South Ayrshire Council News

South Ayrshire Council Provost Winifred Sloan hosted a Civic Reception to mark the opening of the Ayrshire Coastal Paths, but an unsuspecting guest got the surprise of his life when the Provost presented him with something very special.

The launch of the South Ayrshire Youth Strategy Investing in Young People was launched at Ayr Town Hall. Master of Ceremonies for the event was Erin Norris the Chair of South Ayrshire's Youth Forum.

Residents from Morrison Gardens in Ayr have been breaking down generation barriers and working with people of all ages across the community as part of the South Ayrshire Help Unit Generations (HUG) network.

Members of South Ayrshire Council's Leadership Panel have approved the establishment of a Limited Liability Partnership to progress the Ayr Renaissance project and turn the vision into a reality.

South Ayrshire Council has now approved the school holiday for the academic year 2009/10.

South Ayrshire Council is applying to the Scottish Arts Council for funding to assist in the creation of a post of Senior Cultural Co-ordinator for an initial period of one year.

Members of South Ayrshire Council's Leadership Panel have been focusing on the progress being made on the Fundamental Review of the School Estate and in particular on the future of Whitletts Primary School.

At 31 May 2008 South Ayrshire Council had a Council Tax collection rate of 10.95% which was above the previously set target of 10.77%.

South Ayrshire Council has an enviable record in recycling and composting and is already meeting the 2010 recycling target set by the Scottish Government, two years ahead of schedule.

South Ayrshire Council is committed to Homecoming Scotland 2009. It has already been successful in securing the first Signature Event, that will be hosted by the First Minister Alex Salmond, in Alloway over the weekend of 24 and 25 January 2009.

The new Robert Burns Birthplace Museum, that will be located in Alloway in South Ayrshire, is one step closer, thanks to £5.8 million pounds of Heritage Lottery Funding (HLF).

A special community celebration took place in Straiton to mark the completion of the upgrading of the Straiton Paths network and the addition of some new paths and wooden sculptures.

Councillor Hugh Hunter, the Leader of South Ayrshire Council and Chair of the Community Planning Partnership, opened the first ever Partnership conference that was held in the County Buildings in Ayr.

A special celebration was held in Newton Primary School to acknowledge work carried out by their pupils and those of St John’s Primary School who, through a drama and art project, have been working in partnership to tackle sectarianism.

A FREE Pre-retirement fair will take place in the Ramada Jarvis Hotel in Ayr on Friday 27 June 2008.

Mancini’s Royal Cafe in Ayr has won several awards at a prestigious national ice cream competition, to mark their achievement South Ayrshire Council Provost Winifred Sloan presented the company with a Quaich.

South Ayrshire Council’s County Hall was the venue for a very special audience when Provost Winifred Sloan hosted a Civic Reception for the Friends of the Gaiety Theatre, Johnny Beattie, The Alexander Brothers and Anne Fields.

Once again South Ayrshire Council has been given a Seaside Award by Keep Scotland Beautiful for the standard of South Ayr beach.

South Ayrshire Council Provost Winifred Sloan looked cooler than usual when she showed her support for the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association Shades Day on 20 June 2008 by wearing her favourite sunglasses.

In celebration of National Bike Week, a bike clinic was held for the students and employees at Belmont Academy.

Some South Ayrshire Council pupils who will soon be moving from their primary schools to Belmont Academy have celebrated National Bike Week by cycling from their current schools to their new one.

Dancing is a very popular pastime with people of all ages and the thriving dance club in Queen Margaret Academy shows that many of their students are keen to learn how to dance, or to improve their existing skills.

First Minister Alex Salmond unveiled the nationwide programme of celebration for Homecoming Scotland 2009 that has been inspired by the 250th anniversary of the birth of Scotland’s national Bard, Robert Burns.

The new Monkton Primary School, that cost £4.97 million pounds and was built as part of South Ayrshire Council’s ambitious £76 million Public Private Partnership (PPP) project, has been officially opened.

Marr College pupils want to keep their school looking good so they are taking part in a ‘Bin It To Win It’ initiative to rid the school of litter. They decided to start as they mean to go on by taking part in a litter pick in the school grounds.

South Ayrshire Council Provost Winifred Sloan accepted a statue, on behalf of the Council, from the University of the West of Scotland (UWS) at a ceremony within the County Buildings.

The Oval in Prestwick is looking better than ever thanks to a group of local volunteers that have been working hard to improve the area.

South Ayrshire Provost Winifred Sloan presented the winners of the Energy Agency 2009 Calendar Competition Awards with prizes and the runners up with certificates at a ceremony within the County Buildings in Ayr.

The annual South Ayrshire History Fair, that took place in the Walker Halls in Troon, once again attracted local people and many visitors to the town who were keen to find out more about a range of historical matters

South Ayrshire Trading Standards this week described their latest test purchasing results as ‘appalling’ and have told local retailers they need to do much better.

With the cost of fuel causing so much concern, South Ayrshire Trading Standards is reassuring motorists that they are getting fair measure when they fill up locally.

South Ayrshire Council has launched Phase 2 of the Active Schools Network in South Ayrshire

South Ayrshire Council has received a welcome boost from Audit Scotland, who have commented that Council’s performance and management is showing a new sense of optimism and purpose which is driving business forwards.

South Ayrshire Community Safety Partnership has funded the purchase of four bicycles, one for each of the Campus Police Officers who work in Ayr Academy, Belmont Academy, Kyle Academy and Marr College.

Members of South Ayrshire Council’s Leadership Panel have agreed to the submission of a funding application to the Sailwest Project, which could lead to the economy of South Ayrshire being boosted by three exciting maritime projects.

The allowances paid to people who provide vital fostering, adoption and shared care for young people within communities in South Ayrshire have been increased as from April 2008.

Members of South Ayrshire Council’s Leadership Panel have received an update from Officers on the service improvements being undertaken to help the Council meet national standards for housing and Council Tax benefits.

At 30 April 2008 South Ayrshire Council has a Council Tax collection rate of 1.47% that is above the set target of 1.34%.