Note for parents regarding Grange Academy
East Ayrshire Council is now in a position to confirm that the new Grange Campus building was not available for occupation on Wednesday 13 August 2008 as had originally been planned. Further discussions have taken place with First Class Consortium, their main subcontractor and the certifying organisations on when the campus will be ready to be handed to the Council. The outcome of these discussions, taking account of the best available professional advice from all relevant parties, is that the Council should expect to move into the new school building in week commencing 22 September 2008, following the September weekend holiday. >>>More Info

Draft Core Path Plan
East Ayrshire Council has officially launched the consultation for the Draft Core Path Plan and its associated Environmental Repoprt. The consultation will run from the 14th July 2008 for 12 weeks till the 6th October 2008. The Core Path Plan has been produced by East Ayrshire Council in response to the Land Reform Act (2003) and it provides a framework of routes to allow reasonable access throughout the area. The aim of the consultation is to ensure the Core Paths are selected in an equitable manner and the Core Path Plan meets the access needs of the communities and visitors to the area. >>>More Info

IMPLEMENTATION OF A NEW PROPERTY MAINTENANCE SERVICE
Response to Kilmarnock Standard enquiry Statement from William Stafford, Executive Director of Neighbourhood Services >>>More Info

New Local Transport Strategy Consultation
East Ayrshire Council has officially launched the consultation for the Draft Local Transport Strategy (LTS) 2008 - 2013. The consultation period runs for six weeks, closing on 27th June 2008. The draft LTS sets out the Transport Vision and Objectives of the Council and provides a five-year Action Plan for meeting local challenges and needs. When approved, this new document will replace the existing LTS which was produced in 2001. The Council is now seeking views on this document, and feedback will be considered in finalising the strategy. Follow the link above to see all the consultation documents. The draft strategy is also available for inspection at public libraries, community centres and Council Offices at Greenholm Street (Kilmarnock). >>>More Info

NOTICE OF PREPARATION OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT RELATING TO LOCAL BIODIVERSITY ACTION PLAN MODIFICATION
The Environmental Assessment (Scotland) Act 2005

Notice is hereby given that Ayrshire’s local biodiversity action plan partnership has produced an Environmental Report under the provisions of Environmental Assessment (Scotland) Act 2005. The Environmental Report details the Strategic Environmental Assessment that has been undertaken in relation to the local biodiversity action plan modification and indicates the likely significant effects that the consultative draft plan may have on the environment.

The Environmental Report has been posted on the Ayrshire Joint Structure Plan and Transport Committee’s website and can be viewed at www.ayrshire-jsu.gov.uk. Copies of the Environmental Report have also been deposited along with the Local Biodiversity Action Plan to which it relates and are available for inspection at:

East Ayrshire Council Headquarters, London Road, Kilmarnock, KA3 7BU East Ayrshire Council Offices, Lugar, Rigg Road, Cumnock, KA18 3JQ

The Environmental Report, along with the consultative draft plan, is available for inspection during normal Council opening hours.

Comments, observations or other opinions on the Environmental Report should be sent, either electronically using the form attached to the website, or, in writing, to Douglas Gardiner, Recycling Officer, East Ayrshire Council, Western Road Depot, Western Road, Kilmarnock, KA3 1LL. Any comments submitted should state the name and address of those persons making the comment and the specific matters to which the comments relate, and be received by the Council before 31 March 2008.

Dated: 12/02/2008 Signed: Chris McAleavey, Head of Housing >>>More Info

Licensing Board Sets New Licensing Fees
East Ayrshire Licensing Board has today announced the fees to be charged under the new national licensing system, which came into effect on 1 February 2008. The fees were agreed at the adjourned meeting of the January quarterly meeting of the Board on 5 February. Maximum fees have been fixed by the Scottish Government with a direction that charges should only be enough to cover the cost of the licensing system. Council officers carried out an analysis of the costs relating to the system and after consideration the Board determined that the fee for a premises licence application be set at 80% of the maximum. Accordingly, depending on the rateable value of the premises, the charge for such an application will be between £160 and £1600. The Board also determined that the annual premises licence fee, which will not become payable until October 2009, will be determined at a later date.

The Board also agreed that the fees be reviewed in September 2009 at the conclusion of the transition period of the new system. Councillor Jim Buchanan, Chair of the Licensing Board said “I am pleased that we have been able to set fees significantly lower than the maximum fixed by the Scottish Government. In doing so we have tried to strike a reasonable balance between the interests of the local licensed trade and our responsibilities as custodian of the public purse, given that the new statutory framework has also given rise to increased costs for the administration of the Board.” >>>More Info

Accessibility Survey
East Ayrshire Council would like the views on website users who have special accessibility requirements. We have Browsealoud enabled on the website now. Does this help you? Please send a message using our survey form. >>>More Info

East Ayrshire Local Plan Finalised
The Finalised Draft version of the Alteration to the East Ayrshire Local Plan was approved by the Council on 6 December 2007 and has now been placed on the Councils web site for information purposes. >>>More Info

Christmas Refuse & Recycling arrangements 2007
There will be NO refuse or recycling collections on Tuesday 25th December 2007 or Wednesday 26th December 2007, Tuesday 1st January 2008 or Wednesday 2nd January 2008. Containers due to be collected on a Tuesday will instead be collected on Friday 28th December 2007 and Friday 4th January 2008. Containers due to be collected on a Wednesday will be collected on Saturday 29th December 2007 and Saturday 5th January 2008 respectively. >>>More Info

Publication of Licensing Policy Statement
Notice is hereby given that the East Ayrshire Licensing Board intends, as required in terms of Section 6 of the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005, to publish a Licensing Policy Statement in respect of the exercise of its functions under the Act. Notice is further given that the Licensing Policy Statement will be published on or before 30 November 2007 on the Licensing Board’s pages of East Ayrshire Council’s website. The Licensing Policy Statement is also available for inspection at the address below on weekdays between 9am and 5pm (Monday to Thursday) and 9am and 4pm (Friday). Notice is also given that the Licensing Policy Statement will have effect, unless otherwise revised, for the period between 30 November 2007 and 29 November 2010. >>>More Info

KILMARNOCK TOWN CENTRE 2007 FESTIVE SEASON PARKING
IN ADDITION TO THE NORMAL OPENING HOURS, THE MULTI STOREY CAR PARK WILL BE SUBJECT TO THE FOLLOWING EXTENDED OPENING TIMES TO ASSIST CHRISTMAS SHOPPERS:

7.00am – 7.30pm (Normal Charges Apply)

• SATURDAY 24th NOVEMBER
• THURSDAY 6th & 13th DECEMBER
• FRIDAY 7th & 14th DECEMBER

7.00am – 8.30pm (Normal Charges Apply)

• THURSDAY 20th DECEMBER
• FRIDAY 21st DECEMBER
• SATURDAY 22nd DECEMBER
• MONDAY 24th DECEMBER

10.00am – 5.00pm (FREE)

• SUNDAY 25th NOVEMBER
• SUNDAY 2nd DECEMBER
• SUNDAY 9th DECEMBER
• SUNDAY 16th DECEMBER
• SUNDAY 23rd DECEMBER

ALL OTHER TOWN CENTRE CAR PARKS WILL REMAIN FREE OF CHARGE ON THE FIVE SUNDAYS AS NORMAL

ADDITIONAL PARKING WILL ALSO BE AVAILABLE IN THE HOWARD PARK FOR THE MONTH OF DECEMBER

THE SHOPMOBILITY SERVICE WILL BE AVAILABLE ON THE FIVE SATURDAYS PRIOR TO CHRISTMAS DAY

Kilmarnock Town Centre Regeneration
The regeneration of our town centres is a key priority for East Ayrshire Council. The Council aims to create vibrant and thriving town centres, which offer a strong retail base, a range of services, an attractive physical environment and are accessible to all. In particular, the Council is currently progressing major regeneration projects in both Kilmarnock and Cumnock. >>>More Info