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 took place last week, on Thursday 5 May and the count took place at the Leisuredrome in Bishopbriggs on Friday 6 May. A big thank you goes out to our fantastic election team who once again delivered a successful election here in East Dunbartonshire. A phenomenal amount of planning goes into an election and in addition to our core team in Legal & Demographic services, there are hundreds of you involved in setting up and staffing our polling places and our counting venue – huge thanks to each and every one of you.
The results of the election in each of our seven wards can be found on the Local Government Elections – May 2022 page on our Council website. The declaration details are currently there and the detailed breakdown of each stage of counting in the Single Transferable Vote (STV) process will be published from today.
The first meeting of our new Council is the statutory meeting for the appointment of key Council roles. This will take place online on Thursday 19 May and the Council papers and the online link to the meeting will be published in the Council’s Committee Diary on the website on Thursday 12 May.
Now on with our regular updates:
News from the Council
Mental Health Awareness Week (9-15 May)
This week is Mental Health Awareness Week and the theme is loneliness. Loneliness is affecting more and more of us and has had a huge impact on our physical and mental health during the pandemic. If you're struggling you'll find podcasts, videos, inspiring stories and information about getting help on the Mental Health Foundation website Look out for #IveBeenThere on social media too. Find out more about support available on the Wellbeing pages of your Employee Zone.
Light up for Fibro Campaign (10-16 May)
The Council will once again be lighting up its key buildings purple on Thursday 12 May in support of Fibromyalgia Awareness Day. We are 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 this year’s campaign, including videos and case studies, on the FFUS website.
International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia
The International Day against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia is on 17 May and the Council traditionally flies the Rainbow Flag in recognition of this day and in support of the LGBT+ communities here in East Dunbartonshire. This year, the Rainbow Flag will once again fly at our Council HQ on Tuesday 17 May and we will be sharing our support on social media.
Fostering campaign - Little Moments Change Lives
Our Little Moments Change Lives campaign to urge potential foster carers to get in touch, relaunched last week. It aims to ensure that children and young people continue to be supported in their community when their birth families are unable to look after them.
East Dunbartonshire has a network of dedicated carers but several long-term carers are retiring and new carers are desperately needed. The campaign includes posters across the Council’s fleet vehicles and social media.
Read one family's story in our news release and find out more if you think you could be a foster carer. Remember that foster carers come from all kinds of backgrounds and experiences: single, living with a partner, in a same sex relationship or married.
Youngsters can spring into action at new play park
A brand new play park has been created in Kirkintilloch. Offering an array of new equipment, the Woodhead Park design was voted for by the community and has been given a big “thumbs up” by local children. In 2021, the Council carried out an extensive online consultation, giving residents the chance to choose a new design for three play locations across East Dunbartonshire: Woodhead Park, Kirkintilloch; and Meadowburn North Play Area and Doune Crescent, both in Bishopbriggs. For more info, visit the News section of our website.
Employee Wellbeing
Healthy Working Lives (HWL) news for May
The May 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.
Two key features for May are National Walking Month which encourages us to think about taking to our feet to get active, and Mental Health Awareness week, which starts today (Monday 9 May):
- National walking month (1-31 May)
- Mental health awareness week (9-15 May)
A full range of helpful wellbeing information and advice on a wide range of topics, including physical activity and emotional wellbeing, 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.
Dates for your Diary
9-15 May Mental Health Awareness Week
10-16 May Fibromyalgia week
17 May International Day against Homophobia, Transphobia & Biphobia
19 May Statutory Meeting to establish new Council
27 May School holiday
2-5 June Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Holiday Weekend
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, week beginning Monday 23 May.
Ann