In the latest Interview segment, we take time out to catch up with David Hammond – new Director for Communities and Housing and Sam Anson, our new Director for Education. Read more about them and what they will bring to the new roles…
David, can you tell us about your journey at NAC so far?
I first joined North Ayrshire Council back in 2008, which feels like yesterday and a million years ago all at once! There’s been so many changes within the organisation and the public sector generally since then.
As a town planner by background, I started in the planning team and have moved across various roles within housing, sustainability, property and neighbourhood services, working with and learning from some incredible people along the way.
In my time here, I’ve been fortunate enough to be able to gain a breadth of experience from a range of perspectives which I hope will be a good foundation for me in my new role.
Are you an Ayrshire native?
Although it feels like I am now, I was actually originally born in Canada. I spent my later childhood years growing up in Angus on the east coast. I gradually moved westward once I started working, and moved to Ayrshire in 2017. It’s been such a good move for our family, we all love living in in this area as it has so much to offer.
Can you tell us all about the new directorate you are responsible for?
Yes – so I am the new Director for our Communities and Housing directorate and will be the strategic lead for the Council Plan priority of Communities and Local Democracy. Education now sits separately and is led by Sam.
What are the main advantages of merging Communities and Housing?
The new structure brings together the strengths from Connected Communities in terms of our community and locality planning approach alongside the opportunity to more-effectively reach people in North Ayrshire.
We want to support residents to articulate their aspirations for themselves and their communities, drive participation, and increase involvement in local decision making to tackle inequalities.
For example, we have 13,000 Council-owned homes, making us the landlord for lots of residents across North Ayrshire. So, with many challenges to overcome due to the current economic climate, it makes sense to join forces to maximise the reach of our resources.
Tackling poverty and inequalities continues to be a top priority and the new collaborative approach will allow us to take action in a more joined-up way with our partners.
Some colleagues may feel apprehensive about the changes, what would you say to them?
This is a good and positive change. As a Council, we all have a shared vision and I know that Sam and I will work closely to involve colleagues every step of the way. Collaboration and partnership working will still be key as we can’t achieve the aims of the Council Plan alone.
The strong links with Education will be retained. Children, young people and communities very much remain at the heart of our decision-making. Sam and I are particularly looking forward to the next Joint Cabinet meeting where we will be able to better understand the challenges faced by young people and what we can do better.
What is your vision for 2024-25?
We’re all about working together. As a Directorate-wide leadership team, we’ll be meeting regularly to discuss our culture, priorities, and the building blocks for success.
While resources have reduced, this has given us an opportunity to collaborate more effectively both internally and externally, to tackle the issues at the heart of our Council Plan. So, the vision is very much about increasing our collective impact on tackling child poverty, climate change, improving wellbeing and working with our communities and partners to co-design the means to achieve that.
The knowledge, experience and commitment of our incredible teams gives us a strong foundation with some real opportunities on the horizon thanks to this new way of working together. I think we are all excited to get stuck in!
Any final thoughts David?
Although we are all busier than ever and working hard, it’s important to take a pause to share our positive news and reflect on our successes. So, if your team has an achievement to recognise such as an important project update or something to celebrate, I would definitely recommend sharing your story to let your focus, passion and inspiration shine through!
If you would like to share your story, or be interviewed for a future edition of Staff Talk, email: communications@north-ayrshire.gov.uk for your chance to be included next time!
“The power of education is something that is deeply instilled in me. I believe that education really is at the heart of everything. It’s the journey that helps everyone to achieve their goals and live how they want to live.Over the years I have learned that it is also vital to all parts of public policy. I’m a firm believer in prevention and early intervention – if we can get things right now, it can only support current and future generations.”
Sam Anson, Executive Director for Education
Education is the strategic lead for Child Poverty and Wellbeing
The collective aims of the Education directorate are to:
- Create the best possible conditions for learning and supporting learners;
- Encourage children and families to be part of the school community;
- Support all learners to succeed;
- Raise attainment – with focus on numeracy and literacy;
- Identify improvements to support health and wellbeing;
- Close the poverty-related attainment gap;
- Improve the life chances of every child in North Ayrshire;
- Ensure young people achieve their very best;
- Identify and implement more supportive mechanisms to tackle poverty;
- Listen to the needs of children and young people and act upon them;
- Work in partnership with families and wider communities.
Get more info in the Council Plan.
To better understand the Council Structure – visit the dedicated Council structure webpage.
“In Communities and Housing, we want to support people to articulate their aspirations for themselves and their communities, drive participation, and increase involvement in local decision making to tackle inequalities. We’re all about working together. As a Directorate-wide leadership team, we’ll be meeting regularly to discuss our culture, priorities, and the building blocks for success.”David Hammond, Executive Director for Communities and Housing
Communities and Housing is the strategic lead for Communities and Local Democracy
The new directorate has a shared strategic vision, with collective aims to:
- Continue the expansion of the Council’s ambitious housebuilding programme;
- Use the new Local Development Plan to champion the co-design of local places and spaces;
- Promote the benefits of local democracy and decision-making via a new Participation Strategy;
- Empower communities to access the funding and facilities they need to achieve their goals;
- Work with partners such as KA Leisure and Active Schools to support residents to live happier, healthier and more fulfilling lives;
- Partner with Police Scotland, Fire and Rescue and other protective agencies to build a safer North Ayrshire;
- Tackle poverty via the Fairer Food Network and other supportive networks;
- Utilise our connections across all Council services to make North Ayrshire a place where everyone can thrive, succeed and fulfil their potential.
Get more info in the Council Plan.
Over to you Sam. Welcome! Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?
I’m originally from Sheffield, and first moved to Scotland to study at the University of Edinburgh.
After a spell working in Whitehall I moved back from London to work for the Scottish Government almost 25 years ago. I also have my own kilt (Campbell tartan), so I’m practically Scottish 😊.
I have worked across a range of policy areas, but primarily around dual themes of economic policy and education. In recent years I’ve been involved in Scotland’s expansion of childcare, the Scottish Attainment Challenge and education’s response to the Covid pandemic.
What interests you particularly in education?
My mum was a teacher and I come from a family of educationalists, so the power of education is something that is deeply instilled in me. I believe that education really is at the heart of everything. It’s the journey that helps everyone to achieve their goals and live how they want to live.
What do you hope to bring to the role of Director for Education?
Over the years I have learned that education is vital to all parts of public policy. I’m a firm believer in prevention and early intervention – if we can get things right now, it can only support current and future generations.
My goal is to use my strengths in policy and leadership to enable our service to work collaboratively to raise attainment, support wider achievement and reduce the poverty-related attainment gap.
It really is a privilege to start my journey in local government with North Ayrshire Council, and a personal aspiration is also to strengthen the links the Council has with national government, to make the most of our shared resources.
Like Communities and Housing, will you also be at the forefront of tackling inequalities?
Most definitely. I am the strategic lead for Wellbeing – which includes Child Poverty – so I will be working closely with the Third Sector, the Health and Social Care Partnership and colleagues across the Council to utilise partnership working and better understand the challenges faced.
Promoting inclusive economic growth is something I’ve been involved with in the past, so the Council’s vision of ‘A North Ayrshire that is fair for all’ is something that really resonates with me.
How will you spend the coming months in the role?
Finding my way around and meeting as many people as possible! I have actually been the Scottish Government’s Place Director – essentially a link person – with North Ayrshire for the past five years, so I am aware of some of the brilliant work already happening and some of the specific challenges communities are facing.
Everyone has been so friendly. I am struck by how passionate everyone is and how deeply they care about improving the lives of people living across North Ayrshire’s six localities.
I am very aware that I do still have a lot to learn and people to meet. I am really keen to get out and visit as many schools as possible. In my first week I’ve toured Springside Primary School and met with three Headteacher clusters, and I hope to be out and about as much as I can be going forward.
During a time where budgets are tighter than ever, working in a joined-up way is going to be so important if we are to fully achieve the Council’s priorities and maximise our resources.
How do you like to spend your free time?
I have two teenage kids, so they keep me busy. I also spend weekend mornings – bright and early before the kids get up – going coastal rowing.
The rowing club I’m in uses a type of boat called a St Ayles skiff – it’s based on old fishing vessels, so imagine a four-seater rowing boat made from wood. It’s an amazing way to decompress after a busy week, and the key focus is simply to ensure we all row in rhythm. It’s also sufficiently niche that we have half an eye on competing in the triennial World Championships in Stranraer in Summer 2025.
Stay tuned, I’ll let you know this time next year how we get on!