Welcome to this latest edition of our Depute Chief Executive Update. It’s hard to believe September is motoring by – and how typical to have such glorious sunshine earlier this month once traditional summer holiday season was over!
There has been plenty happening since my last update in August. You’ll have seen from Employee News 23 issued recently that following our recruitment process we have appointed Thomas McMenamin to the role of Executive Officer – Roads and Neighbourhood and Angela Fegan to the role of Executive Officer – Customer Service and Organisational Development. This completes our new Strategic Leadership Team which is as follows:
|
Chief Education Officer (Interim) |
Greg Bremner |
|---|---|
|
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 – Community Services |
Evonne Bauer |
|
Executive Officer – Customer Services & Organisational Development |
Angela Fegan |
|
Executive Officer – Land, Planning & Development |
Heather Holland |
|
Executive Officer – Roads & Neighbourhood Services |
Thomas McMenamin |
|
Chief Officer - HSCP |
Caroline Sinclair |
|
General Manager – EDLC |
Mark Grant |
You’ll have also seen the news from Wednesday of last week that Gerry, our Chief Executive has announced his plans to retire in the new year. He has worked at East Dunbartonshire Council since it was established in 1996 and will have been Chief Executive here at East Dunbartonshire for 15 years come January. I’m sure I speak for us all when I say he will be greatly missed, but we wish him well in whatever he goes on to do next. The process for appointing a new Chief Executive will begin in the coming weeks.
We’ve heard some sad news in recent weeks too, as we learned that former Provost Una Walker has passed away. Una was Provost from 2012 to 2017. She was a local councillor here in East Dunbartonshire for a total of 14 years – first in the Kenmure & Baldernock Ward and then Bishopbriggs North and Torrance Ward and she also held the role of Education Convener for a time. Whilst Provost, Una was an enthusiastic fundraiser and I’m sure many of us will remember her visits to our offices in her ‘Macmillan Daffodil’ top hat! Our deepest sympathies are with her family at this sad time.
Notification of Strike Action
In Thursday’s Employee News (issue 25) you’ll have seen that we have been advised of strike action by three Trade Unions which will result in the closure of East Dunbartonshire schools for three days from Tuesday 26 September to Thursday 28 September. Only those with a mandate are permitted to strike on those days and we will issue further communications on the arrangements during those days of strike action later this week.
Now on with our wider round up of news that has been happening
News from the Council……
East Dunbartonshire Trusted Trader Scheme
A Trusted Trader scheme has been lunched in the area to provide residents with increased confidence that they are engaging the services of legitimate traders that follow an approved code of practice. The scheme is overseen locally by the Council’s Trading Standards team and you can find out more – and see some helpful hints to avoid bogus and rogue traders – by reading the news article on our website.
999 Emergency Services Day
Depute Provost Colette McDiarmid, with representatives from the Emergency Services here in East Dunbartonshire, recognised 999 Emergency Services Day earlier this month. This annual day reminds us of the importance of our Emergency Services and is marked with a one-minute silence at 9am on the 9th day of the 9th month.
Beautiful Brookwood
Brookwood Villa in Bearsden has reopened as a fabulous community venue following an extensive £2m revamp by the Council. The full restoration of the building is now complete and will serve as a base for a variety of community groups, including a nursery and after school provision.
You can find further information on our website
Doors Open at Woodland View School
It was smiles all round at the new Woodland View School in Waterside, Kirkintilloch as the doors opened for the start of the new term. The brand new £34.9m Additional Support Needs School brings together children and young people from Campsie View School in Lenzie and Merkland in Kirkintilloch. Read more about the custom-built school with its wide-open spaces and sensory trail leading from the ground floor to the first floor in the news article on our website.
Boclair Academy is pitch perfect
One year on from the new £40.9m Boclair Academy opening its doors to pupils, all external building and landscaping works have been completed. The Bearsden school was built on the existing school site with the old building now demolished. And now all external works are finished with attractive landscaping being the finishing touch. Pupils and staff can now benefit from:
- A new grass pitch to add to the already popular 3G football pitch.
- A 1km fitness track around the boundary of the school which is suitable for running, walking or cycling.
- Twelve bike shelters to encourage and support active travel options.
- Car parking and an improved bus pick-up & drop-off area.
- An amphitheatre for outdoor learning or socialising during breaks.
- Attractive hard and soft landscaping with new plants, shrubs and trees.
You can read more on this story on our website
Latest EDATC newsletter
The second newsletter from the East Dunbartonshire ACEs and Trauma Collaborative is out now. Find out what the group has been doing to ensure that we have a Trauma Informed workforce. Read about the work being done to transform offices and buildings to become Trauma Informed for people using and working in them. You'll find the newsletter in the EDACT section of the Employee Zone
Birdhouse workshops a roaring success
A series of bird box building workshops which took place during the summer holidays has been hailed a great success. Around 70 bird boxes were built by almost 200 volunteers who came along to the drop-in sessions organised by the Council’s Streetscene Technical Support and supported by the Countryside Rangers. The workshops - funded by the Scottish Government Nature Restoration Fund works - were designed to support local biodiversity as well as provide a fun activity for children during the school holidays. The bird boxes will be installed over the winter months in the locations where the workshops were held which included Cairnhill Wood, Merkland Local Nature Reserve, Luggie Park, Meadowburn Park and Kilmardinny Loch. To read more, see the media release.
New Sports Facility underway at Lennoxtown High Park
Work has begun on the new £4.3m sports facility at Lennoxtown High Park. The ground breaking works started earlier this month and will see a new 3G all-weather pitch installed in the park and the changing facilities extended and updated to increase capacity. You can read more of the plans in our news page online.
News from the Trust…..
Swim Superstar at the Leisuredrome
Youngsters swimming at the Leisuredrome last week were delighted to meet Olympic, World and Commonwealth swimming superstar Duncan Scott for a session in the pool. This once in a lifetime opportunity was organised in recognition of East Dunbartonshire delivering the National Learn to Swim programme in the area. You can read more about the event and see pictures in the news section of the Council website.
Latest Exhibition at Lillie Art Gallery
The latest exhibition at the Lillie Art Gallery in Milngavie celebrates the life of artist James Greer and the places that inspired him. ‘A retrospective celebrating 70 years of Art’ is on at the gallery until 28 October, and you can read more details in our online news release.
Christmas Magic at Kilmardinny House
A touch of Christmas magic is coming to Kilmardinny House this December when Charles Dickens’ famous tale is brought to the stage, courtesy of No Nonsense Productions. A Christmas Carol; A Radio Play on Stage is an adaptation of the festive favourite and Kilmardinny House in Bearsden will play host to two shows - a matinee and an evening performance – on Saturday 16 December.
To find out more about the show, read the media release and to book your tickets, visit the Booking page [opens in a new window].
Wellbeing Awareness…..
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 [opens in a new window]
- 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…..
Are you meant to mentor?
Do you think you have what it takes to mentor a young person in one of our schools for one hour a week? The Council has partnered with charity MCR Pathways [opens in a new window] to offer employees this volunteering opportunity to listen to and encourage participants to achieve their full potential. It is an award-winning mentoring programme, which supports young people, including those who are care-experienced or have experienced disadvantage - and there are opportunities in all of our secondary schools. The role is flexible and you'll receive comprehensive training. Find out more and register your interest on the MCR Pathways [opens in a new window] website.
LGiU Membership
Did you know that the Council membership of the Local Government Information Unit (LGiU) means that everyone in the organisation can access the daily news briefings and policy updates that are regularly published.
Simply visit the LGIU website [opens in a new window] and sign up with your Council email address to receive the daily news briefings by email each morning, which include a summary of the local government news coverage for the day across Scottish councils and beyond.
Dates for your diary….
16 September World Cleanup Day
21 September World Alzheimer’s Day
22-25 September School September Weekend Holiday
10 October World Mental Health Day
16-20 October School October Week Holiday
Have a great next few weeks, and I’ll be back with my next update in a fortnight’s time, week beginning Monday 2 October.
Thanks
Ann