Dear All
Welcome to this latest edition of our fortnightly Depute Chief Executive Update.
As always, I hope that you and your families are keeping safe and well. It’s hard to believe that it’s September tomorrow – the year is certainly flying by!
You’ll have seen from Monday’s Employee News that our Employee Survey 2022 is still open, closing at the end of this week (Friday 2 September). We really do want to hear from each and every one of you, so if you’ve not yet filled it in, please visit the employee survey page on our website. You can do this from any council computer or phone, or from your own device, and it only takes a few minutes to complete. If you need a paper copy of the survey, please speak to your line manager so that we can arrange this for you. The survey responses will inform our future plans so it really is a chance to have your say.
Now on with our regular updates:
News from the Council….
Community Grants Scheme - latest deadline
Time is running out for local groups and innovative projects to apply for a funding boost. The East Dunbartonshire Community Grants Scheme has £50,000 available as part of its latest round. Applications must be received by 5pm on Friday (2 September). For more information, please visit our Community Grants webpage where you’ll find all the details you need to apply.
Breath of fresh air
Improvements mean part of Bearsden no longer requires to be considered an Air Quality Management Area (AQMA), with backing from the Scottish Government and the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency. Annual mean (average) levels of Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) and Particulate Matter (PM10) in the Bearsden AQMA are now well below national objectives. The Council will publish a Notice of Intention to revoke the AQMA, and seek the views of statutory consultees, local businesses and the public. For more information, visit the News section of our website.
999 Emergency Services Day
Thursday 9 September is 999 Emergency Services Day – a day when the nation celebrates its emergency personnel and remembers those killed in the line of duty.
The Provost is marking the day alongside representatives from our local emergency services and the Emergency Services Day flag will be raised at East Dunbartonshire HQ in recognition of the vital contribution the Police, Fire & Rescue and Ambulance services make to our daily lives.
All employees will be asked to observe a nationwide two minutes’ silence at 9am on Thursday 9 September to represent the 9th hour of the 9th day of the 9th month. An All Users email reminder will be sent out on Wednesday 8 September.
Source 2 Sea week of Action
Did you know that 80% of all marine litter comes from land, where litter is washed into gutters, blown into streams or carelessly discarded? This means that litter in our streets and parks is not only costly to clean up, but is a threat to the marine environment.
That's why we are supporting Keep Scotland Beautiful's #Source2Sea Week of Action from 3-11 September 2022. We’re encouraging everyone to take action along a waterway near them to prevent litter ending up in the sea.
Check out how you can get involved in their week of action by visiting the Keep Scotland Beautiful website.
Doors Open Day returns
Following a two-year delay, it’s finally time to go back through the keyhole of some of our best-known buildings as Doors Open Day returns to East Dunbartonshire next month. The event takes place on Saturday 10 September and allows free access to lots of places which are not usually open to the public.
The programme for this area is organised by East Dunbartonshire Leisure and Culture (EDLC) Trust in partnership with East Dunbartonshire Heritage and History Forum. To view the programme, visit the EDLC website. For bookable events visit the Eventbrite website and search for the event you are interested in.
Healthy Working Lives (HWL) news for September….
The September 2022 Healthy Working Lives Update has been published to the Employee Zone of the website, with news of the campaigns that are taking place throughout the month, including links to helpful related information.
There are a wealth of health awareness days and weeks throughout September, including:
- Blood Pressure (5-11 September)
- Sepsis (13 September)
- Male Cancer Awareness (12-18 September)
- National Eye Health Awareness (19-25 September)
Visit the September tab on our dedicated Healthy Working Lives webpage for full details of these and all the other campaigns running during the month.
As always, please remember that there is a full range of helpful wellbeing information and advice on a wide range of topics 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’. It is available to all employees and full details of the service and how to access it can be found on our Employee Assistance Programme page in the Employee Zone.
Other News….
Fancy stepping out to help raise money for Cancer Research UK?
Provost Gillian Renwick, Depute Provost Colette McDiarmid and Councillor Pamela Marshall have signed up for this year’s Glasgow’s Shine Night Walk to raise vital funds for Cancer Research UK. The 10k walk takes place on 10 September, when 1000s of participants set off from Glasgow Science Centre at 8pm and walk a route through the city centre, leading to the Royal Concert Hall.
Any employees who would like to join the Civic Office team on this challenge can sign up for the walk on the Cancer Research UK website where there are great training tips and ideas to make it a night to remember. To get details of where to meet the team on the night, email provost@eastdunbarton.gov.uk
If you would like to sponsor the team you can do so on their Just Giving page.
Good luck to everyone who takes part!
Two new exhibitions on the way
Coming soon - two new exhibitions from EDLC Trust:
- 'Still Life' by Rachel Mimiec is being held at the Lillie Art Gallery in Milngavie from 3 September to 3 November 2022. It's a chance to explore local culture and the natural environment. Check out this news article for info.
- The 50th Annual Art Exhibition is being held at the Auld Kirk Museum in Kirkintilloch from 3 September to 26 October 2022. The official opening and prize-giving ceremony will be held on Saturday (3 September) from 2.30pm. For more details, visit the News section of our website.
Dates for your Diary
2 September - Closing date for Employee Survey 2022
2 September - Closing date for latest round of Community Grants (see above)
3-7 September - Source2Sea Week (see above)
9 September - 999 Emergency Services Day
10 September - World Suicide Prevention Day
10 September - Doors Open Day East Dunbartonshire
22 September - Next Full Council meeting (Hybrid format)
And finally...
As always, my continued thanks to you all – stay safe and keep well. The next edition of this Depute Chief Executive Update will be in a fortnight’s time, week beginning Monday 12 September.
Ann