Welcome to this latest edition of our Depute Chief Executive’s Update.
With our teachers returning to school on Monday (14 August) and pupils returning on Wednesday, the weather has inevitably taken a turn for the better and we are back to sunshine and warmth – for a week or so anyway.
Last week saw the awarding of the SQA exam results, and you can see in the news section below that our pupils here in East Dunbartonshire did fantastically well, with results better than the Scottish average. Huge congratulations to all our young people – and to the staff supporting them in their achievements and in securing their next steps.
There is still plenty to look forward to with the return of Kirkintilloch Canal Festival on the horizon. You’ll see in the news update below that the Provost and Depute Provost have been completing their Provost’s Pentathlon to raise awareness of the return of the Festival – and to raise much needed funds for local charity EDAMH and national charity Young Lives vs Cancer. With three of their activities now completed, head over to their Just Giving page to find out more and pledge your support if you can!
Strategic Planning & Performance Framework Update – August 2023
Before moving on to our usual news roundup, I have an update on our new Operating Model and revised Strategic Leadership Team (SLT), following the update provided at the end of June.
Over the intervening period, engagement with senior officers effected has been undertaken, with a matching exercise concluded and the following matches confirmed:
|
Role |
Name
|
|---|---|
|
Chief Finance Officer (Finance & Digital Services) |
Jamie Robertson
|
|
Chief Solicitor & Monitoring Officer (Legal & Regulatory Services) |
Karen Donnelly
|
|
Executive Officer – Assets & Facilities |
Alan Bauer
|
|
Executive Officer – Land, Planning & Development |
Heather Holland
|
|
Executive Officer – Community Services |
Evonne Bauer
|
Officers not confirmed as a match and therefore displaced, continue to be supported in line with the Council’s Principles of Change Strategy and recruitment to the vacant SLT positions is underway.
The next phase of implementation of the new operating model will see services transition to the confirmed/appointed strategic portfolio leads. This will begin in the coming weeks and further updates on these arrangements will be communicated by Executive Officers and line managers.
Now, on to our regular round up of news:
News from the Council….
Doors Open Day 2023
Iconic buildings old and new are planning to throw open their doors as part of this year’s Doors Open Day in East Dunbartonshire, which takes place on Saturday 9 September and allows free access to lots of venues and sites of historic, cultural, archaeological and community interest not usually open to the public.
New this year is the fabulous Deafblind Scotland Learning and Development Centre near Kirkintilloch, which will be conducting tours throughout the day. Take a green screen selfie in the recording studio, use specialised printing equipment to create your name in tactile written language and be led round an exhibition of tactile art by the deafblind artist who produced the work. There is also a tactile path which you can negotiate whilst wearing simulation glasses to experience what it is like for people with sight conditions. You can find out more through this link to our news page.
Strong performance by EDC Pupils in 2023 Exams
Tuesday 8 August was Results Day or those who sat SQA exams this year and results remained strong in East Dunbartonshire across our eight secondary schools. A significant number have passed with flying colours, achieving A, B and C grades. For National 5s it was 84%, for Highers it was 83.1% and for Advanced Higher the figure was 79.2%. Read more in our news release on the website – and huge congratulations to all our pupils and those in our schools that supported their success!
Set your compass for Kirkintilloch
A swashbuckling weekend of music, magic, fireworks and family fun is sailing into view as part of the 2023 Kirkintilloch Canal Festival. Thousands are expected to converge on the town on Saturday and Sunday 26 and 27 August as the celebration of all things nautical and nice powers ahead. The Kirkintilloch Canal Festival – organised by the Council and partners – includes a range of fun and entertainment at Southbank Marina (on the Saturday, from 5-10pm) and on the Sunday at the Marina, Cowgate, Townhead and Barleybank (from noon-5pm). Free and paid-for boat trips are taking place next week, including storytelling, a fish tea, whisky tasting and more. Visit our Canal Festival webpage for full info.
Provost’s Canal Festival Pentathlon
Provost Gillian Renwick is set to raise funds for two great causes in the run-up to the Kirkintilloch Canal Festival when it returns this August. The Provost and Depute Provost are undertaking five challenges throughout East Dunbartonshire, to raise awareness of the Canal Festival and to raise money for East Dunbartonshire Association for Mental Health (EDAMH) and Young Lives vs Cancer. You can read more by visiting the media release and if you would like to sponsor their efforts to raise funds for these great causes, you can visit their Just Giving Page.
Businesses offered chance to secure digital upgrade
Funding is being offered to help businesses tap into new technologies, skills and knowledge. Small and medium-sized enterprises based locally are being invited to find out more about our new Digital Development Support Programme. A grant up to the value of £10,000 is potentially available – depending on the programme criteria and the value of any equipment/technology being implemented. Read more in our news release on the website.
News from the Trust….
Special Visitor to Huntershill Sports Complex
The Huntershill sports venue had a very special guest on Wednesday 2 August as Sir Chris Hoy spent some time with local athletics club the Springburn Harriers as his role as Ambassador for mental health charity SAMH. Local members of the club got to meet one of the country’s most decorated sportsperson and discuss the work they are doing to incorporate mental health awareness into their sessions.
Athlete Performance Programme – open for applications
The Trust’s Athlete Performance Programme is now open to athletes from all sports and offers strength and conditioning coaching, support and guidance to help them compete at the highest level. Coaches support athletes to build their confidence in the gym, develop the correct techniques and tailor their programmes to support specific competition preparation. Eligible candidates must live or attend school within East Dunbartonshire and be aged between 12 and 18-years-old. They must also be available for two mornings a week for training sessions before school. The current round closes on 31 August – so if you know a young person that would benefit be sure to get them to apply. More details in our news release online.
News on Health & Wellbeing….
Employee Assistance Programme
Please remember that if you need it, our Employee Assistance Programme includes a 24/7 confidential helpline and support service ‘Time for Talking’ which is available to all our employees.
The contact details for employees looking for immediate support are as follows:
- Telephone: 0800 9703980
- Email: admin@timefortalking.co.uk
- Time for Talking website
- Live Web Chat: Accessed via website. Password: TfTnow (case sensitive)
Employee Wellbeing
Our Wellbeing page of the Employee Zone also has a host of information and signposting to support across a range of wellbeing matters, including financial wellbeing, emotional wellbeing and bereavement support. Do visit the page if it may be of assistance to you – and share the link with colleagues if you think they might benefit.
And Finally….
Opportunity for additional income
Our local Electoral Registration Officer at Dunbartonshire and Argyle & Bute Valuation Joint Board is looking for individuals to help out with this year’s annual canvass. The canvass is undertaken in daytime, evenings and weekends. If you or anyone you know is interested in carrying out canvassing duties, contracts are being offered for a six-week period from 11 September to 23 October 2023. Canvassers visit households of properties where Electoral Registration Forms and Canvass Forms have not been returned, to collect the correct details, to help produce and an accurate Electoral Register for the area.
For further information and an application form, please email ero-edc@dab-vjb.gov.uk or call us on 0141 562 1200. The closing date in Wednesday 23 August.
Dates for your diary….
26 & 27 August Kirkintilloch Canal Festival
9 September Doors Open Day 2023
10 September World Suicide Prevention Day
22-25 September School September Weekend Holiday
Recess has now finished and our latest round of Committee Meetings is beginning – check out the Committee Diary on the website for dates and links to view proceedings online. My next DCE update will be in a fortnight’s time, week beginning Monday 28 August.
Thanks
Ann