LOCAL people will be placed at the heart of the decision-making process through the new Irvine Town Board, which will decide what kind of projects £20 million of national government money should be spent on.

The long-term plan for towns seeks to place residents at the heart of the decision-making process and to provide the funding to support delivery.

Some £19,509,000 has been allocated to the project through the UK Government Levelling Up Fund.

The Town Board are responsible for identifying the issues and priorities on which the long-term plan will focus and supporting a process of ongoing community engagement.

It will work with North Ayrshire Council to develop the plan, setting out how local partners will use their knowledge, powers, assets, and new funding to deliver for their communities.

It will also help identify opportunities to secure additional funding or private investment to support the plan and oversee the delivery of identified projects.

The long-term plan will comprise a 10-year vision and an initial three-year investment plan for the town.

The first Town Board meeting was held on August 1 with a further meeting on August 29 and they have now commenced a consultation exercise for the community and other interested stakeholders.

This is being undertaken online and through engagement activities at a range of events and venues in the coming weeks and months to maximise the opportunities for participation.

The board will use this to inform the development of the Long-Term Plan alongside previous consultation activities and existing data.

The representatives were identified through engagement with the locality partnership and the local interest.

The board will include three North Ayrshire councillors, Cllrs Nairn McDonald, Matthew McLean and Chloe Robertson.

Also on the board are Bill Nolan, chair of Irvine Burns Club, Chris Pless of Irvine Community Council, Barbara Conner of TACT, Paul Timmons of the Scottish Fire and Rescue, Fraser Normansell of Police Scotland, Steven Easton, from Ayrshire Chamber of Commerce and Fiona Paton, of Rivergate Shopping Centre.

Also on board are David Phillips of Irvine Seniors Forum, David Mann, of the Scottish Maritime Museum, Danny Kerr, of the Marymass Festival Committee, Emma Burns MSYP, Cunninghame South, Freya Fitzsimmons MSYP, Cunninghame South, Malcolm McPhail, of KA Leisure, Alan Gemmell MP. and Elaine Baxter, of North Ayrshire Council.

Depute leader and Irvine councillor Shaun Macaulay proposed seeking the views of elected members of the Scottish Parliament for the new body and this will be put forward to the board for consideration.