Dear All
Welcome to the latest edition of our Depute Chief Executive Update. As always, I also hope that you and your families are safe and well.
Here’s hoping we start to see some warmer Spring weather after the storms, snow, ice and Met Office weather warnings of recent days and weeks. A note of thanks again to our gritting teams who are out in all weathers and at all hours – and also to the maintenance and servicing teams that keep them on the roads.
You’ll be aware that our command and control arrangements remain in place and we confirmed last week (in Employee News 03 on 28 January) that whilst the Scottish Government has advised that hybrid working arrangements can now be considered, our working from home arrangements are continuing. Attendance at Council offices remains by exception only and through agreement with your Executive Officer.
The latest edition of our fortnightly service updates to councillors, which we reintroduced last month, was issued on Friday 4 February, and has been published to the Technical Notes section.
Here are the latest of our regular updates:
News from the Council
LGBT History Month
The Council is once again flying the Rainbow Flag in support of the LGBTI Community in East Dunbartonshire for LGBT History Month. This is celebrated in the UK each year in February and is an opportunity to focus on the eradication of all prejudice towards homophobia, biphobia and transphobia in our communities. Further information about LGBT History Month, LGBTI resources or LGBTI related support is available on the LGBT Youth Scotland website.
Delivering support
Funding has been allocated to help Taxi and Private Hire Drivers and Operators recover from the significant reduction in demand during the rapid spread of the Omicron variant. The Council is playing a key role in ensuring local drivers and operators are supported. Visit our business support webpage for more information.
Pitching in to deliver new sports complex in Kirkintilloch
Work has kicked off on a new sporting facility in East Dunbartonshire. The Council is captaining a team of partners to create Kirkintilloch Community Sports Complex on a derelict brownfield site to the west of Park Burn, in the Southbank area of the town. Robertson Construction has been contracted to deliver the new asset, which will offer high-quality sporting facilities - including community access. Preparatory works have been taking place to survey and clear the site, remove debris and obstructions, and to create foundations for the development. Visit the News section of our website for more information.
Fifty homes in East Dunbartonshire to benefit from decarbonisation trial
The Council is one of three local authorities in Scotland taking part in a trial to decarbonise heat, as part of a Scottish Government/Distribution Network Operators ‘Project Re-Heat’ initiative, to accelerate the decarbonisation of heating in Scotland. This first large scale trial will see 150 heat pumps installed in domestic homes across three local authority areas - 50 of those in East Dunbartonshire. Using smart grid controls and smart heating management with domestic heat storage, the project will demonstrate technical solutions that accelerate the deployment of low carbon electrified heating and also reduce demand on the electricity network. This should reduce the need for transitional network reinforcement works and ultimately lower customers’ bills. Our news release has more details.
COVID memorial project for East Dunbartonshire’s communities
The Council and EDLC Trust have launched their search for an artist to create the area’s COVID-19 memorial project with local communities as part of the Scottish Government’s Remembering Together programme. There will be memorial projects, which can be a piece of art such as a physical structure, garden, artwork, play or piece of music, in all 32 local authority areas in Scotland. The programme aims to bring together communities and artists in reflection, hope and healing and you can read more on our approach in East Dunbartonshire in our News release on the Council website.
Applications invited for community grants scheme funding
Applications are being invited for the latest round of the Council’s £45k Community Grants Scheme. Local groups across East Dunbartonshire can apply for crucial funding, up to £3,000, in order to make a positive impact in the lives of residents in East Dunbartonshire. The application process is now online with a closing date of Friday 25 February 2022. For more information visit our Community Grants news release on the Council website. The application form and guidance are on our Community Grant Scheme webpage.
Employee Wellbeing
Healthy Working Lives (HWL) news for February
The February 2022 Healthy Working lives update will be published to the Employee Zone this week, with news of the themes and campaigns that we are promoting in February, including the following:
- Mentioning the Menopause
A reminder that the popular Teams talk on the menopause, delivered by Dr Kay McAllister from the Sandyford Service, will be on Wednesday 16 February from 4-5pm. In response to feedback, it is being held at a time when teachers and other frontline workers may find it easier to join. If you wish to attend, please email: mandy.ferncombe@ggc.scot.nhs.uk and if you have questions for Dr McAllister send them to Mandy in advance.
You can also find up-to-date, accurate information about the menopause, menopause symptoms and treatment options on the Menopause Matters website.
A reminder that a full range of helpful wellbeing information on a wide range of topics is available on the Wellbeing page of our Employee Zone.
Other News
Free bus travel for under 22s
A new scheme offering free bus travel across the country to all 5 to 21-year-olds living in Scotland launched at the end of last month. To access the scheme children and young people will need to apply for a new or replacement National Entitlement Card (NEC) or Young Scot National Entitlement Card (Young Scot NEC) even if they already have one. There's a dedicated page on the Council website with more background and information on how to apply.
App helps you find free period products
Pick Up My Period is a new, free app developed by Hey Girls and the Scottish Government which lets people know where to find free period products across Scotland. East Dunbartonshire's public buildings offer free products to anyone who needs them and are among the 700 listings featured on the app. Read more about the app and how to download it, on the Hey Girls website.
Help to saddle up
Need a helping hand to get your bike into shape and ready to roll? The Scotland Cycle Repair Scheme provides free repair and maintenance work (up to the value of £50 for standard bikes and up to £100 for non-standard cycles). To find a local outlet, visit the Cycling UK website.
Mugdock Wellbeing Week
Mugdock Country Park is holding a Wellbeing Week from Monday 21st to Sunday 27th February 2022 and there is an opportunity to book on one of the following taster sessions: Qigong, Doodling for Relaxation, Yoga, Pilates, Forest Bathing and Mindfulness. All booking details can be found on Mugdock's Facebook page and on the Mugdock Country Park website.
Dates for your Diary
1-28 February LGBT+ History Month
7-13 February National Apprenticeship Week
7-8 February East Dunbartonshire Schools February break
8 February Safer Internet Day
9 February East Dunbartonshire Schools in-service day (pupils off)
16 February Menopause talk (see HWL update above)
21-27 February Mugdock Wellbeing Week
24 February Council Budget Meeting
As always, my continued thanks to you all – stay safe and keep well. The next DCE Update will be in a fortnight’s time on Monday 21 February.
Ann