How Good Is Our Service - May 2023

Monthly Performance Report 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
• Land Planning and Development
• Legal and Democratic Services
• Neighbourhood Services
• Organisational Transformation
• Place and Community Planning
• Roads and Environment

Assets and Facilities

Property Maintenance

Voids performance has increased in May to 89.9% from 82% in April and is above our target of 85%. We continue to look at ways of maintaining and enhancing performance going forward.

Property Maintenance have achieved our target of 100% for Gas Servicing in May with 363 properties serviced in the month. We continue to achieve our target each month and we are confident this will continue throughout the remainder of the year.

The Smoke & Heat alarm installation programme has reached its conclusion and we have achieved our plan of visiting all properties across the estate in line with Government targets with more recent installations meaning 97% of properties are now fitted with Smoke & Heat alarms. The remaining properties have been no access and the service will utilise the council’s No Access Policy to assist in meeting our legal obligations and we will continue to schedule these installations as and when tenants make contact.

Kitchen, Bathroom, Heating and Roofing upgrade programmes are ongoing and progress continues in carrying out reactive and refurbishment works across the education and non-housing stock, with decoration works ongoing across the school estate.

Facilities Management

The rollout of the new FM structure is nearing conclusion and employee displacement meetings are continuing with the aim of securing suitable alternative positions for displaced employees. Recruitment of all vacant positions is on-going.

A review of survey responses following the Primary and Secondary school catering consultation exercise is complete and a report was presented at the PNCA Committee meeting in May. A revised Primary, Secondary and Nursery school menu was implemented in May following the review of survey feedback and responses which shaped menu changes.

The uptake of free school meals in Primary schools for the month of May was below target which is an annual trend as P7 pupils attend residential trips and visits to Secondary schools and therefore not present during the lunchtime service. The target was exceeded in Secondary schools. Our focus remains on improving the uptake in the lower performing schools. The Service continues to work with suppliers to source alternative food products, ensuring the menu complies with the revised regulations and meets all nutritional standards.

The service was awarded the Food For Life Served Here Bronze Award in December and we continue to work with the Soil Association to achieve the Silver award status.

Estates

The Estates service have robust measures in place to monitor performance with regards gas safety compliance across the Operational Estate. Officers continue to progress reactive repairs across the Education and Operational Estate on a daily basis with over 150-200 repairs processed on average every month through Property Maintenance or our external contractors.

The Quality Assurance service continue to inspect the cleaning standards across the educational estate, with over 40 assets inspected and reports produced monthly. 

Estates Management continue to market vacant premises within the non-operational estate. At present the non-operational estate is over 95% occupied. 

Officers continue to progress disposals with colleagues in Legal Services to ensure that capital receipts are delivered and ongoing liabilities i.e. non-domestic rates, utilities, security etc are reduced. The sale of 18 Strathblane Road, Milngavie is progressing and will likely conclude in early June. 

Development & Investment

The Service continues to progress a wide range of capital projects both in pre-construction and construction phases. Good progress continues to be made in delivering Phase 2 of the Allander Leisure Centre (est. completion November 2023), Boclair Academy Phase 2 (est. completion June 2023), Brookwood Villa (est. completion June 2023) and Woodland View School, Kirkintilloch (est. completion June 2023). The Kirkintilloch Community Sports Complex was successfully completed in May 2023.

Projects at Balmuildy, Milngavie and Bearsden Primary Schools are all progressing towards planning applications. Following Council approval in December, a feasibility review into the development of a new-build replacement primary school and community facilities on the Westerton Hall site, incorporating a new Westerton Primary School, and an assessment of the feasibility of a new-build school on the existing site, is now underway and will report back to Council later in the year. Projects at Twechar Canalside, forming a new Community Outdoor Pursuits Centre and affordable housing development, and at Lennoxtown High Park, forming a new all-weather pitch and additional changing facilities are now progressing through their pre-construction phases. At Lennoxtown, a planning application has now been submitted and the project is progressing towards market testing, with a combined Stage 1 / 2 report seeking approval for the tendered construction sum and commencement of construction work anticipated in June 2023.

Development proposals for the next phase of the Council’s Affordable Housing Investment Programme (comprising up to 11 sites across the area) are nearing completion of RIBA Stage 3, with a Stage 1 Report due for consideration by Council in September 2023.

Capital projects across the Council’s existing Affordable Housing stock, including kitchen and bathroom replacement, roof replacement, external wall insulation projects and central heating replacement continue to progress across the area, as have a wide range of projects across the operational estate, including the installation of two modular classroom units at Bishopbriggs Academy and the roof replacement at Craigdhu Primary School.

The Service continues to develop the next phase of a buildings decarbonisation strategy for the school estate, operational estate and for the existing affordable housing stock, with a variety of surveys, pilot projects and further feasibility reviews planned throughout the financial year and due to inform the next update to the Council’s Corporate Asset Management Plan and Strategic Housing Investment Plan in 2024/25.

Health & Safety

Procedures, instructions, information and training have been prepared in order to comply with Scottish Fire and Rescue Services change of policy regarding UFAS attendance. All council buildings, operational and non-operational have been considered for the process and H&S team supported by Estates have now closed the engagement process with services and external partners and is ready to deliver and train relevant employees for its implementation on the 1st of July 2023. For the non-operational estate, leafleting will provide information and support change in tenanted buildings. Further work will continue through the Fire Risk Assessment process annual cycle.

Research was carried out to determine the most user-friendly AED model for public access use. Further research was carried out into “the circuit” and how the system operates and how we can best locate the units, to help save lives. This allowed the health and safety team to have more insight into determining the most suitable locations for the units to be positioned at the proposed sites. All proposed listed each with requirements.

Report to Council has now been prepared for the approval of the updated H&S Policy, Fire Safety Policy and 5 supporting policies. The policies will introduce a systematic approach to managing health and safety throughout the Council, including relevant policies and procedures that support the provision of a safe working environment by developing appropriate plans, implementing them, verifying their effectiveness, and taking corrective action if necessary: a Plan, Do, Check, Act approach for achieving continuous improvement.

Health surveillance annual cycle has started again from April, this is to help it to coincide with the financial year. Up to the end of May we have had 107 employees from a total of 530 attend health surveillance appointments.

The team has been working in collaboration with Property Maintenance to help develop an effective gas safety management system to conform with Gas Safe requirements, to have a robust system to manage gas compliance and safety. In addition to policy work, sample of work in progress reviews were conducted on site and identified areas to be improved upon such as equipment supply, including consumables, PPE, certificates, immediate availability to technical information and workbooks. Regular meetings were held in advance of the inspection to discuss compliance, constructive feedback and set smart objectives.

Key Achievements / Areas of Focus

• Achieved 100% compliance for Gas Servicing with focus on this continuing going forward.
• Positive level of performance in void turnaround times with 89.9% properties completed within our target timescales
• Kitchen, Bathroom, Central Heating and Roofing upgrade programmes ongoing with positive feedback being received from tenants across all contracts.
• Continue to monitor and improve processes within Voids to ensure turnaround times exceed our performance target.
• Assess and improve functionality of Total Mobile and the integration with Servitor to enable a more streamlined and efficient service. Continue to monitor and increase levels of performance in non-emergency reactive repairs
• Improve communications with customers and stakeholders to ensure the highest level of service delivery.
• Continue to utilise robust reporting mechanisms for enhanced performance and service delivery.
• Continue to carry out the installation of Smoke & Heat alarms for tenants and residents in East Dunbartonshire.
• Progress decoration works across school estate.
• 100% of Operational Assets requiring a Gas Safety check within the year’s anniversary of the previous check are completed.
• Schedule in the upcoming Gas Safety Checks, which are required during May with contractors.
• Continued progress in the delivery of capital works in the Council’s existing Affordable Housing estate, including kitchen/bathroom replacement.
• Improve uptake of nutritious school meals.
• Improve communications with customers and stakeholders to ensure the highest level of service delivery.
• Reduce FM overtime.
• Progress recruitment exercises to fill identified vacant FM positions.

Customer and Business Support Services

Communications & Engagement

Key areas of focus in May for the Communications & Engagement Team included the launch of the Provost’s Community Champion Awards, the Community Grant Scheme and LDP3 consultations and the launch of the Trusted Trader initiative. There were 14 media releases issued (up from 12 in April), six photocalls, and a total of 16 media enquiries received over the month. All releases are on the Council website news section and the local and national regional coverage achieved equated to an equivalent advertising value of £2,828. Social media posts continued to generate good interaction across a range of themes. The top posts for engagement on Facebook in May were in relation to the return of the Canal Festival this August and Biodiversity Day. Top Twitter posts were about the agreement of the school holidays for the 2024/25 session and a Scottish Water supply issue in Lenzie.

Corporate Performance

In May 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 May, the Customer Services team continued to deliver customer services across all channels. The target call response time was met with 10,991 calls in the month answered in an average of 1 minute 27 seconds. Training of new recruits and refresher training for all Agents continued to be a priority focus for the month. In the 24/7 ERC, preparation for the migration from analogue to digital phone lines remains a key focus. Significant data cleansing continued and appointments were scheduled for Virgin Media customers requiring to have their equipment changes as the network moves from analogue to digital. A total of 140 direct messages through social media were received and actioned and a total of 105 direct messages were sent. Face to face appointment demands, including registration appointments, 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 which is scheduled to go live in June. The team continue 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, although applications closed on 31st May. 

Shared Services

The Shared Services team continue to provide support across all Council services. The Education team started preparing for the Placing Request appeals. The Letting Team opened the annual letting application process. The General Team completed the invoicing for Care of Gardens. The Homecare Team are supporting a new initiative from the Planning & Commissioning Team processing variations in addition to their normal workload. The Transport Team are collating additional information from Education and Social Work colleagues for the new Academic Year.

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 resolved 1937 tickets in May and dealt with over 700 telephone calls. ICT continue to support the migration of services to Microsoft 365 in partnership with the Business and Digital Change Team. The team continue preparations to move Shared Mailboxes to Microsoft M365. 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

• Promoted the launch of the LDP 3 consultation including webpages, design, press release and social media.
• Delivered communications promoting the launch of the Provost’s Community Champion Awards with photocall, press release, social media and video.
• Supported the launch of the Community Grants Scheme consultation which included press release, social media, design and survey.
• Delivered communications to launch the East Dunbartonshire Trusted Trader scheme which included a photocall, press release, video and social media.
• Delivered communications promoting the network of defibrillators that are due to be installed throughout East Dunbartonshire with press release and social media.
• Promotion of Council support for key dates and initiatives including Lyme’s Disease Day, Foster Care fortnight, International Day Against Homophobia, and Biodiversity Day

Corporate Performance

• Prepared HGIOS year end report to meet June Council reporting deadlines
• The evaluation of the tender for the Councils insurance arrangements was completed
• Continued Business Objects assistance provided to the Change team in relation to ongoing transformation projects
• Data support provided to the HSCP to inform their annual performance report
• Update of annual Performance Guide ready for issue following final Council meeting of the session

Customer Services

• Training of newly appointed agents on customer service delivery across all channels
• 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.
• Contributing to the Analogue to Digital project.

Revenues and Benefits

• The team issued :
  
  • 2867 Council Tax bills, almost 4 000 reminders, and 2 900 Benefits notifications.
  • 760 Non-Domestic Rates bills and continue to respond to enquiries.
  • 233 crisis grants and 97 community care grants were awarded under the Scottish Welfare Fund.
• The team dealt with 3250 telephone enquiries in May.

Shared Services

• The Residential Team added 137 service agreements to Carefirst for clients moving into care homes or for supported living services within their own homes. The team have started the yearly financial reassessment exercise for almost 400 care home residents.
• The Homecare Team added 310 service agreements to Carefirst for clients receiving a homecare service or a direct payment. The team are supporting the Planning & Commissioning Team by processing variations from a new initiative.
• The Transport Team have dealt with a number of road closures which have affected mainstream transport. The procurement process for ASN transport for the next academic year continues with round 2 updates.
• The Direct Payment Audit Team - 26 direct payment audits finalised for clients receiving self direct support (21 standard and 5 finals). 
• The annual letting application process for Community Lets was initiated. Existing let holders were invited to submit their requirements through the website.

ICT Services

• ICT Services are working closely with the Business and Digital Change Team to implement M365. This includes:
  
  • Migration of remaining users to M365 Outlook
  • Migration of users telephones to M365 including Homecare colleagues.

• The Infrastructure Team completed the roll out of Network upgrades in 8 primary schools including enhanced Wi-Fi capability.
• The Infrastructure Team completed the design phase of the new Wide Area Network with our supplier.
• The Infrastructure Team continue work on a CCTV Tender to modernise the CCTV estate across the Council.
• The ICT Security team started the annual PSN accreditation process with our security partner.
• The ICT team completed the upgrade of our network monitoring server which provides advanced capabilities

East Dunbartonshire Leisure and Culture Trust

Leisure Centres

Period 2

Target: 79,147
Actual: 79,231

Detail	Actual	Allander	Kirkintilloch	Leisuredrome
Westside	30,495	13,651	6,356	10,488
Dryside	48,736	20,495	13,240	15,001
Total	79,231	34,146	19,596	25,489

The Leisure Centres remained busy of the month of May. All three Centres were closed on Monday 8 May to mark the King’s Coronation.

Libraries

For period 2 there were 25,628 visits in person and digital usage was 45,651, totalling 71,279. This represents 114% of the overall target for the period.

Physical usage has exceeded target for the second period in succession. Digital usage, rather than falling off slightly as physical footfall increases, continues to exceed last year’s performance. The overall target for period 2 was set at 3% above the actual performance for the same period 2022/23. However, period 2 saw a 17% increase in overall performance, compared with the same period in 2022/23.

Detail	Actual	Target	Actual as % of target
Physical	25,628	19,633	131%
Digital	45,651	42,842	107%
Total	71,279	62,475	114%

Museums

For period 2 there were 1,409 visits in person and digital usage was 3,768, totaling 5,177. This represents 154% of the overall target for the period.

As with the libraries service, actual performance has exceeded targets for the second period in succession, despite target increase of 3% based on the actual performance for the same period in 2022/23.

Both the Lillie Art Gallery and Auld Kirk Museum saw new exhibitions opening during the period, which creates a spike in visits around time of opening. 

Digital engagement with the service also continued to increase; in particular the Instagram account, which saw interaction double, compared period 1.

Period 2

Target: 3,357
Actual: 5,177

Detail	Actual	Target	Actual as % of target
Physical	1,409	913	154%
Digital	3,768	2,444	154%
Total	5,177	3,357	154%

Sports Development

Term time class membership increased to a high of 2,875 members this month with the increase coming from the additional swimming lessons filling up after Easter.

Key Achievements / Areas of Focus

Leisure Centres

Good strong start for all Leisure Centres with growth in DD membership both in standard members and EDC Free Access Scheme members.

KLC - Studio Group Exercise classes now with increased capacity following ventilation works have been well received by customers. More people are getting booked into classes and customer complaints have reduced significantly.

ALC – Introduced virtual Les Mills class in the high impact studio with a positive customer response.

LD – There was a slight dip in the Centre usage for wetside activities particularly in the use of the Health Suite but footfall across dryside activities remains high.

Area of focus will be to reduce the number of Group fitness non-attenders across all three Centres.

Sports Development

The number of Learn to Swim classes were increased following the opening of the new Allander and children were placed in appropriate classes following completion of a week-long intensive course during Easter.

The marketing campaign continued on social media to increase the numbers attending gymnastics classes and fill vacant spaces.

Preparation for the Summer holiday programme is underway for EDLC’s programmes along with support for EDC’s Snack & Play and some ASN sessions in partnership with Education.

Education

School Planning and Improvement

• Construction of the new Woodland View School building is now complete, ahead of opening for children and young people in August 2023. The Head Teacher and pupils recently attended a special event to receive the keys from contractors and to have their first glimpse inside the custom-built development.
• Planning and brief development continue to progress for the Bearsden & Milngavie Primary refurbishments and decant projects. 
• Stakeholder meetings continue for the new Balmuildy Primary, focusing on hearing the views of the community on the proposed plans for the new school.

Early Years and Supporting Families

• A working group involving staff from early years (both Council and funded providers) and primary revised procedures to improve transition from Early Years to Primary 1. This includes re-introducing locality meetings to support information sharing and discussion about revised transition reports.
• The supporting families service continues to see an increase in the number of parents/carers seeking advice and support, with 29 new requests in May. 72 families are being supported through 1:1 interventions.
• 6 parents completed the Fear-Less Triple P parenting programme to support with parent/child anxiety and stress. An additional 5 parents attended the 6-week standard Triple P group programme.
• 8 centres who received Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) grant fund are participating in ‘tests of change’ in order to promote woodwork. All centres have established woodwork areas and have been reporting increased numbers of children engaging in learning.
• A final network meeting was held with the Family Learning Assistants to discuss successes and achievements and how they have implemented professional learning to support families. Support and professional learning were highly evaluated by almost all participants.
• Early Years Scotland offered 25 fully funded places for practitioners, consisting of three sessions on under 3s training. This was positively received by all attendees.
• Creatovators provided a funded Lego therapy session to 12 practitioners from Council early years settings to support their provision for children with Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Lego therapy is a play-based approach to develop social communication skills in children. 
• The final Learning Partnership Group meeting (LPG) of the session focused on supporting early years leaders with self-evaluation and setting improvement priorities for next session.

East Dunbartonshire Council Schools

• Campsie View School was commended in the Reading Schools Award programme. Pupils welcomed members from the Scottish Book Trust to attend a book club meeting to share their favourite books and celebrate their achievement.
• Wester Cleddens Primary achieved Silver in the Reading Schools Award programme. Westerton Primary gained accreditation in the programme.
• Primary 7 pupils in Holy Trinity Primary achieved the Young STEM leader Level 2 Award for leading and improving aspects of learning across the school.
• Gartconner Primary and Early Years Centre achieved the UNICEF Silver Award for being a Rights Aware school.
• Baldernock Primary won the Social Enterprise Academy Project Award for their entrepreneurial skills in setting up a recycling business.
• S6 pupils in Merkland School achieved a Bronze Cadet Award from EDTScotland in recognition of their STEM skills, in partnership with contractors. They were inspired by the biodiversity bricks in the new Woodland View School - especially the bee bricks - and they made a beautiful display, presentations and booklets about their learning.
• Literacy Champions from 9 primary schools showcased their practitioner enquiry projects. Each bespoke school project was informed by a targeted aspect/focus of practice. Presentations highlighted the impact of the intervention chosen using pre, interim and post data, sharing professional reading and outcomes/next steps. Feedback was excellent, with participants reporting that the process challenged their thinking, processes and outcomes within their own classroom environment. Participants reported that involvement impacted attainment and supported their professional growth through reflection and evaluation.
• Teachers Learning to Teach Languages (TeLT) Open University CLPL Programme: 9 teachers are coming to the end of their nine-month long TeLT programme. This has been a very successful programme for all participants, and they are on course to receive a Professional Recognition Award from the General Teaching Council for Scotland for their participation. For session 2023/24, 8 teachers signed up to participate in the course, which involves long distance learning modules facilitated by the Open University.
• Staff from Douglas Academy and Bishopbriggs Academy shared practice in the revised approach to tracking and monitoring in the Broad General Education (BGE) during a recent workshop, attended by all eight Secondary schools, Secondary Wellbeing Support Service and Merkland School. This highlighted the impact of supporting the progression and achievement of young people. The practice in Douglas Academy was described as sector leading during the recent inspection.
• Senior Leadership staff from across all schools engaged in an evaluative writing workshop and discussion on the revised Secondary Framework to support self-evaluation processes and school improvement.
• Young people have been fully supported in the lead up to SQA exams through supported study programmes and online resources.
• Equalities compliance: Building Racial Literacy information session was delivered to middle managers in primary and secondary schools. Professional learning in partnership with Education Scotland was shared by a Senior Leader who is currently developing practice within their setting. Signposting of resources and a review of a school’s journey in decolonising the curriculum and developing an Anti-Racist action group was part of the session.
• Talking Mats Communication Tool Pilot demonstrated that Talking Mats has had a positive impact on the wellbeing of learners and has influenced positive destinations for S6 pupils supporting the project. Participants were asked to present their work at the Communication, Access, Literacy and Learning (CALL) Scotland Conference. The intervention facilitated learner voice for pupils with additional support needs to be gathered effectively in line with Children’s Rights. Evaluations show that the resource has been successfully embedded into teaching practice. Parental comments reflected the quality of information gathered and how this information can be used to support individual young people.
• 70 support staff from Early Years, Primary and Secondary attended an ASN Inclusion Workshop including presentations on Equalities and De-escalation, with workshops on Dyslexia, The Promise, Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Supporting Wellbeing Conversations. Most attendees stated that the aims for the day were met and evaluated the training as very good or excellent.

Skills for Life, Learning and Work

• The East Dunbartonshire Youth Council (EDYC) created an online survey to gather information from young people aged 12-24 about their views, experiences and attitudes on vaping/e-cigarettes.
• The Skills Pathway programme delivered in partnership with DYW, Outdoor Education and the Youth Development Team provided a targeted approach to support the achievements of young people. This included outdoor activities and accredited employability courses.
• The authority Developing the Young Workforce (DYW) showcase event involved all schools, Youth Development Team, Skills Development Scotland and other partners. Presentations from Business Gateway, Education Scotland and practice from Bearsden Academy and St. Ninian’s High School was shared. Evaluations were very positive and highlighted the importance of sharing initiatives and networking.
• As part of the Education Pathways Programme Youth Services in partnership with the Wise Group facilitated a Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) training course. 13 young people from East Dunbartonshire successfully attended the course, studied, and achieved their elementary Health and Safety Certificate. This group of young people are now working with Youth Services on preparing for their test to gain their CSCS card. The CSCS card enables young people to apply for a job on a construction site.

Finance & Audit

The month of May saw the Finance Team progressing work on systems including the Oracle Fusion General Ledger replacement and on year end deliverables. Finance this involved following year end timetable and procedures to prepare working papers, closing of adjustment periods and the posting of accruals. Work began on notes to the accounts including the members’ allowances note and the pensions note, intercompany balances with the leisure trust and debtors and creditors.

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.

Internal Audit focussed on preparing the annual audit report and opinions for the Council and the HSCP for 2022/23, the annual follow up reports, with progression of audits for the Council and the HSCP underway. Work nearing completion includes ICT Back Ups, Non Domestic Rates and the HSCP Bad Debt Provision. 

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

• The key focus of the Finance Teams remains on year end processes to ensure the integrity of the information to be included in the draft accounts.
• The Oracle Fusion General Ledger system replacement is continuing to be progressed, with project planning, training and workshops arranged with subject matter experts.
• 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.
• Progression of recruitment to fill two vacancies in Finance.
• Work to support the year end internal audit opinions on governance, risk and controls has been concluded, ahead of Council and HSCP audit committees in June.
• Mugdock Country Park Draft Unaudited Accounts were published in draft ahead of the Joint Management Committee meeting on 20th June.
• Work has continued on the 2023/24 Internal Audit Plan, with work progressing across a number of Council and HSCP services.
• 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

The HSCP and its staff continue to work hard to ensure quality delivery of the Council’s operational delivery of statutory social work services, which are integrated with NHS services under the strategic governance of the Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP) Board.  Service quality and outcomes associated with these specific social work services are the main focus of this report with particular reference to three identified performance indicators in accordance with East Dunbartonshire Councils strategic approach to business improvement planning.

The wider objective is that improved customer and organisational outcomes can be achieved through successful integrated planning and collaborative delivery of health and social care functions, under single management, with a combined budget, working to a single set of outcomes and operating to a single Strategic Plan. The impact and performance of all of these integrated health and social care services overall are reported on a quarterly and annual basis to the HSCP Board and through agreed representation and reporting arrangements, to the Council.

During May 2023, the HSCP has performed on or above target on all three of its identified performance indicators and has begun to implement the 2023-24 Annual Delivery Plan actions.

Key Achievements / Areas of Focus

Key Achievements:

• Delivery of self-directed support information awareness sessions
• Consultation on final draft of Carers Strategy 2023-26
• Local Area Co-ordinators published their first annual newsletter
• The Community Mental Health Team ran a wellbeing session for all staff which was well received and had good feedback from staff. More are planned throughout the year.

Promotional activity in support of:

• Forster Care Fortnight
• Maternal Mental Health Week
• Public, Service User and Carer group membership
• Skin Cancer Awareness month
• See Beyond Scotland campaign in relation to alcohol and drug dependency
• International Nurses Day
• Mental Health Awareness Week
• World Hypertension Day
• National Smile Month
• Dementia Awareness Week

Areas of Focus:

Children and Criminal Justice Services:

• Respond to the “Children at Risk of Harm” joint inspection outcomes.
• 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.
• Continue to develop as a Trauma Informed organisation
• Update and implement new Child Protection Procedures
• Ongoing implementation of Children’s House Project model, Year 3
• Continue to develop tier 1 and tier 2 service for Children for children and young people with mental health challenges

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.
• Continue to optimise opportunities for people to remain living at home, active and independent in their community, to support the ongoing shift in the balance of care away from residential or nursing care in a care home until it is essential to meet the outcomes of the individual and/or to manage risk. Numbers of people being admitted to long term care are not yet returned to pre-pandemic levels but are rising, as is the complexity of those being supported in the community.
• Continue to respond to the needs of carers, enabling them to continue their caring role and enjoy a life of their own, as equal partners in care and refresh the HSCP Carers Strategy.
• Continuing to provide multi-disciplinary intensive, support and assurance for all care homes and other registered care services across adult services in the area in line with refreshed Scottish government guidance and direction.
• Continue to pursue achievement of compliance with target timescales for adult protection cases.
• Taking forward the Allander Resource Centre - Learning Disability day services –Development of community based services, employability, volunteering and community based model of support.
• Implement the 23/24 actions of the Social Support for Older People Strategy and associated commissioning delivery plan.
• Refresh HSCP Learning/Intellectual Disability Strategy
• Delivery of Medically Assisted Treatment Standards, (MAT Standards) 6 -10.
• Review of in-house accommodation-based support services for adults with Learning Disability.

HSCP Wide:

• Development of a recruitment strategy for ED HSCP and wider Social Care workforce in East Dunbartonshire.
• Continue delivery of a range of measures to support staff wellbeing and support options.
• Continue to pursue options for the engagement and involvement of local people and individuals in service development and design.

Housing

The Housing Service is made up of 4 teams, Estates, Rents, Strategy & Systems along with Homelessness and there are currently 62 members of staff working within these teams.

Housing manages 3818 social rented properties, 3767 of these are mainstream accommodation and 51 are used for Homeless Temporary Accommodation. The service also manages 66 Lead Tenancies which are rented from either private landlords (47) or Housing Associations (19), to assist with accommodating homeless households.

At present, the Housing list for East Dunbartonshire has 3397 applications, made up of the following:

General Waiting list 2597 applicants waiting (30 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 578 applicants (23 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 221 applicants (39 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 8 applicants (3 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, 26 properties have been let or re-let; 18 mainstream, 7 new builds (Kerr Street, Kirkintilloch) and 1 buy back (bought from open market).

22 of these were general needs properties and 4 were sheltered/special needs properties.

They were let to the following queues:

• 12 were let to applicants on the transfer queue
• 5 were let to applicants on the general waiting list queue
• 9 were let to applicants on the priority homeless queue

Key Achievements / Areas of Focus

Strategy & Systems

Key achievements

• The new IHMS implementation is well underway, with functional testing progressing in all modules. User Acceptance Testing (UAT) training is underway, which we are hoping to have this completed by the end of August.
• New Systems Officers are assisting with the data cleansing of the current Saffron IT system, to ensure a smooth transition when migrating to the new system, while also assisting with the day to day processing of the direct debits and the set up of rent accounts.
• Performance Monitoring Officers are completing monthly performance statistics and continue to update Smartsheet with new dashboards and sheets for Officers to work from.
• Work is continuing on the Digital Telecare switch and the Project Board continue to ensure the successful transition of analogue telecare to digital telecare throughout the sheltered complexes.
• Allocations policy review has been initiated and an action plan has been put together, detailing key milestones in reviewing this intricate policy.
• 1 apt refurbs on 4 properties are now complete at Burnbank sheltered accommodation in Milngavie and will be relet soon.
• The CHR review has had approximately 1700 responses so far from the 3200 sent out. Cancellations will not go ahead until the end of June, to allow any late submissions to come in. Once complete, this will mean that our waiting list is accurate and up to date.
• New Housing Estates Adviser is now in post and working with the sheltered wardens and concierge to ensure a robust service is provided to tenants and residents.

Areas of focus

• IHMS – User Acceptance Testing progression during June to August.
• CHR Housing Application waiting list review being completed.
• Performance monthly monitoring.

Housing Operations – Estates

Key Achievements

• 8 new Anti-social cases received and all 8 of these cases resolved within the month received.
• 14 nominations to Registered Social Landlords being considered for allocation of their stock.
• Percentage of tenancies refused was 11%. This is a decrease from 39% in April.
• Percentage of tenancy sustainment was 97% which is an increase from 87% in April.
• Monthly Housing Liaison meeting attended to discuss cases with Social Work, Antisocial Team and Police Scotland.
• Monthly meeting with Police Scotland and Community Safety to discuss more serious anti-social cases.

Areas of focus

• Improve void re-let times through joint working with void team.
• Involvement in internal audit on management of housing dampness and mould.
• Identify training needs for team.
• Void rent loss has increased, joint working with the void and rewire/asbestos teams continues.

Housing Operations – Rents and Tenant Participation

Key Achievements

• 9 tenants assisted and successfully awarded payment from Hardship Fund towards rent payments, totalling £11,845.22.
• Active Tenant Rent Arrears were £1,122,154.75 which is a decrease of £125,280.27 on same period as last year (week 9).
• Tenant Participation Working Group held at Twechar Healthy Living Centre. This was attended by tenants, tenant representatives, elected members and EDC staff.
• The Rents Team continue to support the change team with the development of the IHMS (NEC).
• Housing Officers continue to utilise all avenues to maximise rental income and reduce rent arrears, while also providing advice and assistance to tenants who engage and need additional support.

Areas of focus

• Reducing active tenant rent arrears continues to be a priority for the Housing Service. Appointments at Kirkintilloch Job Centre resumed to assist tenants in receipt of the Universal Credit housing element.
• Former Tenant Arrears are £774,129.66 with the team continuing to work on former rent arrears to bring this figure down.

Homelessness & Prevention

Key Achievements

• 45 appointments arranged - 30 homeless applications taken. 
• 15 out of hours calls taken.
• 2 applications taken from Ukrainian households living with hosts in the area.
• 0 anti-social complaints.
• 1 award on Homelessness Hardship Fund (£782.49).

Landlord Registration

• 20 new registrations
• 64 renewals
• 0 cancellations
• 0 HMO applications received/granted 
• 3 STL applications received/granted

Project 101 (support service for people aged between 14 to 25)

• May’s Chance to Chat group had 5 young people in attendance.
• 8 successful cooking sessions held (5 at Project 101 and 3 at 81 Drymen Road multiple occupancy accommodation).
• Project 101 featured in the Taking part newsletter.
• Team is working with Tenant Participation Officer to create a youth housing forum, that will give young people a voice with tenant matters and links to the Tenant Participation Working Group.
• 4 Young people received a home pack this month to help with their tenancies.
• 5 new referrals (4 homeless applicants, 2 new tenants and 1 existing tenant).

Areas of focus

• Duty to house 167 applicants awaiting offer of permanent housing.

Land Planning and Development

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

Land Planning Policy

• During May, the Land Planning Policy Team launched a consultation on the draft Participation Statement for Local Development Plan 3, this will run until late June. Concurrently, the team has been promoting to community groups the opportunity to prepare Local Place Plans for their area. The team has also been undertaking various streams of work relating to 20 Minute Neighbourhoods including responding to a Scottish Government consultation and cross-service discussions on the use of the tool which has been devised in conjunction with the GIS Team. 
• The Team has been implementing the Circular Economy Strategy; particularly regarding green skills and developing informational and promotional resources to be implemented in the coming months.
• Work is continuing on the new Active Travel Strategy. 

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. 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. Progress is being made in resolving this issue and we are continuing to work towards the target of presenting the Draft LHEES to Council by the end of 2023. Evidence work for the Climate Action Plan is now largely complete and an Evidence and Options Report is currently being prepared and will be reported to September Council. Following agreement on the preferred options to achieve net zero and adapt to the effects of climate change, the Draft Climate Action Plan will be prepared for public consultation.
   
• 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 are continuing to assess play areas and facilities across East Dunbartonshire. The outcome of the assessment will inform the priority actions on play to be included in the draft Greenspace Strategy.
   
• Procurement for the delivery of a Community Carbon Literacy Training Programme is currently under way. This will provide an important foundation for building community capacity to take climate action in East Dunbartonshire. The Sustainability Policy Team is currently assessing further initiatives that could be developed to further support community climate action.

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 also been working on creating EDCs walking and wheeling network, for the Active Travel Strategy. 
• We have been assisting B&DC with their work on transferring IDOX to a Managed Service
• The team have been working with the Roads department to create a number of new web apps to help when they are out in the field and need to view information, such as adoption status. We have also been working in collaboration with roads to help amend their gazetteer to match ours, to ensure consistency across council departments.
• The GIS Team have updated key spatial data for IDOX users to ensure they are using the latest data. The team are at the final stage of preparing a users groups release ready to go live. The team are also working with the Telecare team to utilise ArcGIS Field Apps for reporting updates to older residents wifi upgrades across East Dunbartonshire while they are out in the field.
• The team continues to provide technical support to Community Protection and Development Applications to improve efficiency and ensure we are in line statutory guidance and regulations through IDOX.

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
• 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.
• The team supported a further 248 small businesses through Lacer discretionary funding which helped them to sustain their business and provide some support for cost of living increases.
• The team is in the early stages of developing an inward investment proposition and currently working on a number of enquiries in conjunction with other relevant teams.

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, and to prepare for public consultation which will start in April.
• 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. 
• 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.
• Working ongoing to support Milngavie BID as it moves towards re-ballot, and the Kirkintilloch BID Streeting Group.

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 67 applications and validated 75 applications.
• The Building Standards team have received 102 building warrants and approved 129 applications. 
• The Enforcement Team opened 12 new cases and closed 1.
• The Development Applications team presented Reports to the meeting of the Planning Board and provided a planning advisor for this months meeting of the Local Review Body
• The Team continue to provide applicants including the Councils Major Assets and Housing teams with pre application advice and support.
• Both Planning and Building Standards teams continue to offer support and informal advice to customers through our morning duty service Monday to Friday.

Legal and Democratic Services

The indicators chosen for monthly reporting represent transactions where Legal Services involvement is nearer the end of the process. Each indicator relates to services which are important to individuals and Council Services, but that also have an impact on the local economy. They also represent areas where performance was not previously as good as it might have been, which resulted in the introduction of the PIs. Whilst performance is generally consistently high, the continued application of the PIs ensures that this remains the case. It also ensures that any change in performance is identified and addressed early.

Performance against all indicators for Legal Services for May 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 May, the Team processed 7 contract form reviews, 9 Contract award letters, 18 taxi licence applications, and 26 grants.
• At short notice, obtained a temporary banning order from the Sheriff Court to protect a vulnerable adult.
• Significant work to progress public entertainment applications received including applications for large scale community events.
• Support in aspects of the planning and permissions required for the Canal Festival scheduled for August 2023.
• Supporting City Deal including commencement of negotiation of land access licences with Westerhill landowners for the proposed ground investigations and supporting contract management in relation to the A803 and Bishopbriggs Town Centre projects.
• Contracts signed for Blue Badge production, the renewal of the Council’s insurances and the refurbishment of toilets at Harestanes and Hillhead Primaries.
• Grant offer from Transport Scotland for cycling, walking and safer routes accepted and grant award letters for “No-one Left Behind” funding issued.
• Purchase of 9 affordable housing units from Dawn Homes at Adamslie Park, Kirkintilloch completed to add to the Council’s housing stock and Section 75 agreement for new Aldi store at Initiative Rd/Woodilee Rd, Lenzie was concluded and planning permission issued. The section 75 agreement provides for developer financial contributions towards sustainable transport and towards town centre interventions in the Kirkintilloch Town Centre Masterplan.
• Ongoing support for the Civic Office and the Civic Committee which supports the Provost in her duties and provides a link to the Lord Lieutenant’s Office
• Technical Support & delivery of Registration of 88 Births, 189 Deaths & 20 Marriages in May.
• Democratic Services serviced and supported Members through 3 Committees and 2 Scrutiny Panels in May.
• The Information Management Team received 140 Freedom of Information enquires which were processed by the Team and supported services in responding to these enquiries.

Neighbourhood Services

The Waste Team has continued the frontline service operations for the collection of over 400,000 assorted household bins over the month of May, providing residual, recycling, food, garden 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 1942 tonnes of waste through this contract in May, 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 Greenspace and Streetscene, Waste Management and other front-line services.

Replacement vehicles continue to filter through from suppliers for Roads and Environment, 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

• Special uplift collections for the month were recorded at 94% within the 10-day target period. This equates to an average collection time of 5.23 days for uplifts.
• There were 1942 tonnes of residual waste collected and disposed of at Mavis Valley through the Clyde Valley Residual waste contract. This is a 3% reduction in waste arising from the same period last year.
• Following on from the service campaign work, and following the new recycling units being put in place, there is now new, fresh, eye-catching signage been erected at our local recycling bring site locations, keeping in line with the theme of ‘Right Bin? Put it In’.
• The Waste Management team met with the Councils Waste disposal contractors for the Quarterly contract meetings, as per the contract procurement agreement. The meetings were informative and provide opportunities to discuss new ways of working and the sharing of information, meetings were held with Biffa Waste, Levenseat, Scottish Water and our garden waste disposal provider, Buchley Eco Centre.
• The nice weather is now reflecting on the garden waste tonnage being presented on the kerbside, with 1238 tonnes of garden waste being collected & treated in May.
• The team have been reviewing the Assisted collection service, this is the service that assists the elderly and infirm with waste collections. There have been 304 home visits completed by the end of May in an aim to ensure we are providing an efficient service across the area.

• Delivery of Statutory Fleet Maintenance and Management services throughout the period.
• The service continues to recruit in order to fill vacant posts however this continues to provide challenges for some trades due to market conditions.

• 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 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.

Organisational Transformation

Business & Digital Change Team

During May, 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, standardized, value for money and secure.

Key Achievements/Areas of Focus

• Implementation of the Councils new M365 Power platform is underway. The platform will provide the foundations for redeveloping Legacy Lotus Notes Systems allowing Lotus Notes and its associated cost to be decommissioned.
• Proposals have been drafted for the development of a Desk, pool car and pool bike booking solution to support EDC’s Accommodation Strategy.
• Work is nearing completion towards finalising council plans to migrate 7 business areas to the new M365 SharePoint service as a proof of concept. This will include secure migration of files and the creation of top-level intranet pages. This platform will introduce further productivity, collaboration and compliance benefits
• All employee mailboxes have been migrated from Lotus Notes to Microsoft Outlook. Shared mailbox technical challenges are being resolved to reduce operational disruption and manual effort otherwise required by employees before shared mailboxes are migrated.
• Procurement of a new Planning & Building Control managed service has been completed and preparatory work has commenced on a series of upgrades starting with Uniform and then UniMap business systems.
• The Councils new learning platform, Moodle Workplace, is now live and has been rolled out to employees.
• Conference Room Pilot 2 (CRP2) workshops for Oracle Fusion are underway. This work includes the extraction and cleansing of data from multiple Council legacy systems and plays a vital role in ensuring the new platform works as expected when launched.
• Multiple business cases have been prepared and shared for review with services, including Social Work Direct Payments and Lone Worker Safety.
• The route to market for the Waste Modernisation project has now been confirmed and work is underway to ensure the terms of the selected framework are met and information issued to potential suppliers.
• Work on the delivery of the CRM continues with the team continuing to review and improve over 100 current processes to ensure that the new platform is a success when it is launched.
• Work continues to review the current EDC website including holding stakeholder engagement sessions. These sessions present the supplier with key information which will inform the initial design, proposed structure and navigation of the new site.
• Transport arrangements for Woodland View School have taken place and proposed changes will increase the number of pupils using the internal bus provision provided by EDC. Further opportunities to redesign transport arrangements will be explored later in the year.
• The business case is currently being developed for our BACS Transaction System replacement and supplier selection has been completed as part of the procurement process.
• The procurement and legal process is complete for our RMMS cloud solution, the contract has been awarded and the project has moved into the implementation phase.
• Work has begun on the Cross Organisational Collaboration project which will allow colleagues across EDC & HSPC to better collaborate digitally. 
• Early stages of the Sharepoint and One Drive project have begun with progress made on key information gathering which will inform the overall project plan.
• Work continues on the migration of our Virgin Media customers within East Dunbartonshire to digital telecare alarm systems. A surplus stock of digitally enabled alarms has been procured and the Technology Enabled Care team are working diligently to have these installed as quickly as possible.
• Evaluation Panels within the Digital Office are continuing to score the bidders from the Shared Alarm Receiving Centre programme. User Intelligence Group meetings are planned for W/C 19th June, with the Technical Panel meeting on the 20th June to ensure our requirements are being met.
• Work continues on the Enterprise Architecture project, with 27 interviews being carried out thus far across multiple service areas. An ICT Principals meeting was also held with key stakeholders as part of a series of deliverables within this project. These will all serve to inform the final report and recommendations.
• The IHMS team continues to work closely with the Housing service to test and configure the new Integrated Housing Management System (IHMS). User acceptance testing and training will begin in June and continue through July and August. Data migration work is progressing well while the development of financial interfaces, letters and reports continues.

Procurement

During May, 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 Solution Design 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 also continuously works to manage and support the operational activity in terms of the buyers work centre and payment processing.

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 Capital, Business & Digital Change projects such as Oracle Fusion upgrade, IHMS Consultancy, Netcall Liberty, school estate Professional Fees, Vehicle Purchases, 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 the contract award process for the Council’s Insurance cover requirements
• Completed renewals for support and maintenance of business critical systems to facilitate remote working
• Supported the transition/implementation of the Managed Stores Service, including the technical requirements for integrations and e-invoicing on Iproc
• Completed the evaluation of Transport tenders for the 2023-2024 term
• Ongoing data analysis in preparation of the 2022-2023 Annual Procurement Report to include alignments with Organisational Climate Action Planning, Circular Economy Strategy, Community Wealth Building & the City Region Community Wish List planning
• Supported the review and relevant actions for Procurement process considerations fin alignment with the Health & Safety Management of Contractors Policy (HSP05)

Strategic Commissioning

The Strategic Commissioning Team continued to support, manage, and intervene if/where necessary across the commissioned market as the lasting impact of covid, on-going recruitment & retention issues, acute and other demand pressures together with the cost-of-living crisis necessitates a focused and responsive oversight. In addition, the team continued to support the HSCP progress and/or deliver a number of key service/financial reviews and related priorities. 

Key Achievements / Areas of Focus

• Supported completion of a Carefirst Business Case outlining the justification for a new social work system - which incorporates a contract management facility /function
• Held three Provider Forums: Care Homes, Care at Home and Communities. Provider Forums help to strengthen and improve the collaborative commissioning approach with providers across all sectors
• Completed a review of Supported Living Services to help inform specific areas that require to be cleansed on the Carefirst System – this is in line with and supports progression of audit action
• Maximised supported accommodation occupancy levels via the identification and progression of suitable individuals for each service / void available across the estate
• Commenced a review of the Direct Payment contracts process with a view to improving the current approach whilst strengthening governance and oversight arrangements
• Aligned to the Older People’s Social Supports Strategy, commenced discussions with day care providers regarding future commissioning arrangements 
• Progressed the latest period monitoring returns for Care and Support services commissioned via Scotland Excel’s national framework
• On the back of identified issues and concerns, completed a staff and training audit within a local care home. The outcome provided assurances re compliance and overall quality standards
• Continued to progress Scottish Living Wage uplifts in line with nationally agreed approach

Human Resources & Organisational Development

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
• Development work with Cosla on Talentlink, the recruitment portal supporting Myjobscotland. 
• 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 and preparation for year end.
• The People Development team delivered sessions across 16 topics including SMART Working, Corporate Induction, H&S, EDC Policy sessions & leadership skills.
• Ongoing work to support the launch of the EDC Moodle e-learning platform including configuration of programs/courses, dynamic rules, system testing, user configuration.
• Investigation of options for e-learning authoring tools to create custom content.
• Consultation with Health & Safety to review completed risk assessments and identify skills gaps and future legislative requirements.

Place and Community Planning

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 May 2023, the service continued to engage in the local Co-Production arrangement with Police Scotland. This resulted in a significant amount of joint work and coordinated activity to protect local communities across the East Dunbartonshire area. The service 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 was 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. The service was in demand for a range of service requests from the public as well as responding to internal partners in Planning and Licensing for new developments and seasonal events respectively. This time of year also generally sees an upsurge in environmental nuisance cases in terms of noise, odour and smoke annoyance, which the team must investigate.

The Trading Standards Team was 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 May included the formal launch of the new East Dunbartonshire Trusted Trader Scheme, with focus being placed upon local business participation. Tobacco and Nicotine Vapour Products compliance work was delivered during the reporting period. The Licensing Advisers and Trading Standards Officers in the team 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 continued to deliver a broad range of front-line work for the benefit of local communities during the course of the reporting period, working closely with a range of colleagues and key partners to successfully deliver appropriate interventions and to make our local communities safer. Officers from the team were 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 mobile CCTV. The Community Wardens have also been developing further 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 have successfully implemented various initiatives to enhance community engagement. These have included targeted conversations with our place area communities, and equality groups. We are committed to ensuring that community representatives have a voice in decision making processes allowing for a greater inclusivity and transparency of our community grant scheme.

Through the targeted work within our place areas, the team continue to promote lifelong learning, skills development, and community empowerment. This includes the development of pockets, places, and prosperity programme. 

The team continues to promote equality, diversity, and inclusion within our communities. We have worked closely with local organisations and community groups to develop and implement initiatives aimed at addressing inequalities and discrimination. This has included organising awareness campaigns and connecting appropriate partners to identify solutions to challenges faced by our communities.

A comprehensive consultation on East Dunbartonshire Council Community Grant Scheme has been undertaken. This supported gathering valuable input and insights from community and third sector organisations, that informed the development of the revised community grant scheme. The revised grant scheme will be transparent, equitable, and accountable.

As part of East Dunbartonshire Councils commitment to humanitarian efforts, the team has actively supported the resettlement of individuals and families seeking refuge in our communities. We continue to work with our partners, including essential services, housing, employability, and education. We have also fostered social integration, ensuring resettled individuals have the necessary support to rebuild their lives and actively participate in community life. The team, through using a community learning and development approach, support the formalising of the community organisation Sunflower Group.

Community Testing/ Vaccination Team

The team are diligently planning and delivering the Covid and Flu vaccination programme. Preparations are in place to deliver accessible clinics across our area, ensuring the protection and well-being of our communities.

Key Achievements / Areas of Focus

Community Protection Service

Environmental Health, Trading Standards and Community Safety Teams

• 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.
• Proactive interventions in a health and safety at work theme commenced.
• Food safety enforcement action against an operator for leaving food open to contamination.
• Follow-up on adverse food and water sampling results as a result of routine sampling undertaken.
• Liaison with local water body and SEPA representatives to assist in blue-green algae toxic bloom.
• EH team involvement in shaping a revised Enteric Disease Questionnaire with NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde.
• Continued delivery of targeted patrols within our local communities aimed at tackling an increase in reports of low-level incivilities (particularly dog fouling and littering).
• Delivery of patrols by our Community Wardens to tackle the problem of youth disorder and antisocial behaviour within our communities, with particular focus currently being within the Hillhead and Bishopbriggs Retail Park areas as well as a number of our primary schools.
• 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.
• Successful re-launch of the Football Friday sessions in both Lennoxtown and Milton of Campsie as well as an additional session now running in Hillhead. Sessions will run until at least September 2023 and over 70 children took part in the sessions during a recent week with numbers continuing to increase. 
• Completion of the Junior Warden programme in Twechar Primary School with 15 Primary 6 & 7 pupils successfully completing the course.
• Official launch of the newly formed ED Trusted Trader Scheme by the Council and local partners - the scheme will be overseen by Trading Standards and aims to increase customer confidence by helping people find reliable traders, promote good practice within local businesses, protect residents from doorstep crime, and help generate business for local companies.
• Delivery of metrological inspection work at petrol filling stations across the district.
• Delivery of local Trading Standards activity as part of a wider coordinated West of Scotland product safety project with a cost-of-living focus.
• Delivery of on-going workplan activity by Trading Standards to maintain local business compliance with legislative requirements relating to tobacco and nicotine vapour products.
• Delivery of targeted activity by the Licensing Advisers to maintain local business compliance with legislative requirements relating to relevant licensing conditions.

Community Planning and Partnership Team

• The team are actively engaged in partnership working to effectively deliver the Child Poverty Plan, collaborating with various organisations and stakeholders to address the complex issues of child poverty in our community.
• Members of the team regularly attend key community anchor organisations to develop new locality plan actions.
• Carried out a well-received consultation on the new community grant scheme. Seventy-three surveys were returned, representing 52 organisations. Twenty-four participants from various stakeholders including community, third sector organisations and organisations representing equality groups. They included paid members of staff, volunteers, trustees and leaders.
• Team members are actively collaborating with our partners to deliver the Community Leaning and Development Plan 2021-24.
• Colleagues in partnership continue to actively provide integration support to individuals and families, ensuring their smooth transition and inclusion into our communities.

Community Testing/ Vaccination Team

• 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 is almost at full numbers in terms of resources available with vacancies for one Roads Technician, one, and two Roads Operatives. The service will continue to try to achieve full capacity going forward, but recruitment continues to be challenging within a very competitive market.

The 2023/24 capital programmes for carriageway, footway resurfacing programme and lighting projects has now commenced with road space booked and work programmed in as per the Roads Resurfacing Programme Technical Note issued at the end of April with the next update scheduled for July. 

The Service is working with an external survey consultant (Gaist) to collect full carriageway and footway condition data. Once collected and analysed the information will be utilised to update the current survey scores and also utilised to inform future work programmes.

Finally, the Service has commenced an internal Review of Roads Operational Policy and the associated procedures with a view to updating the relevant documents. Again, it is envisaged that this exercise will be completed by September.

Roads Technical & Engineering

The Roads Development, Structures, Traffic, Flood Risk and Drainage Teams continue to work on and contribute to 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 is now operating a full capacity following recent staff changes with several newer members of the team familiarising themselves with the Council area.

Streetscene Operations

The three geographical based teams have commenced the spring/summer grounds maintenance programmes including grass cutting operations, Care of Gardens service, play area inspections etc. 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 with the Ash Dieback Survey about to commence and the result will inform what action the Council need to take to address this important issue. The team manages and performs burials in the eight operational cemeteries.

Streetscene Technical Support Team

The team welcomed the newly appointed Allotment Officer as part of the Streetscene Technical Support Team. Vikki Ferguson is a knowledge and experienced officer who will work to develop and increase the allotment and growing capacity for local communities within East Dunbartonshire. 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.

Mugdock Country Park

The team are now working on the spring and summer season. The team are monitoring the recently completed new fencing and planting at the quarry in advance of the usual increased visitors to this location now and throughout the summer months. 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 all programmed carriageway and footway safety inspections.

During the inspections and as a result to public feedback the service identified 321 defects in East Dunbartonshire Council carriageways. We have completed 273 repairs on time (about 85.5%), which complies with council service level agreement and road maintenance policy. This is greatly improved from April 2023 (72% within SLA) and March 2023 (61.9% within SLA).

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

Town	Carriageway Resurfacing February to April 2023	Date Completed
Bearsden	Westbourne Crescent	May 2023
Bearsden	Glenfarg Crescent	May 2023
Bearsden	Monreith Avenue	May 2023
Bearsden,	Tweed Drive	May 2023
Milngavie	Craigdhu Road	May 2023
Milngavie	Glenorchard Road	May 2023
Milngavie	Crossburn Avenue	May 2023
Bishopbriggs	Huntershill Road	May 2023
Bishopbriggs	Springfield Road	May 2023
Torrance	Main Street	May 2023
Torrance	Torrance Road	May 2023
Milton Of Campsie	Lochiel Drive	May 2023

 

Town	Footway Resurfacing February to April 2023	Date Completed
Milngavie	Vivian Ave	April & May 2023

• Street lighting repairs continue, albeit with reduced available resources.
• The tender for external support has now been completed and contract awarded for assistance with street lighting electrical works at times of peak workload, comprising electrician and mobile elevated work platform vehicle.
• 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.

Roads Technical & Engineering Teams -

Traffic

• Officers are assisting with preparations for the World Cycling Championships, part of which will come through Lennoxtown, Torrance, and Bearsden.
• Work has begun on the gateway project for Milton of Campsie.
• The flat-topped speed table in Manse Road, Bearsden has been installed, though there is some snagging to be completed in July, with additional signage and bollards to follow.
• Disabled Persons Parking Places disabled bay advertising is complete and proposals will be sent to committee for approval.
• Clachan of Campsie Temporary TRO is now permanent and will be effective from 21 August.
• Installation of new pedestrian crossings Wester Cleddens and Angus Avenue, Bishopbriggs and Kilsyth Road, Kirkintilloch is complete and these will be switched on when electricians are able to connect the power supply.
• 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. and refreshing faded road markings
• Commenting on various licences i.e., street trader licences, public entertainment licences and occasional licences.
• Dealing with various requests for temporary road closures.
• Procurement process has begun on the traffic signal for the Milton of Campsie Cross junction.

Development

• Attend national and chair local RAUCS meetings. EDC reporting figures continue to be acceptable- EDC and NLC have just completed June Local RAUC Meeting and outstanding matters to be raised and hopefully resolved for next Local RAUCS in September 2023.
• Inspection of utility and infrastructure on sites currently being constructed 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.
• We continue to Raise and Invoice TTL permits Daily for works with in EDC- At end of June EDC will charge out For CAT A,B and C utility inspections/ SRWR Fixed Penalty Notices have been sent to utilities to accept for May 2023
• Coordination of future works, road openings and temporary traffic management permits.
• Attend meeting to discuss future capital housing projects.

Drainage

• Menteith Avenue – replaced 4No gullies and carrier pipes
• Glenorchard Road – excavated and removed blockage in carrier system
• Thorn Road – replaced 2No gullies.

Flooding

• River Glazert Restoration Project, Lennoxtown - Detail design report being finalised. On-going. CAR licence and Planning to commence when report is finalised.
• Kelvin Tributaries River Restoration Project – Draft Statement of Requirements being reviewed and Consultant to be appointed.
• Climate Ready Park – Out to Tender.
• Golf View FAS, Bearsden – JBA report is being examined by Officers. On going.
• John Muir Way – Re-routing of Path at Glazert Water / Weir – Awaiting contractor award and standstill period. Works to commence Mid July.
• Civils works continue to be undertaken by our drainage team and our framework contractor George Leslie at various locations.

Structures

• 2023/24 General and Principal inspections programme commenced and ongoing.
• Review & response to abnormal load requests.
• Capital programme for 2023/24 is underway.
• Mugdock Rd car park, Milngavie, retaining wall coping stones replaced and repairs complete.
• Bearsden Roman Rd Rail Bridge, Bearsden, weak footway protection works complete.
• Retaining wall collapse in Ellangowan car park, Milngavie, now rebuilt including pedestrian guardrail improvements.
• Waltry bridge strike, Antermony Rd, Milton of Campsie. Masonry parapet reconstruction complete.
• Acre Valley bridge, Lennoxtown. Tree removals complete, masonry repair works underway.
• Marina footbridge, Kirkintilloch, graffiti removal and localised repainting complete. Bridge cleaning postponed due to nesting birds, to recommence in June.
• Footbridge replacement at Bute Rd, Kirkintilloch (Merkland Nature Reserve), due to commence in June/July.

Greenspace & Streetscene Teams

Streetscene Operations

• Summer cyclical works ongoing
• Street cleansing and mechanical sweeping; removal of fly posting and uplifting of fly tipping, mechanical street sweeping and installing replacement or additional bins. Includes cleaning of precinct areas.
• Graffiti removal.
• Summer bedding preparation, planting and watering.
• Ongoing cemetery operations, digging and carrying out interments, installing headstone foundations, benches including verti-draining of areas to improve percolation.
• Care of Gardens maintenance ongoing
• Checking and clearance of culverts
• Play park inspection
• Herbicide works in open spaces, including Japanese knotweed treatment.
• Roads herbicide works commenced.
• Education and Leisure Trust pitch maintenance ongoing including goal post removal; School sports marking.
• Housing tidy-ups, on request.
• Responding to Customer Service Requests and complaints.
• Removal of dead animals and excess waste at recycling centres.
• Ongoing recruitment

Streetscene Technical Support

• Contract awarded in relation to the upgrading of the Canal towpath, Kirkintilloch via Scotland Excel framework - works now ongoing with stakeholders.
• Etive Park Play upgrade ongoing.
• Lenzie Moss Path upgrade completed – area now being monitored. 
• Open Space audit work for input into the Grounds Maintenance System ongoing for Milngavie & Bearsden.
• Play Park Accessibility Work Study ongoing.
• Order raised for the EDC Annual Independent Play Inspection for FY23/24 – this to be undertaken in July
• Play park defect repair work completed in advance of above inspection
• Scanning of cemetery ledgers, to import into the Council’s Epilog Cemetery Management System, work ongoing.
• Cemetery Management Rules – internal review now ongoing
• Headstones/Memorials – plan being developed around a robust inspection process.
• Fence Works – multiple sites where works are being undertaken to repair, replace or refurbish a variety of fences across the district.
• Cairnhill Woods community discussions regarding Forest School site and additional planting – arrangements progressing around a wider management plan
• Sports Pitches – summer renovation works being planned and undertaken.
• Sports Pitches Leisure Trust and Education – new contract to commence from early August.
• Annual order placed for maintenance of the roundabout and meadows EDC wide.
• Tantra Bed improvement works ongoing.
• Tree Condition Survey of Southfield Woodland instructed.
• Two carved Log Benches for Merkland LNR ordered.
• KLR and BRR works ongoing; grass cutting operations restarted and monthly litter picks ongoing.
• Team working with City Deal Team and consultants in relation to masterplan of Bishopbriggs Public Park.
• Relaying of setts and paving at Cadder Cemetery ongoing
• 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.
• Community Group support ongoing
• Planning application responses and support to Planning Team ongoing
• Barloch Muir main path upgrade complete
• Slabbing repairs at Manse Road Open Space complete
• Allander Park blocked culvert pipe cleaned and main ditch cleaned out.
• Kilmardinny Loch LNR weed wipe of tree saplings in the emergent vegetation
• Allander Toll, Kelvinbridge; Hunter Road and Crosshill Roundabouts all sown with Pictorial Flower Seed.
• Pictorial meadows sown in Milton of Campsie, Lennoxtown, Bearsden and Milngavie
• Plug planting of wildflowers at Mains Path and Heather Drive Open Space
• Mains Park Playpark repair to gate and fencing complete
• Oakburn Park, Milngavie, tree works complete following tree safety survey to facilitate temporary school accommodation.
• Roman Park, Bearsden – Tree works complete following tree safety survey.
• Tree safety surveys – play areas. Tree works complete: Springfield Road, Bishopbriggs, Campsie Drive, Milngavie, Croft Road, Balmore.
• Ash Dieback Surveys – progressing with a road side survey – will commence mid-July.
• Allotment and Food Growing Officer will commence in June on a two year contract.

Mugdock Country Park

• Events in May –
   
• Mugdock Sensational Safari: Woodland Adventure
• Birds Before Breakfast, Mugdock
• Dawn Chorus, Bearsden
• Guided Walk: Barhill, Croy Hill and the Canal
• Forest School – Bows, Arrows and Target Practice
• Children’s Cinema: Puss in Boots, The Last Wish
   
• What’s On Guide for July to December 2023 is now being circulated with the Park’s Summer Programme, Halloween activities and Christmas Panto, Jack and the Beanstalk.
• Community and Education Groups – In addition to guided walks with Deafblind Scotland, Forest Schools activities took place with schools including Holy Trinity Primary, Mosshead Primary, Westerton Primary, St Convals Primary, Douglas Academy Literacy Group
   
• Projects –
• Quarry fence completed with daily patrols taking place
• Mugdock Castle stonework to be repaired in southwest tower
• Tree planting – fruit trees in Orchard
• BBQ shelters – working with building control to proceed
• Courtyard upgrade continuing with new pebbles, planters and reusing old farm equipment
• External painting ongoing and weather dependent
• Walled Garden design in place and will adopt a phased approach
• Working with Mugdock Trust to develop a maze in the Castle terraces – out to tender for design work
• Reviewing signage to the Park and within the Park
• Wastewater Treatment work is progressing through procurement route
• Increasing gift shop sales through window displays and product selection
   
• Ongoing maintenance work includes repairing boardwalks and paths, grass cutting, strimming, tree works, dealing with fly tipping (asbestos), herbiciding, bin emptying, cleaning tasks, drainage issues
• Land Management tasks have taken place with input from regular volunteering groups including –
   
• Work on Mugdock Wood SSSI (Site of Special Scientific Interest) path/boardwalk repairs
• Mugdock Loch wetland – replacing rotted straining posts
• Mugdock Castle area – repair tree guards and tend to young trees
• Mugdock Castle orchard – remove tree guards from mature native trees
• Mugdock Castle grounds – repair fenceline around woodland near chapel
• Mugdock Castle crag – thin out weed sycamore from chapel woodland
• Gallowhill, Craigend field – check and repair mesh tree guar
• Wildlife Garden – clean and paint preservative on boardwalk
• Craigend Pond – stock up brushwood fence on west side
• Burma Road – whack bracken and maintain tree guards
• Working with partner organisations – Ranger project with Scottish Water is underway and will run until October 2023. It will involve Rangers patrolling the Milngavie Reservoir site and being based at the Park. A management fee to Mugdock is SW’s contribution
• Resurfacing Drumclog car park following the work to Burncrook pipeline is still to be carried out