and Councillor McLardy as a Member and Chair of the Kirkton Hall Business Group. 2. Minutes The Minutes of the previous meeting of the Committee held on 1 June 2012 were signed in accordance with Paragraph 7 (1) of Schedule 7 of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973. Page 1 5 3. Strathclyde Police 3.1 Presentation Chief Inspector Gary Ritchie gave a presentation on alterations to the opening hours of police stations within the Garnock Valley and West Kilbride area which will change from 0800-1900 hours seven days per week to 0900-1700 hours Monday-Friday. In order to ensure resources are deployed in a manner that is effective and efficient and matches public demand, a modernisation programme of public counter opening times has been proposed. This will allow the redeployment of staff into the areas where the demand from the public is high. Chief Inspector Ritchie provided background information on the operational and budget context of the decision and assured Members that the number of Police officers covering the area would not change as a result. Members asked questions, and received clarification, on the following:- the introduction of the new single non-emergency contact number; public perceptions of the changes and the need to emphasise that this is not a diminution of service; and the retention of the telephone outside Kilbirnie Police Office. Noted. 3.2 Activity Report Submitted report by Strathclyde Police on activity within the Garnock Valley and West Kilbride area, relating to beats 7-12 and 23, for the month of July 2012. Inspector Clark gave further details on the following:- an increase in incidents of vandalism in Kilbirnie; an increase in the number of assaults in Dalry which are being addressed through action plans and intelligence led activity; a number of thefts from non-secured property or garden sheds/outbuildings in Dalry; the work ongoing to combat opportunist vehicle thefts in the Dalry and Beith areas; and the extension of the action plan focussing on overnight thefts in the Beith area. Page 2 6 Members asked questions, and received clarification, on the following:- the possibility of a multi-agency approach to tackle crime in Dalry; feedback on the issues arising from the multi-agency action plan for the Beith area; mini action plans in Kilbirnie focussing on activity in that area; the increase in disorder in the West Kilbride area and targeted patrol plans to address this; incidents of firework explosions in the Dalry area; the possibility of advising members of the public on how to protect their property from housebreakings; and the skateboard park at Beith and the comprehensive steps taken to address and monitor issues in this area. The Committee (a) agreed that Inspector Clark would advise Chief Inspector Newbigging to contact Councillor Highgate direct with feedback following the multi-agency action plan for Beith; and (b) otherwise noted the report. 4. Strathclyde Fire and Rescue Submitted report by Strathclyde Fire and Rescue on activity within the Garnock Valley and West Kilbride area in the period 1 June to 17 August 2012. Group Commander Henderson provided information on the following:- accidental and deliberate dwelling and non-domestic fires in Kilbirnie, Dalry and Beith; 10 incidents of refuse fires; 2 road traffic collisions in Kilbirnie and Dalry; the continuation of free home fire safety visits with 10-year smoke alarms being fitted as required; and the introduction of Post Domestic Incident Response, which offers a home safety visit to neighbours etc. following a fire incident in their area. Members asked questions, and received clarification, on the following:- the possibility of flooding incidents throughout the Ward area; and a fire incident within Spiers School off Geilsland Road, Beith. Noted. Page 3 7 5. West Kilbride: Traffic Management and Parking The Head of Infrastructure and Design (Finance and Infrastructure) reported on the outcome of a meeting held on 15 August 2012, between North Ayrshire Council Roads Service and 7 local representative groups from the West Kilbride area, to examine local road safety and car parking issues. Matters discussed at that meeting included:- the impact which new housing developments in the Local Development Plan will have for the village; the tourism strategy for the area; parking outside the Seamill Hydro; a general discussion on the legal responsibilities of the Council in relation to road safety; revisiting the current traffic management arrangements which have been in place for 10 years; looking at options for car and coach parking sites within the area; a review of the safety audit reports carried out at various road junctions within the area; the local representative groups meeting with Transport Scotland to discuss issues centred around the A78; and a follow-up meeting taking place with the local groups in the near future. There was discussion on the background to the current traffic management structure within West Kilbride and on possible sites for car parking. It was considered that the best way forward regarding these issues was for the Head of Infrastructure and Design to invite Area Committee Members to a meeting with representatives of the 7 local groups to discuss how best to take forward the traffic management and car parking arrangements. The Committee agreed that the Head of Infrastructure and Design (a) arrange a meeting between representatives of the 7 local groups and Members of the Committee; and (b) submit a follow-up report on proposals arising from that meeting to a future meeting of the Area Committee. 6. Community Development Grants Scheme and Local Youth Action Fund: Applications for Financial Assistance Submitted report by the Corporate Director (Education and Skills) on applications received in respect of the Community Development