Wednesday 5 October 2022
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.
We’ve reached October already and Autumn is definitely in the air now! We’ll be talking about Christmas before we know it…..
There was also a full Council meeting on Thursday 22 September, with a packed agenda – you can read the reports that were considered through the usual meeting date link in the Committee Diary on the Council website.
A significant report that was approved at Council was a £2.1 million cost of living support package, including an additional £200 payment for all eligible children, energy vouchers for our Council tenants and free gym and swim sessions for our primary and secondary school pupils. You can read further details on the package in the media release we issued after the meeting – and ‘watch this space’ over the next week as we also launch a cost of living support page on the Council website to coincide with this week’s Challenge Poverty Week (see News item below).
You’ll have seen from Employee News 23, issued at the end of last week, that the Council also updated its Redundancy Framework, having agreed to review this back in June and carry out benchmarking against other councils in Scotland.
Now, on with our regular updates:
News from the Council….
Challenge Poverty Week
The Council has pledged its support for Challenge Poverty Week 2022, which runs from 3-9 October.
The week is coordinated by The Poverty Alliance and in addition to the news release promoting the week, we have also published a cost of living support webpage with details on funding, support and advice available in East Dunbartonshire. You can see a number of key messages related the Challenge Poverty Week themes throughout this week on our Facebook and Twitter pages too.
Your views wanted! - Lennoxtown Main Street
A consultation has been launched this week to find out the views of people who live in, work in or visit Lennoxtown. There’s an online survey, which includes the concept designs developed back in 2019, seeking views on why people visit Lennoxtown Main Street, what they’d like to see there, and their thoughts on the concepts produced. It’s all part of an Improvement Project that began back in 2019 but had to be paused during the COVID pandemic. You can read the news release on our website and complete the survey before the closing date of 30 October.
Battling the scourge of Roadside Litter
Some of our busiest rural roads will be the focus of a targeted clean-up campaign this month. Roadside litter is unsightly and can be a danger to road users and to wildlife – but it is also dangerous and costly to remove. The Council has joined Keep Scotland Beautiful to combat litter, fly-tipping and graffiti next to our roads, with a clear message to motorists to keep their rubbish in the car until they reach a suitable bin. You can read more about this campaign in our news release and find information on action we can all take on the Keep Scotland Beautiful website.
Steer the ‘direction of travel’ in annual survey
We’re all being asked to take part in the annual East Dunbartonshire travel survey which is seeking to find out how we get around East Dunbartonshire and what factors affect the transport choices we make. Representatives from Research Resource will be out and about in our towns and villages over this fortnight, seeking our views and you can also complete the survey online. The annual survey is part of our current Local Transport Strategy and the results will inform future strategies and plans, including our Active Travel Strategy.
Healthy Working Lives (HWL) news for October….
The October 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.
A number of health and wellbeing campaigns run throughout October, including:
1-28 October Stoptober 28 day stop smoking campaign
1-31 October Breast Cancer Awareness Month
1-31 October Cholesterol Awareness Month
Visit the October 2022 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…..
Keep it in mind
Creativity and mindfulness are being brought together at free workshops taking place at Bishopbriggs Library next week. Two Mindful Crafting and Meditation Experience sessions will be hosted at the Library on Saturday 8 October as part of an EDLC initiative. Visit the news section of the Council website for more info.
Do you have a love of singing and fancy taking up a new hobby?
The much-loved Kirkintilloch Male Voice Choir (KMVC) has been entertaining people all over the country for over 100 years, raising funds for charities and good causes, and they are looking for new members.
There are no auditions and you don't need any previous musical experience - all training is provided. Rehearsals take place every Monday night at 7.15pm in the Park Centre in Kerr Street, Kirkintilloch, and as a special offer, new members will receive up to four free taster rehearsal sessions.
If this sounds like a new challenge you'd enjoy, visit the KMVC website, phone 0141 775 2437 or email tickets_kmvc@hotmail.co.uk for more information. The KMVC facebook page is also packed with photos and videos of the choir in action.
Dates for your Diary…
3 – 9 October Challenge Poverty Week
9 October Kirkin of the Council, St Mary’s Parish Church, Kirkintilloch
10 October World Mental Health Day
17-21 October East Dunbartonshire Schools October Week Holiday
18 October World Menopause Day
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 17 October. Have a fabulous break if you are having time off that week, and you can catch up on the latest news on your return.
Ann