Dear All
Welcome to this latest edition of our Depute Chief Executive Update. As always, I hope that you and your families are safe and well and that you’ve been able to take advantage of the glorious Spring weather we’ve been having.
As guidance on the management of COVID-19 continues to be updated, infection levels remain high both across Scotland and in our local area. It is as important as ever that we follow the guidelines and the protective measures in place in our workplace to keep ourselves and our families and loved ones safe.
We are still operating our command and control structure as a result of the pandemic which includes our fortnightly service updates to Councillors. The latest edition was issued at the end of last week, on Friday 25 March, and is available on the Council website.
The local government elections in Scotland take place on 5 May - just five weeks on Thursday and our election team has been busy with the preparations to ensure that the election here in East Dunbartonshire runs smoothly and safely. The final Council of the current session take place this week on Thursday 31 March. You can find the Council reports for the meeting in the Committee diary on our website and observe the Council meeting live on the evening when it is streamed on EDC Youtube channel at 5pm.
Now on with our regular updates:
News from the Council
National Day of Reflection
Last Wednesday, 23 March was the second National Day of Reflection, organised by Marie Curie to give us all an opportunity to come together to remember the family, friends, colleagues and neighbours we've lost over the last two years. As an act of remembrance, the flags at Council HQ were flown at half-mast as we reflected on our collective loss and continue to support those who've been bereaved.
New era taking shape for the Allander
The new Allander Leisure Centre is taking shape as works progress on the multi-million pound project. The Council is redeveloping the current Bearsden site as part of a £42.5 million investment - including a new, state-of-the-art sports and leisure complex, as well as a support centre for adults with learning disabilities. For more info, visit the News section of our website.
Switch off for 60 minutes and switch on to climate change
On Saturday 26 March, people joined together in a symbolic show of unity to tackle environmental issues and protect the planet - switching off lights for an hour from 8.30pm. The WWF website has a Footprint App, which allows you to calculate your environmental impact and choose/track challenges to reduce it. You can find out more about local climate change activities by visiting our website.
Purple Day – International Epilepsy Awareness Day
Saturday 26 March was also International Epilepsy Awareness Day and Milngavie Town Hall and our Community Hubs in Kirkintilloch, Bearsden and Bishopbriggs were all lit up purple in support. Epilepsy can affect anyone irrespective of age, gender or background and no two people experience the condition in the same way. Purple day is a time to get people talking about epilepsy, raise awareness of the condition and raise vital funds. To find out more visit the Epilepsy Society website.
Calling all young voters
Do you know anyone who is aged 16 or 17? Young voters are being urged to make sure that their voices are heard in the Scottish Council elections on 5 May by ensuring that they are registered to vote. Anyone who will be aged 16 on 5 May will be able to vote – including those aged 15 who will have a birthday before the election - as long as they are registered. You can register now at gov.uk/register-to-vote
Flagship TJ House development now complete
The final tenants have now received the keys to their new homes in the flagship new development on the site of the former Council HQ in Kirkintilloch. The former Tom Johnston House site is now a much-needed affordable housing development, including 82 new Council properties and five shared equity homes. Tenants began to move in at the end of October 2021 and now all the social rented homes are fully occupied while the Shared Equity properties are in the process of being sold.
Employee Wellbeing
Healthy Working Lives (HWL) news for March
The March 2022 Healthy Working lives update is published to the Employee Zone, with news of the themes and campaigns that we are promoting in March, and the April update will be published at the end of this week.
A full range of helpful wellbeing information and advice, on a wide range of topics, is available on the Wellbeing page of our Employee Zone.
Our Employee Assistance Programme also includes a free 24 hour confidential helpline/support service ‘Time for Talking’. Full details of the service and how to access it can be found on our Employee Assistance Programme page in the Employee Zone. There is a wealth of information and support available on all aspects of life.
Other News….
Census Day
20 March was Scottish Census Day. You should have received your census information and completed the census for your household. The census provides valuable information that can inform demands for our services in the coming years and if you have not yet completed it, I’d encourage you to do so as soon as you can.
Spectrum Film Club
The next screening of the Spectrum Film Club will be the George Clooney and Sandra Bullock space movie Gravity on Tuesday 19 April. The Spectrum Film Club is the inclusive cinema night for those on the autism spectrum, held once a month in Kilmardinny House in Bearsden. More details can be found on the Spectrum Film Club web page.
British Summer Time
Hopefully everyone remembered to put their clocks forward on Saturday night and we can enjoy lighter nights now that British Summer Time has begun.
Dates for your Diary
30 March Nominations close for local government election candidates
31 March Final Council Meeting before 5 May local government elections
1 April Schools finish for Easter Holidays
15 April Good Friday Public Holiday
18 April Easter Monday Public Holiday
18 April Deadline to register to vote in Scottish local government election 5 May Scottish Local Government elections
And finally...
As always, my continued thanks to you all – stay safe and keep well. The next DCE Update will be in a fortnight’s time, the week beginning Monday 11 April.
Ann