How Good Is Our Service - February 2023

Monthly Performance Report

On this page you will find information on:

• Assets and Facilities
• Customer and Business Support Services
• East Dunbartonshire Leisure and Culture Trust
• Education
• Finance & Audit
• Health and Social Care Partnership
• Housing
• Legal and Democratic Services
• Neighbourhood Services
• Place and Community Planning
• Roads and Environment

Assets and Facilities

Customer and Business Support Services

Overview of Progress

Communications & Engagement

The key focus of the Communications & Engagement Team in February was the continued promotion of the cost of living support package agreed by Council and the launch of the Budget consultation. Given the Christmas and New Year shut down it was again a quieter month for media relations with 16 enquiries, 12 media releases and three photocalls. All releases are on the Council website news section and the local and national regional coverage achieved equated to an equivalent advertising value of just over £4k. Social media posts continued to generate good interaction across a range of themes. There were 145 Facebook posts generating a reach of 1.05 million and engagement of over 79k. There were also 145 Tweets generating a potential reach of 3.4 million and 168k impressions. The top posts for engagement on Facebook and Twitter in January were in relation to the closure of the old Allander Leisure Centre and announcement of the new centre opening dates and the Auchenhowie Road flooding as a result of the burst water main and subsequent road closures.

Corporate Performance

In January 2023, the Corporate Performance and Research team continued to fulfil required duties in relation to reporting of performance and risk management at a corporate level and provision of service level data and statistical support. The team also continues to ensure the Council has adequate insurance arrangements in place, acting as a point of escalation in regards to any claims made. All business as usual work was completed within agreed timescales.

Customer Services

Throughout January, the Customer Services team continued to deliver customer services across all channels. Average call response times just exceeded the target at 3 minutes 9 seconds, with high call volumes relating to Christmas tree collection arrangements and the additional garden waste collection offered in January. Recruitment and training of new recruits continued to be a priority and refresher training across the existing team also continued to be a focus for the month. Management of the 24/7 ERC coverage and standby emergency registration coverage was also a key priority for the New Year public holidays. A total of 173 direct messages through social media were received and actioned (139 Facebook, 34 Twitter). A total of 156 direct messages were sent (143 on Facebook, 13 Twitter). Face to face appointment demands continued to be met in the four Community Hubs.

Revenues & Benefits

The Revenues and Benefits team have continued to process Council Tax and Benefits services and administration of the Scottish Welfare Fund. Work continues to implement a new Document Management System to replace the current system which is approaching end of life. The team have started processing applications under the UK Government Energy Bill Support Scheme Alternative Funding scheme which provides support to residents who do not have a direct relationship with an energy supplier. The Self Isolation Support Grant closed to all applicants on 2nd February 2023 with the team processing almost 3200 applications since it started in October 2020.

Shared Services

The Shared Services team continue to provide support across all Council services. The Education team began processing the school placing request applications for 23/24. The Social Work Team attended training for new processes around Child Disability Payment and Adult Disability Payment. The Transport team liaised with Social Work to ensure a smooth transition from Kelvinbank to Allander. 

ICT Services

The ICT Services team continue to support the Council’s information technology systems and services to ensure high availability and performance in line with agreed service levels. The Team received 2575 tickets in February and dealt with 700 telephone calls. ICT continue to support the migration of services to Microsoft 365 in partnership with the Business and Digital Change Team. The majority of the Education, People and Business Team were migrated to M365 including their mobile phones. The ICT Security team continue to monitor the estate and perimeter defences alongside ongoing improvements to ensure that our systems and data are protected.

Key Achievements / Areas of Focus

Communications & Engagement

• Preparation and launch of school meals consultation.
• Promotion of successful inspection reports for Holy Family and Westerton Primary Schools.
• Promotion of latest round of East Dunbartonshire’s Community Grant Scheme.
• Development and promotion of latest consultation plans for Bishopbriggs Town Centre.
• Communication of latest information on opening of new Allander Leisure Centre.
• Promotion of Provost’s congratulations to East Dunbartonshire recipients of New Year Honours.

Corporate Performance

• Analysis undertaken of East Dunbartonshire Leisure & Culture Employee Survey Results
• Public Performance report for 2021-22 finalised in advance of publication in March 2023
• Continued assistance to the Change team on transformation projects
• Budget research benchmarking exercise undertaken to inform 2023 budget decisions
• Insurance data compiled from all service areas and submitted to brokers in advance of 2023 renewal.
• Additional data support provided for the ongoing inspection of Children’s Services
• Work continues with the Alcohol and Drugs Partnership to assist in the implementation of a new statutory dataset of addictions indicators due for reporting in 2023.

Customer Services

• Continued focus on training of new agents on customer service delivery across all channels
• Preparation of recruitment plans to fill arising vacancies
• Continued CCTV monitoring in the ERC and participation in the project to replace CCTV infrastructure and monitoring equipment
• Continuing with roll-out of the Netcall telephony upgrade to improve call handling and performance management
• Contributing to the CRM replacement project to deliver a new and improved customer relationship management system that will enhance efficiency and service delivery.

Revenues and Benefits

• The team issued and dealt with the queries on over 2700 Council Tax bills, 1100 reminders, and 2700 Benefits notifications.
• The team issued 300 Non-Domestic Rates bills and received 430 Scottish Water applications
• The team dealt with over 2000 telephone enquiries in January.
• Closed the revised Self Isolation Support Grant application process for self-isolation starting after 4th January.

Shared Services

• The School Registration applications closed on 31st January and the Education team started processing the 3114 applications received.
• The Education team processed payments in lieu of Free School Meals for the teacher strikes. Payments were made to over 1000 families (almost 1900 pupils)
• The team started work on the annual fraud matching exercise for Blue Badges
• The team are working on a revised process for overtime payments with FM colleagues to improve accuracy.
• The team have taken part in Data Sharing Portal training for Adult and Child Disability payments.
• The Homecare Team have been working with the Planning & Commission Team to streamline the new variations process.
• The Transport Team worked closely with Social Work to ensure the smooth transition of service users from Kelvinbank to the new facility at the Allander Centre

ICT Services

• ICT Services are working closely with the Business and Digital Change Team to implement M365. This includes:
• Migration of 300 mailboxes for Education, People and Business
• Migrated users to the new environment on their mobile phones, issuing new phones were there are compatibility issues.
• The ICT infrastructure team worked on delivering the new Allander facility including the migration of Kelvinbank.
• The Service Desk team answered 700 calls in February and closed 1100 first time fix tickets.
• The Support team continued to provide support across the Corporate and Education estates closing 1400 tickets.

East Dunbartonshire Leisure and Culture Trust

Leisure Centres

The Allander Leisure Centre remain closed during period 11 whilst the transition from the old building to the new building took place and utility services were finalised. As a result, the Leisuredrome benefited with record breaking headcounts across wet and dry activities. These are reflected in the table above.

Libraries

For period 11 there were 24,936 visits in person and digital usage was 47,712, totalling 72,648. This represents 87% of the overall target for the period. Digital usage continues to perform well, whereas physical footfall is well below target. The under-achievement in footfall can be attributed to the Hubs, where customers are being encouraged to engage with services online. This has a significant negative impact on library footfall.

Period 11

Target: 83,554
Actual: 72,648

	Actual	Target	Actual as % of target
Physical	24,936	36,789	68%
Digital	47,712	46,765	102%
Total	72,648	83,554	87%

Museums

For period 11 there were 900 visits in person and digital usage was 4,426, totalling 5,326. This represents 110% of the overall target for the period. Compared with P10, visits in person fell by 24% to the Auld Kirk Museum and by 3% to the Lillie Art Gallery. Heating breakdown within the Auld Kirk museum resulted in temporary closure, which contributed to the lower footfall. However, access to the new online EDLC collections catalogue website saw an increase of 272% when compared with the same period last year, on the previous site.

Period 11

Target: 4,847
Actual: 5,326

	Actual	Target	Actual as % of target
Physical	900	1,858	48%
Digital	4,426	2,989	148%
Total	5,326	4,847	110%

Sports Development

Sports Development attendance was lower than normal in February due to the temporary closure of the Allander however Leisuredrome and Kirkintilloch classes continued to run as normal.

Key Achievements / Areas of Focus

Leisure Centres

The Cost of Living support scheme to provide free swimming and gym access for primary and secondary pupils evidenced continued success with more secondary pupils taking advantage by signing up for membership.

Cultural Services

In period 11, the library service achieved 100% of pre COVID levels for the number of issues. 

School visits have re-commenced to the Lillie Art Gallery and Auld Kirk Museum and the use of loan boxes for education use has also been reintroduced. A new education resource, at the Lillie Art Gallery, was piloted during P11. This proved very successful, resulting in an exhibition of young people’s art alongside permanent collection artwork. There was a well-attended viewing event specifically for the students and their family & friends.

Sports Development

The McDonalds come & play football programme started back in Kirkintilloch and Bishopbriggs (Leisuredrome) this month with each centre going well.

Walking Netball classes got off to a great start at the Leisuredrome this month with positive feedback from those attending.

Swimming Development are planning for the opening of the new Allander in order to reduce the waiting list and place more children into classes in an expanded Learn to Swim programme.

Work is continuing with ICT to allow coaches to use the tablets for registers and marking up achievements in OnCourse - the sports development class management system.

Education

Overview of Progress

School Planning and Improvement Team

• Workforce planning for Session 2023/24 was shared with all Primary, Secondary and ASN schools, enabling them to prepare for the new session in August.
• Analysis of registrations for the new school session is complete, with placing requests to follow in March/April.
• Major Assets projects: Planning and brief development continued for Bearsden and Milngavie refurbishment and decant projects. Planning and design meetings continued for the new build replacement Balmuildy Primary School.
• Preparations are ongoing for the handover and opening of the new Woodland View ASN School in Summer 2023.

Early Years and Supporting Families

• Senior Leaders in Early Years Centres and partnership nurseries participated in training on Request for Assistance paperwork to the Early Years Community Assessment Team (EYCAT). This focused on up-skilling staff to complete support plans, wellbeing assessments and other supporting documentation.
• Leaders from most Early Years Centres participated in training in Self Evaluation for Continuous Improvement over two days, supporting leaders to further develop approaches to improve outcomes for children and families.
• Education Scotland Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Project: As part of phase two of the project, 25 practitioners across 6 centres were trained in delivering woodwork learning. The centres are linking with phase one centres for support and sharing practice. Leaders have been identified in each centre with multiple practitioners trained to provide sustainability.
• A full day staff training camp was provided to support Snack and Play. 75 staff members attended. Attendees noted learning new ideas and skills, along with opportunities to network with hub managers, other play workers and members of the central team.

Primary, Secondary and ASN Schools

• The Summary Statistics for Initial Leaver Destinations was published. This provides information on initial destinations of school leavers in Scotland. It reports initial destinations for young people approximately three months after the end of the school year and covers all 2021/22 school leavers from publicly funded mainstream schools. Data confirms that 98.95% of our school leavers from 21/22 are in a positive destination. This is the highest positive Leaver Initial Destination rate ever. Leavers achieved the highest positive destination percentage across Scotland in 21/22.
• A team of HM Inspectors from Education Scotland visited Douglas Academy. A full report is being submitted to Education Committee in March 2023. 
• A team of HM Inspectors from Education Scotland visited Lennoxtown Primary School and Early Years Centre. A full report is being submitted to Education Committee in March 2023. 
• Instrumental Music Service: 85 wind and brass students attended al rehearsal weekend and will participate in a concert with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra (RNSO) in March.
• Outdoor Education delivered the Bikeability programme across 6 schools to 177 young people.
• As part of the implementation plan for Children’s Rights, 6 Secondary Schools have now achieved an LGBT charter award. One of our ASN Schools is currently working towards this.
• The Hearing Impaired Team participated in technology training, led by an Educational Audiologist. This included existing and new technologies such as Adhear aids, Contralateral Routing of Sound (CROS) aids and the new Roger On, allowing Teachers of the deaf to better support pupils, families and schools in using and maintaining the equipment.
• Mentors in Violence Prevention (MPV) School Coordinators met to discuss national, local and individual school updates. Next steps include the setting up of an MPV Governance group and 3-year development plan.

Skills for Life, Learning and Work Update

• A film demonstrating the approach and impact of youth work in Kirkintilloch High School was showcased at a West Partnership Conference. The film was produced in partnership with Education Scotland and Youth Link Scotland. It captures the positive impact on the school from the perspective of pupils, the headteacher and the school youth worker and has been positively received. This will be shared at Education Committee.
• A total of 8 new graduate work placement positions within the Council have been advertised in the areas of Procurement, Information Management, Planning, Business Gateway, City Deal, ICT Infrastructure and Business and Digital Change. These 2-year positions are available to new graduates from East Dunbartonshire and aim to develop the work experience of graduates and contribute to the Council’s Workforce Development and Early Careers strategies.

Key Areas of Focus

• Complete corporate planning and performance activities:
  
  Education Service Plan 2023 – 2026
  Business Improvement Plan 2023 – 2026
  Education Service Standards and Quality Report 2022/23
   
• Continue planning and preparation for the opening of the new Woodland View ASN school.
• The Early Years and Supporting Families Team will deliver Snack and Play provision during Spring break.
• To support safe communities and the Personal and Social Education (PSE) curriculum, new resources will be made available to secondary schools through the Alcohol Education Trust. This will be supported by training for Guidance Teams in schools.

Finance & Audit

Overview of Progress

The month of February saw the Finance Team progressing work on the Oracle Fusion General Ledger replacement and on year end planning. 

The revenue and capital budgets for the Council, together with the Housing Revenue Account budget, were approved on 23 February. There remains a financial gap of around £20m that will be closed through the application of reserves prior to a suit of measures being introduced throughout 2023/24 and beyond. Finance will provide support in the development of this suite of measures.

The Council continues to deliver against an ambitious capital programme supported largely by borrowing. Where this remains the case the Council continues to plan to incur increasing revenue costs through servicing this debt.

Vacancies within the teams have been filled and on the job coaching continues to ensure that the new starts are trained in the Council’s processes and procedures.

Internal Audit have been focussing on finishing the 2022/23 audit plan, with audits for the Council and the HSCP underway. Work recently completed includes ICT Hardware Asset Management and Insurance. Work nearing completion includes ICT Back Ups, the Finance General Ledger and Homelessness.

The Corporate Fraud Team have been focusing on progressing National Fraud Initiative matches which been received. These are being prioritised, with higher risk matches being worked through first. Investigations are also being undertaken as a result of referrals received and vetting of applications continues for services such as Housing, Education, Licensing and Estates to secure the gateways by preventing fraud or error entering the system. 

Key Achievements / Areas of Focus

• Agreement of 2023/24 budget.
• Focus on period 10 reports that will be used as a base for year end being completed.
• The Oracle Fusion General Ledger system replacement is being progressed, with project planning, training and workshops arranged with subject matter experts.
• Planning for the delivery of the 2022/23 accounts and other year end processes.
• The Treasury team continue to monitor cash flow closely, ensuring that there is liquidity for all Council activities. Additional borrowing continues to be taken in line with the Council's capital programme expenditure.
• Following successful recruitment, a number of candidates are being provided with on the job coaching in the Council’s Finance teams.
• Work has continued to complete the 2022/23 Internal Audit Plan, with work progressing across a number of Council and HSCP services.
• Preparing the 2023/24 audit plan by reviewing risks and engaging with key stakeholders.
• Corporate Fraud are investigating allegations received, focusing on suspected fraud or error within Education, Housing and Revenues Services and on National Fraud Initiative matches.

Health and Social Care Partnership

Overview of Progress

The HSCP and its staff continue to work through a challenging period of time with a combination of ongoing covid recovery impacts and higher than average winter service demand pressures. The goal remains to support the most vulnerable people in our community and promote social justice, equality and safety. In doing so, the Partnership rigorously applies its Business Continuity Plans and Covid-19 Recovery and Transition Plans.

The Covid-19 outbreak has continued to impact on a number of the performance metrics. Ongoing adaptation and prioritisation of health and social care resources in response to critical response management, the continued implementation of the vaccine programme, have all impacted on our ability to deliver the full range of services as they were delivered pre-pandemic. 

Despite these significant operational challenges, the HSCP continues to deliver on the majority of its performance indicators.

Key Achievements / Areas of Focus

Key Achievements:

• The unpaid work services backlog, created due to the suspension of services during the pandemic has now been cleared.
• Publication of the Social Work Practice Learning Annual Report 21-22 reports positive feedback on the learning experience provided by EDHSCP from the students and the placing universities. All placement students indicated that they would consider working within East Dunbartonshire in the future.
• Participated in Time to Talk Day to provide the opportunity for mangers to take time to chat with staff or teams to ‘check in’ with everyone and to help break down the stigma attached to mental health problems.
• Launch of Sandyford East Dunbartonshire full service based at Kirkintilloch Health & Care Centre, including the opening of evening services and young people’s clinics.
• Publication of the Annual Self Directed Support newsletter
• Consultation on our draft Equalities Mainstreaming Report
• Working with families in the preparation for the move from Kelvinbank Resource Centre to the new Allander-based Day Service;
• Working intensively on a multi-disciplinary basis to reduce community and hospital-based health and social care pressures during the winter period;
• Promotional activity in support of:
• Children’s Mental Health Week
• World Cancer Day
• Smoking cessation
• Care Day for care experienced people
• Drinkline (alcohol helpline) – a UK wide treatment agency that helps manage the effects of drug and alcohol misuse

Areas of Focus:

Children and Criminal Justice Services:

• “Children at Risk of Harm” joint inspection.
• Supporting Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children to begin their recovery and live in safety in nurturing placements in East Dunbartonshire.
• Work is ongoing to redress the balance of care by reviewing out of authority placements and continuing the Foster Carer recruitment campaign.
• Delivery of year 2 of House Project which will improve outcomes for young Care Leavers.
• Implement the Children’s Services Plan which covers areas such as Community Mental Health and Wellbeing, Keeping Children Safe, Corporate Parenting and Healthy Lifestyles.
• Implement The Promise with a focus on Family Group Decision Making.
• Implementation of the Children and Young People’s Mental Health and Wellbeing Framework.
• Refresh EDC child protection procedures to reflect the new national child protection guidance.

Adult Services:

• Continue to ensure that we provide Self Directed Support training to Social Work and Health practitioners to instil confidence and knowledge about the options amongst the workforce. 
• Continue to implement our Digital Health and Care Actions, seeking to link traditional telecare with telehealth monitoring and technology enabled care. Aiming to maximise the experience of remote technology and implement the Analogue to Digital Telecare Transformation by 2024.
• Work continues to analyse and manage care home admission pressures, taking into account the potential consequences, both personal and organisational, for decision-making, with the aim to optimise the service model in relation to quality and efficiency. Although there has been a downturn in the numbers seeking a Care Home placement, the complexity of those being managed in the community continues to rise.
• Continuing to provide multi-disciplinary intensive oversight, support and assurance for all care homes and other registered care providers in the area.
• Continue to pursue achievement of compliance with target timescales for adult protection cases.
• Taking forward the Allander Leisure and Day Care Centre - to be augmented by informal community based support network and the development of community led partnerships to facility the growth of employability and third and voluntary sector supports.
• Conduct a strategic review of all formal and informal social supports for older people to inform a five year strategy and commissioning plan, including centre based day care. 
• Refresh the HSCP Carers Strategy.

Housing

Overview of Progress

The Housing service is made up of 4 teams, Estates, Rents, Strategy & Systems along with Homelessness and there are currently 58 members of staff working within these teams.

Housing manages 3765 social rented properties, 3714 of these are mainstream accommodation and 51 are used for Homeless Temporary Accommodation. The service also manages 49 Lead Tenancies which are rented from either private landlords or Housing Associations, to assist with accommodating homeless households.

At present, the Housing list for East Dunbartonshire has 3477 applications, made up of the following:

General Waiting list 2500 applicants waiting (31 currently on offer)

(Applicants who have somewhere to stay i.e., they are owner occupiers, a tenant of a private let, stay care of family etc. This queue allows the applicant to choose which area, house type etc. they would like to move to).

Transfer waiting list 581 applicants (39 currently on offer)

(Council or Housing Association tenants who are looking to move to another Council or Housing Association property, either for a different size, or, for a different area. This queue allows the tenant to choose which area, house type etc. they would like to move to).

Priority waiting list 233 applicants (53 currently on offer)

(Homeless)

(Applicants who have no accommodation, or will have nowhere to stay within the next 2 months. This queue does not allow the applicant to choose area or house type).

Priority waiting list 7 applicants (4 currently on offer)

(Urgent medical)

(Applicants who are unable to remain in their current home due to their medical condition. This queue allows the applicant to choose which area, house type etc. they would like to move to).

Within the last month, 11 properties have been re let; all 10 mainstream properties and 1 buy back

(9 general needs properties and 2 sheltered properties).

They were let to the following queues:

• 4 were let to applicants on the transfer queue.
• 4 was let to applicants on the general waiting list queue.
• 3 were let to applicants on the priority homeless queue.

Key Achievements / Areas of Focus

Strategy & Systems

Key Achievements

• The new IHMS implementation is progressing, with functional testing progressing well in the estate’s module. The build phase of the rents, allocations and housing advice modules are now complete. A few issues have been flagged during testing of these modules and will be worked on over the next couple of weeks.
• New Systems Officers are now in post and are assisting with the data cleansing of saffron, to ensure a smooth transition when migrating to the new system, while also assisting with year-end processing and reporting.
• Performance Monitoring Officers have completed the development of a tenant’s database which will provide regular communication with tenants including birthday emails, checks on household compositions, along with updates on service changes and reviews.
• The new draft Tenant Participation Strategy has been produced and was approved at the PNCA Committee on 26th January 2023.
• Working on the Digital Telecare and part of the Project Board to ensure the successful transition of analogue telecare to digital telecare throughout the sheltered complexes.
• Energy vouchers have now been issued to 86% of tenants. Further contact is being made to the remaining 14% who have not yet responded.
• Allocations policy review has been initiated and an action plan has been put together, detailing key milestones in reviewing this intricate policy.
• Initial planning for CHR (Common Housing Register) review has begun and resources are being sourced to ensure the review is conducted both timeously and accurately.

Areas of focus

• IHMS progression (3-year project).
• CHR Housing Application waiting list review.
• Performance Monitoring.

Housing Operations – Estates

Key Achievements

• 4 new Anti-social cases received and all 4 of these cases resolved within the month received.
• 18 nominations to Registered Social Landlords being considered for allocation of their stock.
• Monthly Housing Liaison meeting attended to discuss cases with Social Work, Antisocial Team and Police Scotland.
• Internal Anti-Social Audit is still ongoing.
• Monthly meeting with Police Scotland and Community Safety to discuss more serious anti-social cases.
• Void rent loss has decreased, joint working with the void and rewire/asbestos teams continues.

Areas of focus

• Percentage of tenancies refused was 14% in January 2023 and has increased to 18% in February 2023.
• Percentage of tenancy sustainment decreased from 94% in January 2023 to 91% in February 2023.
• Improve void re-let times through joint working with void team.
• Identify training needs for team.

Housing Operations – Rents and Tenant Participation

Key Achievements

• 21 tenants assisted and successfully awarded payment from Hardship Fund towards rent payments, totalling £21,300.35
• The Rents Team continue to support the change team with the development of the IHMS (NEC).
• Housing Officers continue to utilise all avenues, in an attempt to maximise rental income and reduce rent arrears, while also providing advice and assistance to tenants who engage and need additional support.
• Active Tenant Rent Arrears are, £1,293,742.03 which is a decrease on January’s figure (£1,331,175.47).
• Former Tenant Arrears are £685,170.83, which is a decrease from January’s figure (£758,133.16).

Areas of focus

• Team continues to work on former rent arrears to bring this figure down.

Homelessness & Prevention

• 33 Homelessness applications taken.
• No Homelessness households waiting longer than 3 years for an offer of settled accommodation.
• Cost of living - 3144 responses - all have been issued their £147.00 (up to 3 x £49).
• Rapid Access First Stop - closed on 28/02/23.

Project 101

• Continuation of drop-in sessions and budget friendly cooking.
• Young people have been learning new kitchen skills, including food hygiene, preparation and cooking.
• Continued work with young people in creating partnerships locally, to assist with employability skills and to gain employment, while also helping with tenancy sustainment.

Land Planning and Development

Overview of Progress

Land Planning & Development have progressed a number of significant work streams during February 2023 in line with the Business Improvement Plan commitments. 

Land Planning Policy

• The Draft Circular Economy Strategy was approved at PNCA Committee in November and subsequently the consultation was carried out between 4 January and 3 February 2023. The report of findings will be presented to a future PNCA Committee.
• Following adoption of Local Development Plan 2 on 28 November 2022, the team has been carrying on notification and publication procedures required by legislation. Local Development Plan 2 now constitutes the adopted plan for East Dunbartonshire and Local Development Plan 1 (adopted 2017) has now been superseded. A Technical Note was issued to Members noting the adoption of LDP2. LDP2 can be found on the LDP2 web page.
• A Revised Draft NPF4 was laid before the Scottish Parliament for approval on 8 November 2022 and the Scottish Parliament voted to approve the document as laid before them on 11 January 2023. Now approved, the Framework was adopted and published by Scottish Ministers on 13 February 2023. Further information was provided to Members in a Technical Note.
• Following August 2022 PNCA Committee approval of two pieces of planning guidance, consultation has been undertaken. Analysis of the responses received has now been undertaken and the final guidance was approved at PNCA in January 2023. 
• Work is ongoing on a new Active Transport Strategy for East Dunbartonshire, which will reflect the Active Travel Discussion consultation in 2021 and align to work on the Climate Action Plan. Officers have finalised the evidence base for the new ATS which Members considered at the Transport Working Group in December and was approved at PNCA in January 2023. 

Sustainability Policy

• Work on the Climate Action Plan and Local Heat & Energy Efficiency Strategy is continuing. Work is under way to identify opportunities for emissions reduction across the Council’s own estate and operations and across the whole of East Dunbartonshire. These will inform the development of pathway options to achieve net zero emissions at corporate and area-wide levels. Consultation with key internal stakeholders took place during December and an external stakeholder workshop was held in January. Following on from this, a progress report on the Local Heat & Energy Efficiency Strategy was presented to the Climate Change Member Officer Group on 31st January along with an update and discussion on current and proposed work to address the cost of living crisis and reduce emissions from housing. While good progress has been made in preparing the LHEES, work is currently delayed at the final preparatory stage due to data sharing issues affecting all Scottish local authorities and as a result of changes to the LHEES guidance and methodology set by the Scottish Government. Discussions are under way with the Scottish Government in an effort to resolve the data sharing issue and work is being undertaken to address changes required to work previously undertaken as a result of the new guidance. Resolution of these issues will enable us to progress to finalise preparation of the Draft Strategy. Due to the consequent delays, the programme for preparation of the CAP and LHEES is currently under review and a revised programme will be prepared later in the spring, once the delays affecting data sharing have been resolved. 
• Work is underway to identify priority projects for inclusion in the Council’s new Greenspace Strategy, which will replace the Green Network Strategy and Open Space Strategy. Opportunities for improvement of open space, increasing tree cover, expanding peatland restoration and wetland creation are currently being assessed in collaboration with internal and external stakeholders. Audit work on play facilities is now underway and surveyors will be out and about across East Dunbartonshire assessing play areas and facilities during March and April. The outcome of the assessment will inform the priority actions on play to be included in the draft Greenspace Strategy.

GIS Team

• The team has carried out GIS analysis for the many council teams. This has included a variety of map production work ,calculating distances to determine travel time distances to key services and creating web apps and data dashboards, which help to understand spatial data more effectively. The team have also created a number of maps which will be used in many consultations across East Dunbartonshire. The team have been conducting analysis for the 20 minute neighbourhood project, to help understand where in East Dunbartonshire we need to improve the accessibility of services such as transport, education, housing and the abundance of amenities. We have now progressed into the next stage of this project, conducting our final aspects of analysis. We hope to have a dashboard for internal use available to teams soon. We have also been working with the City Deal team, exchanging spatial data to help understand key aspects of the Westerhill Development Road project. We have also finalised our SGEA Licence renewal with ESRI, ensuring the council has mapping support for further 3 years.
• The team continues to provide technical support to Community Protection and Development Applications to improve efficiently and ensure we are in line statutory guidance and regulations through IDOX. Assistance was also provided to the Housing Service by exporting data from IDOX for the IHMS Project. The team have developed new templates and made improvements to historic ones. We have also developed a variety of new IDOX templates for the teams in Community Planning, which should help them with their projects.
• A list of names has been submitted for review for the Mactaggart and Mickel development in Bishopbriggs, with the names focusing on the Roman history of the site. The address change for Waterside residents is currently with Royal Mail. The Council has also adopted a number of roads that have been updated and reflected on appropriate systems. We have also assisted with a number of UPRN queries from the public and also from teams across the council.

Business Support

• Working with numerous public sector agencies to ensure all support mechanisms to help business and create jobs are fully utilised, including development of new skills & technologies. Cost of doing business continues to be a concern and resources to help and inform businesses continue to be priority with combined support materials available through FindBusinessSupport
• Administration complete for Funding Discretionary Fund Covid grant using the Local Authority Covid Recovery funding. The team is working on three projects funded by UK Shared Prosperity fund that encourage digital take up or enhancement, carbon reduction and additional support for Social Enterprises.
• The Business Gateway National Review continues but in the interim services continue to be delivered as usual.

City Deal Team

• The team continues with a range of work to ensure the delivery of the Council’s City Deal project, including the preparation of the different stages of business cases (in-line with City Deal & HM Greenbook requirements) which are required to unlock the funding from the region.
• Work is ongoing on the Westerhill Masterplan including liaison with landowners on draft spatial layouts.
• The Westerhill Development Road design contract is now underway and the focus over the coming year will be route options assessment.
• Work continues on the next stages of the design process for Bishopbriggs Town Centre and Bishopbriggs Park. Public consultation as part of project development complete over this period.
• A803 feasibility and options work progressing as part of Outline Business Case development. Preparation for forth coming consultation on A803 Route Corridor Improvements as part of project develop. 

Regeneration & Town Centres Team

• The Regent Gardens project is being progressed and work is ongoing to try secure a main works contractor. On the Campsie Memorial Hall in Lennoxtown - funding has been secured from Regeneration Capital Grant Fund and work continues to develop the project with RIBA 3 design to take place following procurement of design team.
• Work to prepare for the Shared Prosperity Fund has been ongoing. Projects have been identified and are being developed for implementation over the next 2.5 years.
• The Lennoxtown Main Street Improvement Project is ongoing to develop outline designs.

Traffic & Transport Team

• the tender process is progressing to try secure a works contractors for Canniesburn Toll Improvement Project. Four Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) will be promoted to support aspects of the new design
• Feasibility and design works are progressing on a range of active travel infrastructure projects included in the Local Transport and Active Travel Strategies.
• Work is progressing on key functions of the team including: working on a range of Traffic Regulation Orders at various stages of the statutory process, liaising with the network operator and maintenance contractors of the public electric vehicle charging network and continuing to assist in resolving access issues.

Development Management:

• During the reporting period the planning side of the team has determined 71 applications and validated 61 applications. The Building Standards team have received 123 building warrants and approved 109 applications. The Enforcement Team opened 5 new cases and closed 3 cases. 
• The Development Applications team have been busy preparing Reports for the next meeting of Planning Board in March.
• The Development Applications team provided a Planning Advisor provided for the meeting of the Local Review Body on the 1st February and 15th February and accompanied Members to site visits.
• The Development Application Team have secured developer contributions of £85,497.24 towards Education.
• The Enforcement Team served a Notice to require the cessation of an unauthorised use which was felt to significantly harm the amenity of neighbouring residents.
• The Team continue to provide applicants including the Councils Major Assets and Housing teams with pre application advice and support.
• The Development Applications Team are preparing an updated Customer Charter for Enforcement which will be available on the Councils website.

Key Achievements / Areas of Focus

• Completion of Discretionary Fund Covid Grant to businesses
• Funding Secured for the Campsie Memorial Hall.

Legal and Democratic Services

Overview of Progress

Performance against all indicators for Legal Services for February is 100%.

Legal Services continues to support services across the Council in the delivery of projects, contracts and otherwise to manage legal risk. This includes advice and work on confidential matters that cannot be included in this report.

Key Achievements / Areas of Focus

• During February, the Team processed 7 contract form reviews, 1 Contract award letters, 34 taxi licence applications, and 8 grants.
• In light of the 100% performance, it is not proposed to take any steps at this time other than to continue to monitor progress against the set PIs.
• Play on Pedals Grant 2023/24, Glasgow City Region Grant 2023/24 and Energy Bills Support Scheme Alternative Funding Grant were all finalised. The last one was completed on the day of instruction due to it being urgent.
• Signed agreement for professional services in connection with the refurbishment of Bearsden Primary School.
• Supporting ongoing contract management and land matters related to Westerhill Development Road project, in particular supporting land access requests for ecological surveys.
• Legal review of the third transport modelling contract.
• Supporting initial call off from Scape Scotland framework for professional services including quantity surveying for the Westerhill Development Road project.
• Leading/co-ordinating the Councils engagement with both the UK and Scottish COVID Inquiries, including the making of submissions and developing plans for the ingathering and categorisation of information.
• Ongoing engagement through various structures in relation to civil contingencies, resilience and preparedness.
• Technical Support & delivery of Registration of 60 Births, 203 Deaths & 12 Marriages in February.
• Democratic Services serviced and supported new Members through the the Council’s budget meeting, 3 Committees and 5 Quasi-judicial Boards in February.

Democratic Services attended 2 Community Council meetings and serviced the Children’s Panel Area Support Team meeting and training event.

• 143 Freedom of Information enquires were received and processed by the Information management team in February.

Neighbourhood Services

Overview of Progress

The Waste Team has continued the frontline service operations for the collection of over 400,000 assorted household bins over the month of February, providing residual, recycling, food, and special waste collections on behalf of the Authority. The team has also managed the waste and recycling collections from over 500 of our local commercial premises.

The Waste service have continued to work with our Clyde Valley partners through the period on the treatment and disposal contract for all residual household waste. The Council processed 1687 tonnes of waste through this contract in February, ensuring our waste undergoes treatment for recycling extraction prior to being sent through an Energy from Waste process.

The Fleet team continue to manage the transport operations including the Councils Goods Vehicle Operator Licence and compliance across all services. This includes provision and management of the maintenance workshops, annual testing, statutory inspections and management of Drivers in line with obligations and conditions laid out in the Councils commitment to the Scottish Traffic Commissioner.

Fleet Management has worked in partnership with services and officers from procurement in order to specify, tender and procure further vehicles and associated items of specialist plant, suitable for service users’ needs and to coincide with Lease contracts terminating through the financial year. Tenders are currently out for the replacement of specialist vehicles, plant & equipment for Roads and Environment and other front line services.

Replacement vehicles continue to filter through from suppliers for Assets and Facilities including the Property Maintenance and Facilities Management Services. The team at Fleet Management continue working to transfer systems and equipment and arrange the de-fleeting and disposal of the outgoing vehicles.

The fleet service continues to support and manage Transport Operations for the provision of Additional Support Needs Transport service for Education and Integrated Health and Social Care, including delivery of school meals on behalf of the authority. This service has provided additional support for other services throughout the period. 

Key Achievements / Areas of Focus

• The results from the waste compositional analysis carried out November 2022 was received and summarised, showing that 61.3% of the general waste bin is made up of recycling material.
• The service collected 268 tonnes of paper and cardboard (blue bin) from the kerbside in February and 366 tonnes of cans, glass and plastics (brown bin).
• The Mavis Valley Recycling Centre booking system reported 8049 residents booked to visit the facility during the month of February.
• Officers from the Waste service recently attended a Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (Sepa) review which discussed the disposal of soft furnishing and potential associated risks of Persistent Organic Pollutants. Further Information will be made available on this issue should the guidance impact on collection and disposal arrangements for local authorities.
• The frontline Operational Waste team attended the audiometry occupational health assessments carried out by the Councils provider Medigold.
• The team collected 1687 tonnes of general waste from the kerbside for ongoing processing / recycling under the Clyde Valley Residual Waste contract.
• The team continue to work in partnership with the Corporate Communications in February to produce Waste/Recycling campaigns for the year ahead. The focus will be around food waste participation, with some positive, eye catching releases due in the weeks ahead.
• Delivery of Statutory Fleet Maintenance and Management services throughout the period.
• Support Council services in the delivery of ASN Transport including the distribution of essential supplies for vulnerable individuals throughout the period including meals for early year’s facilities and lunch clubs etc.
• Continued work on the management of Capital programme for the replacement of fleet assets through the financial year. 
• Continued support to front line service operations through the provision of in house fleet maintenance function including winter overhaul work on horticultural and construction plant equipment.
• Management of Fleet Operations in compliance with Operator Licencing legislation with a DVSA Operator Compliance Risk Score of Green 03 for both Traffic and Compliance and a 100% first time pass rate for annual tests.
• Officers continue to work with the Councils Internal Audit team to conclude a review of the management and resilience arrangements in place for the Councils Fleet Service. 

Organisational Transformation

Business & Digital Change

Overview of progress

During February, the B & DC Team have continued to support services across the Council in the delivery of key strategic digital development programmes and projects.

The Team also continues to support our corporate business systems, ensuring incidents are resolved promptly and that all systems remain supported and upgraded in line with an agreed plan. We also ensure our systems are reliable and resilient, scalable and flexible, standardised and value for money, secure.

Key Achievements/Areas of Focus

• Successfully migrated 1,442 employees to Microsoft Outlook and the new versions of Office Apps. 
• Tender launched by Scotland Excel for cloud-based alarm receiving centre for telecare customers. EDC are a partner and early adopter in this programme. Work will continue internally to prepare for the on-boarding of this system, including data-cleansing and hardware preparation. Mobilisation continues to be expected in June ‘23.
• Work has begun on the procurement of a small number of digitally enabled community alarm systems, these will help to inform a test of change ahead of the Virgin Media digital migrations which are scheduled for June 2023. This will enable the service to continue to provide a proactive service and maintain stability for our service users in East Dunbartonshire.
• Work to redevelop 9 legacy Notes based applications using next generation M365 cloud-based development services is now well underway. An important step towards displacing the Notes legacy platform and its associated revenue costs.
• The Oracle Fusion Project Team focussed efforts on extracting and cleansing data from EDC legacy systems for the first round of data migration into the test solution. A benefits identification workshop was also held to identify potential benefits as early as possible, which will enable the Project Team to baseline and track these, across the life cycle of the project.
• A supplier has been identified through the Procurement process for our new EDC website (CMS) and work is currently underway to finalise the contract award.
• Work is underway with Procurement to establish a route to market for the Waste Modernisation Project. Waste Services and B&DC are working to refine our specification of requirements and identify potential solutions.
• A new project has begun in conjunction with external partners, Mastek , with a view to streamline our IT Architecture, identify legacy or duplicated applications/systems and highlight opportunities for efficiencies and cost savings across the Council’s ICT infrastructure.
• Following the award of the contract for a new (Customer Relationship Management) CRM platform, work has begun to develop the new system.
• As part of the SEEMiS Finance & Budgeting project, a demo of the interim budget application for Education took place with key stakeholders from our Finance Team and newly developed finance reports, which track committed staff costs, were rolled out across all Schools in preparation of a test run in March.
• The contract documentation for our Managed Stores service and Cloud Based Roads Management System are both at the final checking stage with formal contract awards expected in the coming weeks.
• Final Testing of our new eLearning platform was concluded with our pilot group. Work is now underway to correct errors in advance of the full roll out to corporate staff.
• The IHMS team continues to work closely with the Housing service to build and configure the new Integrated Housing Management System (IHMS). Functional testing of the system is almost complete, and preparation for user acceptance testing and user training is underway. Data migration work continues, as does development of financial interfaces and reports.
• Successful completion of year end activity for Council Tax (Annual billing) and iTrent. This involved upgrading/ patching the systems and engaging with service to ensure all year end activities were completed in response to Council budgetary decisions.

Human Resources & Organisational Development

Overview of progress

The Human Resources & Organisational Teams lead on workforce centred activities including, policy development, resourcing, workforce and succession planning, workforce analytics, people development, Job Evaluation, attendance and wellbeing improvement as well as providing strategic and operational employee relations support including case management and partnership working.

Key Achievements / Areas of Focus

• Continued support for employees and managers on HR policy based and guidance noted, with support in attendance on ER case work
• Continued engagement with the Trade Unions on strategic and operation HR initiatives.
• Promotion of Health and Wellbeing Campaigns
• The People Development team delivered 24 sessions across 16 topics including SMART Working sessions, EDC Policy sessions & leadership skills. Additionally, there was 1 externally delivered session for First Aid; in total 291 delegates received training.
• Ongoing work to support the launch of the EDC Moodle e-learning platform including configuration of program
• s/courses, dynamic rules, system testing, user configuration.
• Collaboration with Business Change to support Digital Champions program to support rollout of M365.
• Within Payroll Services, the team have maintained and processed the payover of 6 payruns within timescales, with the completion of a series of statutory reports along with processing of deductions resulting from Teachers Industrial Action in January 2023.
• Working with the Education Leadership Team developed planning, logistical and communication arrangements, with support on the day for the Industrial Action for Teachers National and Council specific targeted action. 

Health and Safety

Overview of progress

The team continuously delivers general occupational safety and health services such as:

• Incident logging, reporting and investigation, including RIDDOR.
• Investigation of industrial injury
• Providing advice on statutory guidance, where required
• Compliance in planning, safe working and training
• Supervision and inspection while works are being undertaken
• Health and Safety Committee - Statistics reporting
• Recording and managing on-site attendance and health and safety operations at Broomhill depot and Marina HQ.

Key Achievements / Areas of Focus

Supporting Services:

• Control of asbestos in educational establishments review and HSE inspection- Lenzie Academy and Wester Cleddens
• Brief and due diligence actions - SFRS UFAS policy change.
• Allander Leisure Centre and Allander Resource Centre temporary car park review supporting Fleet and HSCP Adult Services
• H&S review - Accommodation strategy
• Advice and guidance on delivery of mobile cooking sessions for the Community Planning Team
• Noise assessment at William Patrick Library and Kilmardinny House
• Implementation of H&S feedback boxes in 5 locations
• 3rd tier Health & Safety meetings to assist and guide relevant council departments, for Property Maintenance and Facilities Management.
• Continuing review of ventilation in chemistry prep areas in secondary schools
• CDM Procedure - Review of Contractors RAMS and Construction Phase Plans for various projects and follow up site visits.
• CDM Site Visits
• Education with health and safety issues and concerns
• Drafting of PM – Emergency Plan

Fire, Health and Safety and Occupational Health services:

• Visiting schools in relation to HS1a and HS1b forms and carrying out subsequent investigations
• Investigation of industrial injury
• SPDS UFAS review.
• Develop our SP46 Quality Reviews for Gas Engineers procedure
• EDC Depots and site visits offering insight and guidance; liaising with relevant departments to support continual improvement of council services, including workplace assessments and offering advice on relevant workplace adjustments and how best to implement them
• Develop F07 Finger Door Entrapment Risk Assessment
• Develop TBT48 -Preventing Finger trapping in doors
• Develop E03 Health and Safety Alert SAN - 01 Finger guard door
• Health Surveillance IMS and Education - and closing out Year 2 assessments.
• Booster of Hep B Vaccination clinic
• Reactec R-Link Meeting (Upgrade) Roads, Streetscene, Property Maintenance and supporting interventions
• Organising equipment for employees to meet requirements following a DSE assessments
• Individuals risk assessments supporting HR case advisers
• PAS79 Fire risk assessments and fire safety visits on target.
• Assist with the gathering of for FOI/EAR data requests
• Working on updating and modernising the reporting system
• Carrying out individual RA for roads worker.

Training:

• Delivery of H&S, IPC, Manual Handling and risk assessment training Kelvinbank staff pre-move to new resource centre.
• Asbestos management plans training for Building Managers (Lennoxtown PS)
• Hillhead Community Centre – Facilities Officer onsite training
• Facilities Officers induction training
• Organising the delivery of training for PM
• Reviewing and updating of training material
• Delivery of Duty Holder training

Areas Requiring Improvement:

• Recruitment is still ongoing with an impact of service delivery.

Procurement

Overview of Progress

During February, the Procurement Team continued to support services across the Council in the delivery of various projects, including ongoing support to a number of strategic procurements/projects, particularly in relation to City Deal, ICT, Business & Digital Change and various Capital projects. In particular the Team was heavily involved in daily workshops and scoping meetings as part of the implementation of a replacement for the Oracle Financial system. This has placed a significant demand on the resources of the Team. The Team has also been preparing for work necessary to manage and support the year end process in terms of the buyers work centre and Accounts Payable.

Key Achievements / Areas of Focus

• Providing ongoing support to the City Deal team in relation to Contract requirements and alternative procurement route options.
• Supported key Business & Digital Change projects such as Oracle Fusion upgrade, M365 Licensing, M365 Implementation Support Partner, FOI, Waste Collection Modernisation, CRM & CMS, whilst supporting workforce of the future planning and Business as usual workstreams.
• Participation in extensive meetings and workshops in order to scope, identify, cleanse and prepare for the implementation of the Oracle Fusion upgrade
• Completed renewals for support and maintenance of business-critical systems to facilitate remote working
• Facilitating Farmfood card provision to support Council Cost of Living measures, Criminal Justice Service Delivery, Homelessness & Community Support.
• Extended and updated contractual arrangements to facilitate ongoing support to the LHEES (Climate Action Plan Consultancy Support) in line with updated funding terms & conditions
• Commenced with the preparatory information for the 2023/2024 School Transport contracts
• Continued work on the preparation and alignment of the 2023-2024 Annual Procurement Strategy to Organisational Climate Action Planning, Circular Economy Strategy, Community Wealth Building & the City Region Community Wish List planning

Strategic Commissioning

Overview of Progress

During February, the Strategic Commissioning Team’s priority and focus remained on managing and supporting the commissioned market as winter pressures, delayed discharges and the cost of living crisis continues to undermine the sector. In addition, the team supported the HSCP to progress service reviews, priorities and budgets. 

Key Achievements / Areas of Focus

• Developed and implemented a Rate Uplift protocol to help strengthen and improve HSCP’s related oversight / governance arrangements 
• Instrumental in commissioning a new care at home provider to help alleviate increasing demand and acute pressures 
• Team Leader received additional training on excel spreadsheets to help improve and enhance analytical skills for budget /spend monitoring purposes. Learning will be shared with wider team
• Successfully negotiated and secured a rate uplift for a local provider following the emergence of on-going viability and sustainability concerns 
• Monitored and supported a local provider to make immediate service improvements necessary following several concerns and risks identified by the Care Inspectorate. The improvements were met within agreed timescales resulting in a temporary suspension to new business being lifted 
• Ongoing support for the HSCP’s Older People’s Social Supports Five year Strategy, service review and developed a commissioning strategy to support delivery of agreed outcomes 
• Increased capacity, knowledge and experience within the Strategic Commissioning Team via the successful recruitment of a Strategic Commissioning Officer. The Officer will have a specific focus/remit on the care home sector across all client groups

Place and Community Planning

Overview of Progress

Community Protection Service

Environmental Health, Trading Standards and Community Safety Teams

The Community Protection Service delivers on a broad statutory remit, with delivery measures centred on protecting public health and safety, well-being and consumer protection. During the course of February, the service has continued to engage in the local Co-Production arrangement with Police Scotland. This has resulted in a significant amount of joint work and coordinated activity to protect communities across the East Dunbartonshire area. The service has also continued to develop intelligence led approaches for all areas of work in order to target local public health, community safety and consumer protection activity towards the areas of greatest need, risk and priority.

The Environmental Health Team continue to be engaged in the delivery of essential public health services throughout the reporting period in order to protect the community from hazards in the environment and to regulate and facilitate the growth of responsible businesses. There continued to be a lot of engagement from the public in terms of service requests whilst officers also worked through notified planning applications to provide environmental controls on new developments. Our Public Health Compliance Officers continue to assist the team in short-term project work helping to address a resumption of activities post-Covid. 

The Trading Standards Team has been engaged in the delivery of essential consumer protection and licensing services to local consumers and businesses in order to maintain and protect a fair trading environment in East Dunbartonshire. Priority activity in February included continuing work to develop business participation in the new Trading Standards Trusted Trader Scheme for East Dunbartonshire, metrology inspection work and Tobacco and Nicotine Vapour Products compliance visits. The Licensing Advisers and Trading Standards Officers in the team have also continued to deliver a wide range of routine inspection and project activity at a range of business premises across the area.

The Community Safety Team has continued to undertake a broad range of front-line work for the benefit of local communities during the reporting period. Officers from the team have therefore been engaged in the delivery of services in relation to community engagement/support, antisocial behaviour, youth disorder, neighbour disputes, environmental incivilities, dog control, decriminalised parking enforcement, fly-tipping, mediation, pest control and CCTV. Officers have continued to work closely with a range of colleagues and key partners to successfully deliver appropriate interventions and to make our local communities safer. The Community Wardens have also been developing links within the local communities they serve, getting involved in a number of initiatives and events that have been taking place across the Council area.

Community Planning and Partnerships Team

The team continues to work with Scottish Government, Home Office and various partners to deliver the resettlement agenda across the East Dunbartonshire area. This also includes working with partners to support the Vulnerable Persons Resettlement Scheme and Ukrainian Displaced Persons.

The team are working to deliver community development and capacity building support to our four Locality areas and communities of interest. 

Officers continue to work alongside our communities to develop community-led warm spaces initiatives and deliver the East Dunbartonshire Community Warm Spaces Grant. Round 2 of the Community Grants Scheme is also being progressed for approval from the Grants Advisory Committee and the Community Planning Board.

Officers are supporting the delivery of the CLD Plan 2021-24, including developing a programme of continued professional development upskilling CLD practitioners.

Community Testing/ Vaccination Team

The winter vaccination programme has provided Covid and Flu vaccination which has been delivered to all eligible citizens aged 50 or over and those with eligible health conditions. Clinics were reduced to 2 days a week. Council staff are working with the NHS to minimise queues and ensure the safety of those attending the clinic.

Key Achievements / Areas of Focus

• Delivery of effective services on a flexible basis in order to meet all statutory requirements and duties in relation to public health, community safety, consumer protection and licensing enforcement matters.
• Delivery of local Co-Production activity between Community Protection and Police Scotland, with particular focus on effective tasking processes and the delivery of joint action plans and work to protect the communities of East Dunbartonshire.
• Delivery of Business Improvement Plan activity relating to Community Protection - actions being implemented in accordance with set targets in order to deliver effective services in line with relevant corporate outcomes and with positive performance being reported.
• Delivery of regulatory services that assist with economic recovery and that are designed to support local businesses and communities.
• Attendance at a community planning engagement workshop in Kirkintilloch with participation in sessions to develop new Locality Plan actions.
• Participation in liaison and working group activity various on food safety, public health and housing matters to keep abreast of national priorities and developments.
• Food product withdrawal and recall overseen by Environmental Health Officers due to a local food business incorrectly importing a foodstuff from Asia without adhering to the UK Border importation requirements.
• Public Health Compliance Officers updating the MIS database on premises liable for health and safety enforcement as well as delivering ad hoc housing checks for displaced Ukrainian citizens.
• Delivery of targeted patrols within our local communities aimed at tackling an increase in reports of low-level incivilities (e.g. dog fouling and littering) - a number of fixed penalty notices have recently been issued to dog owners who have allowed their dogs to foul without picking up which is an offence under the Dog Fouling (Scotland) Act 2003. 
• Delivery of patrols by our Community Wardens to tackle the problem youth disorder and antisocial behaviour within our communities, with a particular focus on the town centre area of Kirkintilloch.
• Delivery of interventions and appropriate outcomes for a number of young persons referred to the Early & Effective Intervention Group which is coordinated and chaired by the Community Safety Team.
• Preparatory work around the re-introduction of the Football Friday sessions which successfully ran in both Lennoxtown and Milton of Campsie in 2022. Hillhead has been added as an additional location for 2023 and sessions will commence in April 2023 and run to September 2023. 
• Continuation of the Junior Warden programme in local primary schools Twechar Primary School being the next recipient -there will be a number of inputs from partners including officers from the We Are With You programme, Scottish Families Affected by Alcohol and Drugs, Fearless (Junior Crime Stoppers) and the Council’s Mugdock Rangers service. 
• Increase in patrols in respect of decriminalised parking enforcement in and around a number of our primary schools.
• Delivery of routine Trading Standards and Licensing inspection and project work.
• Trading Standards Officers delivering local work related to pre-packaged goods to identify levels of metrological compliance across retail premises.
• Delivery of targeted activity by Trading Standards to maintain local business compliance with legislative requirements relating to tobacco and nicotine vapour products.
• Delivery of targeted activity by Licensing Enforcement to maintain local business compliance with legislative requirements relating to liquor licensing conditions.
• Round 2 of the 2022/23 Community Grant Scheme open for applications and being actively promoted by officers and partners
• Working with partners to support and develop Community Warm Spaces across East Dunbartonshire.
• Delivering East Dunbartonshire Community Warm Spaces Grant
• Delivery of the Localities Workshop with partner organisation at Kirkintilloch Town Hall on 2 February to support production of action plans, thereafter with outcomes to be tested on communities and critical friends.
• Provision of community capacity support using a Community Learning and Development approach across our Locality areas and communities of interest.
• Active engagement with anchor organisations across Locality areas.
• Supported the delivery of successful CPD opportunity to CLD practitioners
• Delivering resettlement support under both VPRS and Homes for Ukraine agendas
• Community Development Workers connecting with range of community organisations and partners
• To continue to support delivery of the NHS vaccination programmes of flu and Covid-19 at two town centre venues, through jointly working with the GGC NHS Board.

Roads and Environment

The Roads and Environment Service continues to oversee the maintenance function and safe operation of the adopted public carriageway/footway network, adopted open spaces (including trees) and cemeteries within East Dunbartonshire. In addition, the Service also oversees the management and operations of Mugdock Country Park.

This Service area is divided into five portfolio groupings:

1. Roads Network Operations

2. Roads Technical & Engineering

3. Streetscene Technical Support (including Bereavement and Arboriculture)

4. Streetscene Operations (including grounds maintenance, street cleansing and cemetery operations)

5. Mugdock Country Park

Each team has specific areas of responsibility; however, they all operate, and function collectively as required. Within their own areas, each team has several service accountabilities contributing to local outcomes.

The various sections within the portfolio groups continue to progress both revenue operation/maintenance work and internally and externally funded capital projects with colleagues in Procurement and Finance. Several projects are time specific due to the external funding conditions to it is very important to make best use of the time available to bring these projects to fruition for the benefit of local communities.

Roads Network Operations Team (including Street Lighting)

The team continue to deliver both planned and reactive maintenance to both carriageways, footways, and street lighting assets. The Service welcome two new members of staff to the position of Senior Roads Technician and Roads Technician with further interviews scheduled in mid-March for the remaining vacancies as road operatives (5), squad leader’s roads (2), LMS /RMMS Asset Coordinator (1) and Roads Network Team Coordinator (1). Upon completion, the Service will hopefully be at full capacity going forward. The teams are utilising the tools and resources available to ensure maintenance work continues. The capital programmes for carriageway, footway resurfacing programme and lighting projects ongoing across East Dunbartonshire continue.

Roads Technical & Engineering

The Roads Development, Structures, Traffic, Flood Risk and Drainage Teams continue to work on multiple projects including Road Coring, Flood Defence Maintenance, Bridge Inspection/Replacement and Signalisation/TRO Projects across various area. The Team is also coordinating with external contractors to delivery multiple traffic surveys with the information used to determine the next steps for various proposals. This information is used as evidence to either support the need for action or validate the decision not to take forward a proposal if it is not supported by evidence. The Service welcomed the newly appointed Structures Engineer in January, and the new officer is working to familiarise themselves with the team and area.

Streetscene Operations

The three geographical based teams continue to work through the autumn/winter programme of shrub pruning and reactive works in preparation for the Spring growing season commencing. The teams are also supporting roads colleagues with the Winter maintenance works for their respective area as and when called upon to do so. The teams are also undertaking street cleansing of all adopted council roads and pavements including litter collection, mechanical sweeping and servicing of street litter bins. In addition, the team also continues to manage the Councils tree stock carrying out surveys and arranging remedial works as required. The team manages and performs burials in the eight operational cemeteries. The recruitment process for the summer seasonal workforce has commenced for an April start date planned to undertake the new 2023 Care of Gardens Scheme.

Streetscene Technical Support Team

The team are developing and implementing projects relating to Council Strategies such as the Open Space Strategy, Local Biodiversity Action Plan, Green Networks and Food Growing (emerging). Additionally, capital grants received from the Scottish Government are being utilised for play park improvements and Nature Restoration Grants. Other work relates to working with community groups regarding Environmental Improvement Projects including path improvement, play area renovations, amenity planting, cemetery, and allotment development. The team are looking forward to welcoming the newly appointed Team Leader who commences work on Monday 3rd April 2023.

Mugdock Country Park

The team are preparing for the spring and summer season and have recently completed the new fencing and planting at the quarry in advance of the usual increased visitors to this location at this time of year. The monthly visitor number continue to exceed expectation.

Key Achievements / Areas of Focus

Roads Network Operations Teams (including Street Lighting)

The Roads Network Operations completed 14 Winter Maintenance Treatments during February 2023.

In addition, the Roads Network Operations Team assisted Scottish Water with the emergency works on Glasgow Road at the junction with Auchenhowie Road following the significant burst of one of the mainline water pipes leading to Glasgow and supplying the surrounding area.

The carriageway & footway resurfacing program works undertaken in January include.

• EDC Internal Resurfacing Programme (non-coal tar location)
  
  • Kincaid Avenue
  • Fossil Grove
  • Campsie Road
  • Kilpatrick
  • Baljaffray Road
  • Cruachan Drive
• EDC External Resurfacing Programme (Footway)
  
  • Morar Crescent, Bishopbrigs (commenced)
  • Annick Drive, Bearsden (completed)

 EDC Internal Footway Resurfacing Programme (non-coal tar locations)

• • Thornwood Ave, Lenzie.
  • North Campbell Avenue, Milngavie.
• Inductions were undertaken with Roads & Lighting operatives into new Risk Assessment & Method Statements (RAMS) with a further mop up sessions to be arrange for remaining operatives and new staff and operatives.
• Street lighting repairs continue, (albeit with reduced available resources)
• Responses to various enquiries / complaints continue, as required
• Site visits and inspections of developer’s road lighting installations continue at various locations Council wide.
• Assessment of coal tar testing results for future lighting renewal works.
• Monitoring and processing of street lighting energy invoices continues.
• EDC Street Lighting Capital/Replacement Projects
  
  • Cloberfield Gardens
  • Watt Place
  • Dunlop Place and Stable Place, Milngavie (works in progress on site - installation now partly lit)
  • Rosehill Road, School Road, Kings Park, Torrance (New installation commissioned, removal of redundant columns complete)
  • Kingsway, Kirkintilloch (works in progress on site)
• Upcoming resurfacing works March include.
  
  • Auchinairn Road,
  • Kerr Street
  • Pinewood Avenue
  • Morar Crescent (footways continue)
  • Norwood Park
  • Callieburn Road
  • Glenwood Court (footway)
  • Carron Crescent (footway)
  • Drumgoyne Road
  • Auchinairn (service) Road 

Roads Technical & Engineering Teams -

Traffic

• Officers are revisiting the abandoned gateway project for Milton of Campsie.
• Construction of the flat-topped speed table in Manse Road, Bearsden is progressing.
• Notices are being posted for revisions to disabled parking spaces.
• Ducting for two new pedestrian crossings in Bishopbriggs is complete. Installation of the signals is to follow.
• Attendance at various regional and national meetings related to road safety.
• The team are providing technical support for City Deal projects, Canniesburn Toll, Lennoxtown Main Street and Cycling Connectivity Corridors.
• The team are working through various locations installing new or replacing street signs as per customer requests.
• The team continue to assess areas for potential traffic calming and pedestrian crossings.
• Responding to Planning Applications.
• Responding to Lining Requests
• The pedestrian crossing at Hayston Road is complete.
• Stuart Orr retires at the end of March. Recruitment of a replacement is ongoing.

Development

• Attend national RAUCS meeting.
• Inspection of utility and infrastructure on sites currently being constructed. Inspections are ongoing for CAT A,B AND C and Invoices for Q3 Inspections have been sent for invoicing
• Site meetings to monitor and inspect developments to identify any remedial works prior to adoption by EDC.
• Assist planning with applications, distribute to officers for their comments on developments.
• Process adoption enquiries from internal and external departments.
• Coordination of future works, road openings and temporary traffic management permits. Works Notices for Capital Programme 2023/24 for C/WAY/F/WAY Resurfacing are being registered on Roads Register - TTL permits are being issued on a daily basis after approval and invoices are created after works complete.

Drainage

• All gully upgrades complete in Fossil grove. Root cutting carried out with remote reel due to access. Further dredging works required at outlet but this has been identified as a Scottish Water asset. Discussions required with Scottish Water. This will be reviewed as part of 2023-24 Capital works
• Baird Drive at Thorn has been moved to 2023-24 Capital projects
• All gully upgrades completed in Angus Avenue and gullies re directed to surface water system
• Manse Road, Bearsden. Most of the drainage works are complete. Speed table works are due to begin shortly.
• 113 Milngavie Road due to start 27/3/23- 31/3/23
• Boclair Road @ Milngavie Road due to start 27/3/23 - 31/3/23
• Holyknowe Rd, Lennoxtown gully replacements had to be halted due to available budget/time and the rate of gullies the squad was getting through. We await results on completed works and the rest will be part of 2023-24 Capital works
• CCTV and Vactor carrying out 5 days investigation work as required 13.03.23 – 17.03.23

Flooding

• River Glazert Restoration Project, Lennoxtown - Detail design works currently on going with topographical surveys complete and flood modelling being carried out by our consultants. Landownership discussions are ongoing, and any concerns being addressed. Draft detail design report due end of March 23.
• Kelvin Tributaries River Restoration Project - Specification of Requirements (Scope) for concept design has been reviewed by EDC and is currently being reviewed by SEPA.
• River Kelvin Flood Defence Maintenance Contract - WGM Ltd have started planned service visits to all flood defence pumping stations in EDC. These are nearing completion with no major issues reported so far. Two pumps have been taken from separate stations to workshop for check, assessment, and further works.
• Climate Ready Park – On going. Consultants are pulling together tender documents for re-tender in the coming weeks.
• Golf View FAS, Bearsden - JBA are currently modelling our flood scheme and proposed wetland proposals as part of the Bearsden Golf Club extension to demonstrate what impact this has on flood risk to properties at Golf View. The Flood Scheme landscaping is now maintained by our StreetScene colleagues and WGM retention monies are being released as no further defects reported.
• Some civils works have been undertaken by our framework contractor George Leslie at various locations and we are in discussions to plan future works.

Structures

• 2022/23 General and Principal inspections programme complete.
• Acre Valley bridge in Lennoxtown. Tree removals complete, strengthening works upcoming.
• Wester Gartshore footbridge demolition complete and demobilised. Additional fencing installed to protect the public and mitigate falls from height.
• Review & response to abnormal load requests.
• Culvert CCTV surveys at various locations throughout EDC complete.
• Baldernock Linn emergency culvert repairs complete
• Mugdock Road car park, Milngavie retaining wall repairs ongoing.
• Footbridge replacement at Bute Rd, Kirkintilloch nearing start, pending approval of RAMS.
• Upcoming works:
  
  • Allander bridge no3, Milngavie graffiti removal and vegetation clearance.
  • Commence procurement of Wester Gartshore replacement bridge.
  • Network Rail bridge examination reviews and remedial works.
  • Bearsden Roman Road Rail Bridge weak footway protection works. (FY 23/24)

Greenspace & Streetscene Teams

Streetscene Operations

• Street cleansing and mechanical sweeping; removal of fly posting and uplifting of fly tipping, mechanical street sweeping and installing replacement or additional bins.
• Countryside verge litter pick programme started (Spring 2023) 
• Graffiti removal.
• Ongoing cemetery operations, digging and carrying out interments, installing headstone foundations, benches etc
• Winter cyclical works ongoing; pruning of shrub beds and tree works. Winter gritting.
• Checking and clearance of culverts
• Play park inspection
• Football pitch lining and School athletic tracks initial marking
• School shrub bed reduction
• Replacement of damaged bins.
• Responding to Customer Service Requests and complaints.
• Removal of dead animals and excess waste at recycling centres.
• Arranging winter servicing of machinery

Streetscene Technical Support

• Specification relating to upgrade of the canal towpath, Kirkintilloch submitted to Procurement, awaiting publishing on Public Contract Scotland
• Etive Park Play upgrade tender evaluation completed.
• Planting of standard trees in Meadowburn Park, Bishopbriggs Public Park, Lennoxtown,
• Works continuing for projects as funded by the Scottish Government’s Nature Restoration Grant.
• Seed ordered, paid from funds awarded from the Scottish Government’s Nature Restoration Grant to purchase wildflower seed for the Climate Ready Project at Etive and Woodhill Parks, administered by NatureScot.
• Lenzie Moss Path upgrade continuing. Boardwalk section has started and will be completed in March
• Open Space audit work for input into the Grounds Maintenance System ongoing for Milngavie & Bearsden.
• Luggie Park pathwork continuing.
• Play Park Accessibility Work Study ongoing.
• Drainage works completed at Old Aisle Cemetery.
• Order raised for the collection and scanning of cemetery ledgers, to import into the Council’s Epilogue Cemetery Management System, work ongoing.
• Cairnhill Woods pathwork programme of planting ongoing.
• Mains Park and Bishopbriggs Park path upgrades out to tender, awaiting tender returns.
• KLR and BRR works ongoing; monthly litter picks ongoing during the winter period.
• Responding to a number of planning applications
• Play park defect repair work ongoing.
• Project management of artificial pitches continuing. Final draft completed.
• Mosshead Play Park upgrade ongoing.
• Team working with City Deal Team and consultants in relation to masterplan of Bishopbriggs Public Park.
• Renovation works required along boundary wall at New Kilpatrick Churchyard and wall at the Tower Bell, Old Aisle; team organised initial survey from Roads. CCTV survey and cleaning of drainage system started in all active, ongoing.
• Cemeteries gully cleaning completed.
• Awaiting works to start by contractor for the relaying setts and paving at Milton of Campsie Cross.
• Input into Additional Capital investment for drainage, active travel/access and footway surfacing.
• The team continues to respond to high volume of open space, tree and bereavement enquires, along with planning application consultations and complaints.
• SGNRF Redhills Woodland, Lennoxtown completed. Order raised for planting in Milngavie., Lenzie and Bearsden (King George V Park).
• Partnership working with Trees for Cities at Meadowburn Park in progress
• Staff recruitment completed; job advertised for Food Growing Officer
• Community Group support ongoing
• Planning application responses and support to Planning Team ongoing

Mugdock Country Park

• Funding has been secured from Greenspace Scotland for planting over 5,000 trees, shrubs and hedges within Mugdock;
• Planting fruit trees at the orchard and thorny hedging around the foot of the Quarry fence has now started with further areas to follow;
• Landscape designers have been working on plans for an upgrade to the Walled Garden;
• Renovation work to the BBQ shelters has started and should be ready for booking out from April/May;
• Events at the Park in March included Stargazing, Guided Walks, Nature Activities;
• Forest Schools sessions have taken place with several schools using the Ranger services for a series of activities within their premises;
• Scottish Water Rangers have been patrolling the Milngavie Reservoir site as part of a joint project, funded by SW;
• Tree working arising from a recent survey has continued across the sites within the Park which are closest to paths and areas used by the public;
• Rhododendron clearance, pond clearance and pathworks have been carried out with volunteer groups;
• Work to improve the Courtyard has been ongoing and continues with path edging, weeding and drainage;
• Openreach superfast broadband has almost arrived at the Park but an issue with splicing has meant some remedial work is required.