News In Brief – Monday 26 January 2026
Thank you for tuning in to News in Brief with important updates and news highlights of all that is happening over the coming week.
Tuesday 27 January: Cabinet Meeting
The first Cabinet Meeting of this year gets under way at 2.30pm on Tuesday. You can see the agenda on the North Ayrshire Council website. Proceedings can also be viewed live online via the live January Cabinet Meeting webstream.
Also on Tuesday: Youth Participation Strategy Emerging Trends event
Saltcoats Town Hall will host an event on Tuesday from 10am until 12.30pm to reflect and learn from North Ayrshire’s Youth Participation Strategy. With the development of a new strategy underway, the event will bring community partners, senior managers, Education and Connected Communities staff who work with young people together to explore emerging needs, opportunities and challenges. Stay tuned for more updates.
Wednesday 28 January: Mental Health Carers Forum drop-in
Do you – or does a service user or someone you know – care for someone who currently accesses mental health services, or has done so in the past? Why not invite them along to the latest carers forum drop-in this Wednesday evening? Providing a safe space for carers to discuss issues affecting them, the session will run from 5pm to 7pm at The Glade, First Floor, Woodland View and refreshments and advice will be provided. Full details in the Mental Health Carers Forum latest news article.
Saturday 31 January: Drop-in session announced for cervical screening
NHS Ayrshire and Arran is inviting anyone who is not up to date with their cervical screening to a drop-in screening event for patients living in the Irvine area. The session will be held on Saturday 31 January from 9am to 12pm at the Gatehouse, Ayrshire Central Hospital. No appointment is necessary.
Spotlight on Climate
Following on from last week’s Leadership Conference, you can discover some of the highlights from the event and what it means for you in our new quarterly Spotlight section on the Staff News website. The theme of this conference was climate and how the actions we take help deliver on our Council Plan.
Freedom of Information requests – know the process!
When an individual is asking for recorded information held by North Ayrshire Council, it is treated as a Freedom of Information request. The request does not need to state that they are looking for an ‘FOI request’ or quote any legislation at all. Requests can be made via email, letter and social media channels. Environmental Information Requests (EIR) can also be made over the phone. Read the FOI news update to ensure you understand the requirements in relation to your role.
Book onto next week’s Managing Stress and Mental Health session
HR have arranged a new series of stress management and mental health sessions. Taking place on Tuesday 5 February (11am) and Thursday 12 February (11am) via Teams, find out everything you need to know and how you can benefit in the Managing Stress and Mental Health sessions news update.
Mandatory training modules reminder
There are a number of iLearn modules which you are required to complete before the end of March 2026. Read the e-learning news update of everything you must complete before the deadline.
Want to saddle up? Pool bikes are available for hire…
The Travel Smart team and Trinity Active Travel Hub have hybrid and folding bikes available for staff to borrow from Cunninghame House. Find out more in the pool bikes news update.
Weekly café update
Open from 8.30am, the café located on 4th floor east provides lots of choice including healthy options and daily specials. See the most up-to-date menu in the weekly café update.
Share your stories ahead of LGBT+ History Month
Held in February, LGBT+ History Month in observed as a way to raise awareness, tackle prejudice and celebrate the diversity, achievements and visibility of the LGBT+ community. Does your team, school, library or community group have an event or awareness session planned for LGBT+ History Month? If so, please email Jen Law Equalities Champion, for your chance to be featured in our news coverage.
That’s all for now! If you have any updates you would like the team to share, please click the button below to email the Communications team. Your updates will be required by midday on Friday this week.
