SEVERAL issues were discussed when an almost full turnout attended the first meeting of East Ayrshire Council following the summer recess.

Speaking at the start of proceedings, council leader Douglas Reid referred to various matters affecting Cumnock and Doon Valley.

He reported on steady progress on the new school building projects in the area, including a planned visit to the site at Drongan.

On the fact that Cumnock now has more hotel rooms per head of population than anywhere else in East Ayrshire, he paid tribute to the residential and business community, adding: “Who would have thought that?”

Elaine Dinwoodie, councillor for Doon Valley, asked if Bellsbank would be incorporated in the rebuilding programme and where the new campus was likely to be.

Mr Reid said that nothing was decided yet, but the council was looking to improve education in the Doon Valley.

“We are not at that stage yet. Previous experience indicates that it should be built on the present school site,” he added.

Chief executive Fiona Lees said: “Details will come in a report due in September after which there will be a formal consultation, but there is sufficient land there to make it possible without decanting the pupils.”

CUMNOCK IMPROVEMENTS — Refurbishment of the town hall is now fully complete both internally and externally.

Progress is being made on new shop units in Townhead Street, which are providing a new home for businesses moving from the soon-to-be demolished Glaisnock Centre.

Plans for the new campus at Knockroon, on the outskirts of town, are well underway and regular updates will be provided.

Meanwhile, The Royal Hotel and the building at 20-24 Glaisnock Street have benefitted from the Conservation Area Regeneration Scheme (CARS) scheme.

EAST AYRSHIRE LEISURE — John Griffiths, chief executive of the organisation, reported on its activities between April 2015 and March 2016.

He reported that they had made savings of £262,000 through a combination of funding, income and reduction in costs.

Financial targets had been met while attendances were better than expected.

Doon Valley councillor Moira Pirie asked about an issue at Drongan library, where there was no separate entrance at its new location in the community centre.

Mr Griffiths said they would chase up costings to solve the problem, while looking at how a sole member of staff will be able to operate the library.

AYRSHIRE ROAD ALLIANCE — East Ayrshire has allocated £25.8m over the next five years to the alliance for road reconstruction and improvement work.

Head of roads with the group, Stewart Turner, revealed that an operational review which will result in a new management scheme will save £326,000 annually.

Mr Turner also said that work will be taking place in Cumnock, Auchinleck, Dalmellington and east of Coylton, while there is an option of extending the A70 cycle route into East Ayrshire.

They are currently trying to secure funding from the Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT), which is delaying proceedings due to budget cuts.

Ballochmyle councillor, Neil McGhee, thanked the alliance for the new surface in Auchinleck Main Street, adding: “We now have yellow lines after 10 years.”

Not so happy was councillor Drew McIntyre who asked if the budget included the cost of calling out the Air and Sea Rescue service, ‘because of the depth of the potholes’.

YOUTH NETWORK — The council will be nominating three elected members to the Youth Work Network Committee, which was established this year.

Three partners form the network — Yip World, The Zone in Dalmellington and Barnado’s Family Service East Ayrshire.

Membership is open to any youth work provider which works towards the personal, social and physical development of young people.

It is based on the same format as East Ayrshire Sports Council, which has been in operation for some years with more than 70 voluntary clubs affiliated to it.