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.
Our Council elections countdown continues, with just over a week to go. Polling takes place on 5 May – a week on Thursday. The election team is already receiving postal votes and approaching the final phase of preparations for our count venue and polling stations. A total of 89 polling stations in 35 polling places will be set up throughout the area in advance of polling day.
With COVID-19 infection levels remaining high, plans are in place to ensure there are safety measures in place across all of our polling places and at the election count. A video on what to expect at your polling station has been prepared. If you’ve not yet seen it on our website or social media channels, you can watch it in the ‘what to expect at the polling station’ section of our local elections 2022 web page.
Now on with our regular updates:
News from the Council
International Workers’ Memorial Day
International Workers’ Memorial Day is held each year on 28 April and we will once again be remembering those who have lost their lives at work. You’ll have seen in Employee News 06, issued this morning, that we will fly the flags at our Council HQ at half-mast on Thursday and hold a one minute silence at noon. Chief Executive Gerry Cornes will also lead a small wreath-laying event on Thursday, at 1pm at the Memorial Cairn in Bishopbriggs, with Trades Union and Community Planning Partner colleagues.
Local Government Elections 2022
As I mentioned above, the local government elections are taking place in just over a week. Polling stations open at 7am on Thursday 5 May and close at 10pm.
Please remember that as the Leisuredrome in Bishopbriggs is our count venue, the entire centre will be closed from 5pm on Thursday 5 May until 8am on Saturday 7 May to enable counting to take place on Friday 6 May. In addition to that, the sports hall will be closed from 5pm on this coming Saturday, 30 April, through to 8am on Sunday 8 May to enable the electronic counting equipment to be set up.
Light up green for Lyme disease
The Council will once again be lighting up its buildings green in May, Lyme Disease Awareness Month. Bearsden Community Hub, Bishopbriggs Library & Hub, Kirkintilloch Community Hub & William Patrick Library building, Lennoxtown Hub and Milngavie Town Hall will all be lit up in green from 13-15 May to help to raise awareness.
Many people in Scotland are affected by Lyme Disease, a severe illness caused by infection transmitted by the bite of a tick. You can find out more about the symptoms and how to avoid tick bites on the Lyme Disease Action website.
Fibromyalgia Awareness Day
We will also be lighting up our buildings in purple to raise awareness of Fibromyalgia on 12 May, which is Fibromyalgia Awareness Day. We are once again supporting the annual Fibro Friends United – Scotland (FFUS) #lightupforfibro campaign, to raise awareness of this painful and debilitating condition, which affects the central nervous system. You can find out more about Fibromyalgia and the campaign on the FFUS website.
Artist appointed for East Dunbartonshire’s COVID memorial
The Council and Leisure & Culture Trust have appointed Elena Mary Harris, a participatory artist and facilitator, for our local Remembering Together COVID memorial project. Remembering Together aims to bring together communities and artists in reflection, hope and healing. It is a Scotland-wide initiative that will result in memorial projects in each local authority area.
Elena will be engaging with communities across East Dunbartonshire as part of the first phase of the project – working with individuals and groups to come up with ideas on what the area’s memorial will be. You can read more, including how to get involved, in the news section of our website.
Employee Wellbeing
Healthy Working Lives (HWL) news for May
The April 2022 Healthy Working lives update is live on the Employee Zone of the website, with news of the themes and campaigns that we are promoting this month.
With May almost upon us, the May update will be published early next week, with key themes including
- National walking month (1-31 May)
- Sun awareness week (2-8 May)
- Mental health awareness week (9-15 May)
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….
Inspirational tale being woven at the Auld Kirk
Don't miss the latest exhibition at the Auld Kirk Museum, Kirkintilloch. 'That was Then, but This is Now' is a showcase of work from the West of Scotland Guild of Weavers, Spinners & Dyers. The Guild is a group of textile enthusiasts, united through a love of all things fibre, who meet regularly from September to May in Milngavie Community Education Centre. Check out the News section of our website for details.
Young footballers urged to 'take 5'
Budding soccer stars are being offered a sporting chance to have a ball at leisure centres in Bishopbriggs and Kirkintilloch. Young football fans can play away the days during spring and summer by netting an amazing deal. For just £10 per court, aspiring Andy Robertsons and Erin Cuthberts (aged 16 years and under) can enjoy an hour-long football session on the outside five-a-side facilities at the Leisuredrome in Bishopbriggs and Kirkintilloch Leisure Centre. See the News section of our website for full details.
Write good way to celebrate local talents
A new project aims to showcase the creative writing talents of the East Dunbartonshire autistic community. The HSCP has launched a new literary initiative. Local Area Co-ordinators are on the look-out for short story submissions (maximum length, 600 words) on the theme of 'reflections'. Stories will be compiled and printed in a booklet in September. It's part of a line-up of exciting events throughout the year as part of the 2022 Festival of Celebration. Visit our website for more information.
Dates for your Diary
28 April International Workers’ Memorial Day
1-31 May Lyme Disease Awareness Month
5 May Scottish Local Government elections
6 May East Dunbartonshire Local Government election count
12 May Fibromyalgia Awareness Day
17 May International Day against Homophobia, Transphobia & Biphobia
19 May Statutory Meeting to establish new Council
And finally...
As always, my continued thanks to you all – stay safe and keep well. The next DCE Update will be after the local election, in a fortnight’s time, week beginning Monday 9 May.
Ann