How Good is Our Service - November 2023

Monthly Performance Report

On this page you will find information on:

• Assets and Facilities
• Community Services
• Customer Services & Organisational Development
• East Dunbartonshire Leisure and Culture Trust
• Education
• Finance & Digital Services
• Health and Social Care Partnership
• Land Planning and Development
• Legal and Regulatory Services
• Roads and Neighbourhood Services

Assets and Facilities

Overview of Progress

Property Maintenance

Voids performance has increased in November to 92.3% from 86.1% in October, exceeding 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 November with 523 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.

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 currently paused, however some roles are  fully recruited and the remaining vacant positions are predominately cleaning posts

A revised school lunch menu was implemented at the start of the new term in August and feedback will be requested to shape future menu changes.  Action plans continue to be reviewed and recommendations implemented to improve uptake in lower performing schools.

The uptake of free school meals in Primary schools for the month of November was below target and we continue to focus on schools not achieving the set target.  The target for free school meals was achieved in Secondary 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 has robust measures in place to monitor performance with regards gas safety compliance across the Operational Estate.  A total of 12 schools have now had their gas boilers upgraded over the past 6 months which has delivered more efficient heating systems.

Officers continue to progress reactive repairs across the Education and Operational Estate, with over 150-200 repairs processed on average every month through Property Maintenance or our external contractors.  All internal and external defibrillators have now been installed across the educational estate as well as within specific operational properties.  18 external defibrillators have also been installed across the corporate estate, with these now registered on the national ‘Circuit’ and accessible to the general public.

The Quality Assurance team continue to inspect 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, with vacant suites in Southbank Marina and the Kirkintilloch Learning Centre 2 (following the Council services relocating to Southbank House and Southbank Marina Block 1) due to be marketed for lease in early course. 

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.

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 now anticipated by mid-December 2023) and construction continues to progress well at Lennoxtown High Park (est. completion April 2024).

Good progress continues to be made through the pre-construction phase of the Westerhill Development Road, funded via the City Deal programme.  Site investigation surveys concluded in mid-November and the findings of these will inform the next stage of the design process, including the selection of a preferred route for the project which is subject to Council approval in December 2023.

Planning applications have now been submitted for projects at Balmuildy, Milngavie and Bearsden Primary Schools, including for decant applications at Oakburn and Bearsden Academy.  The planning application for Twechar Outdoor Pursuits Centre has also been submitted.  Decisions for each are now expected via Planning Board in January 2024.  A series of public engagement events has taken place in Westerton to support the on-going feasibility review into the replacement of Westerton Primary school with a modern, new-build alternative and a summary report of findings has been submitted to Council in December 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 2.  A report will be presented for Council before the end of financial year 2023/24.

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 are a wide range of projects across the operational estate.

The Service continues to develop the next phase of a building 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.

Health & Safety

The Health and Safety team provides a range of occupational safety and health services, including advice on statutory guidance, compliance in planning, Construction, Design and Management, safe working and training, incident logging, reporting and investigation, including RIDDOR.

In November, the H&S Team focused on participation in 3rd Tier H&S meetings supporting Service Managers and Trade union colleagues in preparation for 1st Quarter 2nd Tier H&S Committee meetings.

The team continues to update management system procedures with SP01 Accident and Incident Reporting Procedures now approved after consultation with Trade Union colleagues, the development of joint workplace site inspection forms for education and depot visits and first aid procedures.

The Health and Safety team offered guidance, assistance, and assessments for different sectors including Waste, in light of the recent modifications concerning Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs), by establishing a safe system of work. They also provided support to schools regarding Building Managers working at height, supported Audit and Risk team with insurance claims, and conducted site inspections for the Archives unit. Additionally, the team had the opportunity to participate in the Health and Safety Matters Live event, where they gained valuable industry insights and learned about the most up-to-date best practices. Moreover, they assisted the Traffic & Transport team in reviewing the Birdston coup path.

The team has been actively involved in reviewing and providing support for various Construction, Design and Management (CDM) aspects related to council capital projects, refurbishment and maintenance, as well as repair works. They have conducted thorough reviews of CDM documentation and carried out site inspections for multiple locations including Kirkintilloch Health Centre, Southbank Marina, Mavis Valley Recycling (specifically for its new welfare unit), Cadder, Campsie, and Auld Aisle cemeteries. Additionally, they have also assessed operational and non-operational sites such as Mains Park footpath upgrade, the Fraser Centre, Bencloich Road, School Lane, and High Park in Lennoxtown. The team has also been involved in the refurbishment works of various primary schools including Mosshead PS, Baldernock PS, Westerton PS, Holy Trinity PS, and Craighead PS, among others. Notably, the team has also extended their expertise to EDLCT sites, including Kilmardinny House and Kirkintilloch Leisure Centre. Their primary focus is to ensure the safe completion of all projects by collaborating closely with services and external contractors. Furthermore, council Health and Safety officers have actively engaged with Principal Designers to investigate incidents and discuss best practices. 

The team worked closely with Property Maintenance giving support and advice on Gas Management and Legionella and completed Work in Progress audits for our domestic gas engineers

In November, the team conducted extensive health and safety training for different departments within the organisation. They focused on creating new Toolbox Talks, including topics such as "Working with colleagues with disabilities" and the implementation of Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs). Additionally, they provided AED training for Facilities Management Leads and the EDLCT operations managers, conducted Roads & Street lighting induction training, and offered Building Manager training for Bishopbriggs Academy.

During this month, Occupational Health has been conducting noise assessments to evaluate the hearing abilities of each employee in the workplace. They have also been conducting workplace individual assessments and, in collaboration with Human Resources, performing risk assessments for employees returning after a period of absence and updating risk assessments after a diagnosis of Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS). The team maintains regular communication with Human Resources to address inquiries and provide guidance for specific cases. Additionally, a new training session was developed and delivered to Roads employees, focusing on the proper usage of R-link HAVS watches and the creation of HAVS forms for justice services.

In November, fire safety measures were implemented as part of our ongoing efforts to ensure the safety of all individuals entering and using our buildings. These measures included managing the schedule and records for fire risk assessments, conducting assessments according to the established program, and providing assistance to Duty Holders, Building Managers, and Facilities Officers regarding fire risk assessments and general fire safety guidance. Additionally, the team conducted a live demonstration of sprinkler tests at Woodland View and Lairdsland PS for the reference of building managers. They also developed a Fire Safety Management Plan for future compartmentation work at John Street House and completed emergency evacuation plans for operational sites requiring it. Site visits and surveys were conducted at the Allander Leisure Centre Phase 2 and Rosebank Allotments site to determine fire safety requirements and assess the need for fire safety equipment.

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 92.3% of 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 void turnaround times with a view to maintaining and exceeding 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 December and January with contractors.
• Improve uptake of nutritious school meals.
• Improve communications with customers and stakeholders to ensure the highest level of service delivery.
• Reduce FM overtime.
• Continue to promote reporting of health and safety incidents throughout the council and programme health and safety inspections of council workplaces.

Community Services

Overview of Progress

Community Protection Service

Environmental Health, Trading Standards and Community Safety Teams

The Community Protection Service delivers on a broad statutory remit, with delivery measures centred on protecting public health and safety, well-being and consumer protection. During the course of November 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 for new developments and Licensing for a number of Christmas events.  The team have been following up on adverse food sampling results from routine monitoring and have had to conduct some out of hours work owing to environmental nuisance complaints.

The Trading Standards Team was engaged in the delivery of essential consumer protection and licensing services to local consumers and businesses to maintain and protect a fair-trading environment in East Dunbartonshire. Activity in November included on-going work to promote the East Dunbartonshire Trusted Trader Scheme, with focus being placed upon local business participation. Storage and sales of fireworks featured heavily in our November action plan, with storage inspections carried out alongside monitoring of quantity and hours of sale restrictions.  Officers led on scam awareness activities across the area with the “scam van” and incorporated this into the festive safety campaign.  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 continue to deliver the resettlement agenda, supporting individuals and families to successful integration and empowerment of displaced individuals, by providing a tailored case management approach.

Using a community learning and development approach, the team continue to connect, engage, and involve communities in decision-making processes, particularly those affected by inequalities, to ensure their voices are heard and needs met.

Through the Community Learning and Development Partnership then the team and EDVA colleagues ran the Funder Fayre on 18 November, which was held at New College Lanarkshire. There were 10 funding organisations hosting market stalls and a choice of 6 workshops being provided twice over the course of the event. 96 community representatives attended. The initial verbal feedback advised the event was really well received; enjoyable; informative; with individuals advising they would like to see similar hosted again. The team are writing to all participants, facilitators and stall holders for formal evaluation and an impact report will be presented to the CLD Strategic Partnership and the Grants Advisory Committee early next year.

Through the targeted work within our Locality areas, the team continue to promote lifelong learning, skills development, and community empowerment.  This includes the delivery of Pockets, Places, and Prosperity programme within our Locality areas.

The team remain steadfast in promoting equality, diversity and inclusion and actively collaborating with local organisations to plan and deliver initiatives targeting discrimination.

The team have been working diligently to ensure the smooth delivery of the vaccination programmes to our community.  With the experience gained from previous winter programmes, we have developed comprehensive plans to ensure the safe and efficient delivery of the winter vaccination programme. Across November and December then Merkland Primary School is being used alongside Milngavie Town Hall for vaccination roll out, 2 days per week at each site.   Our focus remains on protecting the health and wellbeing of our communities during this critical time.

Housing Operations and Estates Homelessness and Prevention Team

The Housing Service manages 3,830 social rented properties; 3772 of these are mainstream accommodation and 58 are used for Homeless Temporary Accommodation.  The service also manages 63 Lead Tenancies which are rented from either private landlords (42) or Housing Associations (21), to assist with accommodating homeless households.

At present, the Housing list for East Dunbartonshire has 2,506 applications - made up of the following:

General Waiting list 1803 applicants waiting (32 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  469 applicants (20 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   224 applicants (21 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   16 applicants (2 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, 13 properties have been let or re-let; 9 mainstream, 1 HRH-HRA (temp accommodation turned to mainstream) and 3 buybacks

11 were general need properties and 2 were sheltered.

They were let to the following queues:

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

Key Achievements and  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.
• Delivery of work at Christmas fayres and markets to ensure compliance with environmental health regulations.
• Delivery of programmed vehicle idling patrols across the school estate in East Dunbartonshire. In addition, with the change in weather, the service has seen an increase in vehicle idling complaints in which Officer’s from East Dunbartonshire respond to.
• Service of a Remedial Action Notice upon a local takeaway which resulted in the closure of the business due to lack of hygiene controls. The business was closed for a short period of time and was allowed to re-open following checks from Officers to ensure that robust controls had been established.
• The “Matron” device which is an indoor noise monitoring equipment that provides continuous noise recording was installed for an ongoing complaint regarding air conditioning noise from buses using a bus stop as a terminus in Milngavie. The collected data showed the noise to be intrusive and next steps are being discussed along with the legal department to seek compliance from the alleged author of the nuisance.
• The service was represented at the Society of Chief Officers of Environmental Health Annual Congress which contained discussions on the current challenges within Environmental Health.
• 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).  We have also carried out a number of joint dog fouling patrols in Lennox Forrest working with colleagues from Forestry and Land Scotland.
• Delivery of the Junior Warden Scheme at Holy Family Primary School with 61 Primary 6 and 7 pupils successfully completing the programme. The Scheme promotes good citizenship, with the achievements of the children being recognised through the Dynamic Youth Awards Programme. 
• 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.
• Local surgeries have now commenced in the Bishopbriggs area.  These surgeries will provide residents and members of the public the opportunity to speak directly (in confidence) with members of the Community Safety Team to report concerns, issues that they may be experiencing in their communities.  It is proposed that other areas will also be added over time.  We have also been attending a number of community run events including ‘Bite and a Blether’, the Lennoxtown Youth Project, and are also due to commence regular attendance at the Bield Sheltered Housing in Milngavie.
• Assisted colleagues in Traffic & Transport and Police Scotland with the delivery of the Traffic Free School pilot which commenced in a number of our primary schools in November.   
• 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 routine Trading Standards and Licensing inspection and project work.
• Ongoing prevention work with telephone call blocking project for vulnerable residents, stopping scam telephone calls and preventing residents from financial harm.
• Promotion of the East Dunbartonshire Trusted Trader scheme through social media channels and Police Scotland, aimed at attracting further local traders to join the scheme.
• Delivery of firework safety compliance work across the local authority area.
• Delivery of targeted activity by the Licensing Advisers to maintain local business compliance with legislative requirements relating to relevant licensing conditions.

Community Planning and Partnerships Team

• Managing the corporate equalities agenda with newly recruited resource of Equalities Officer to ensure compliance with legislative requirements.
• Continuation of support to community groups and organisations through the planned Funder Ready Workshops and Funder Fayre in November 2023, to build their capacity and ensure they are able to take advantage of all funding opportunities available for them.
• The team are actively engaged in collaboration with stakeholders and partners to deliver priorities of our Locality area communities.
• November saw the launch of Round 2 in line with the Funder Fayre which was well attended by 96 individuals represented.
• Promotion of the Winter Connections Programme with the assessment panel meeting weekly to assess applications and award as appropriate of up to £1,500.
• Delivery of Pockets, Places and Prosperity programmes in Auchinairn, Hillhead and Harestanes.

• In collaboration with children and young people integrating into our communities, planned an engaging, interactive focus session to ensure the voice of “new scots” children and young people voices are heard.
• Continue to support Empowered to create an interactive and engaging 16 Days of Action campaign to raise awareness of domestic abuse, enabling increased understanding of how to report and where individuals can access support.
• Focused on developing lived experience forum using human approach.
• The vaccination venue of Merkland School in Kirkintilloch is operating well. Milngavie Town Hall also continues to be used for vaccination programmes.
• Working with NHS GGC Board, on the planning and arrangements to deliver the winter vaccination programme which offers COVID booster and Flu to eligible individuals.

Housing Operations & Estates Team

Key Achievement

• 3 new anti-social cases received.
• 2 open anti-social cases resolved.
• 9 nominations sent to Registered Social Landlords to be considered for allocation to their stock.
• Percentage of tenancy sustainment was 100%.
• Void rent loss has decreased, joint working with the void and rewire/asbestos teams continues.
• Percentage of tenancies refused was 25%. This is a decrease from 39% in October.
• 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.
• Monthly attendance at MARAC meeting with other agencies.

Areas of focus

• Involvement by internal audit into the management of housing dampness and mould ongoing throughout 2023.
• Identify training needs and hold quarterly sessions for reviewing policies and procedures with teams.
• Involvement in ASP (Adult Protection) Inspection.
• Part of Scrutineers Meeting this month and delivered presentation on Tenant’s Charter.

Homelessness & Prevention Team

Key Achievements

• Homeless numbers continue to increase; 27 Homeless applications taken (increase from last month). 1 had no local connection (previous address Argyle and Bute).
• Demand for temporary accommodation high (11 applicants on waiting list)
• 17 out of hours calls were taken this month.
• Homeless Hardship Fund; 1 awards were given this month (£497.06 spend). 
• Application to cash of kids (£25 per child in temporary accommodation) pending
• Christmas baskets delivered to households in interim accommodation (including farm foods voucher)
• The Homelessness Team planning the operation of an emergency only service from 22 December until 8 January - Christmas out of hours rota agreed to ensure 24/7 service over festive season.

Customer Services & Organisational Development

Overview of Progress

Communications & Engagement

Key areas of focus in November for the Communications & Engagement Team included Remembrance Sunday, content migration to the new Council website and supporting EDLC’s Christmas show at Kilmardinny House.

Media relations activity increased this month with 19 media releases issued (10 in October), 6 photocalls (three in October) and 13 media enquiries (same figure as October) received over the month.

All releases are on the Council website news section and the local coverage achieved equated to an equivalent advertising value of £11,628 (£7.3 in October).

Social media posts continued to generate good interaction across a range of themes while we continued to grow our followers on all four channels. The top three posts on Facebook for engagement in November were the Household Support Payment, Traffic Free Schools pilot and funding for a new Lenzie Academy.

Top three Twitter posts also included Traffic Free Schools and Lenzie Academy, as well as the results of the Kirkintilloch BID vote.

The most watched video on YouTube and Facebook was on Local Place Plans and informing residents of how they can get involved.

Corporate Performance

In November 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

The Customer Services team continued to deliver customer services across all channels in November. Another challenging month with departures from and absences in the team saw call response times again pressured. The average response for the month was just over five minutes. New recruits who have undergone training are now ready to respond to calls with support from colleagues and December improvements are anticipated.  Whilst new Agents have been recruited and are in training, vacancies remain across the team which will impact overall response and response across other channels. In the 24/7 ERC, preparation for the migration from analogue to digital phone lines continues, including significant data cleansing. The temporary closure of Bearsden Hub has not impacted face to face appointment demands, including registration appointments, in the remaining Hubs, which continue to be met.

Human Resources & Organisational Development

In November, the team has continued to provide support for employees and managers on HR policy and guidance notes, with support in attendance on Employee Relations case work. Payroll has processed the payruns within timescales and completed statutory reports and preparation for the SPPA annual pension return. In addition to delivering training sessions this month, People Development again continued to support the Council’s Moodle e-learning platform including configuration of programs/courses, dynamic rules, system testing, user configuration & reporting. The Job Evaluation team has worked with services to carry out a number of JE interviews and reviews of role profiles throughout the month. 

Key Achievements / Areas of Focus

Communications & Engagement

• Delivered communications for Remembrance Sunday including organisation of official event and co-ordination of others across East Dunbartonshire, press release, social media, website update and attendance at official event.
• Supported the launch of the Traffic Free School pilot with design of permits and banners, a photocall, press release, webpage and online FAQs and social media.
• Promoted the Household Support payment with online form, webpage, press release and social media.
• Promotion of various EDLC events including events at the Auld Kirk and Lillie, Book Week Scotland, and Murder Mystery Night.
• Delivered a marketing campaign to promote A Christmas Carol at Kilmardinny house including photocall, press release, posters, social media and online ads.
• Began the manual content migration to the new Corporate website including creating a new style guide, implementing a new site map and creation of hundreds of pages.

Corporate Performance

• Analysis of East Dunbartonshire Budget Survey 2023
• Data support provided to the ongoing inspection of Adult Social Work services
• Continued assistance provided to the change team in relation to the rollout of Fusion
• Work progressed with legal services and the Information management team to ensure privacy statements for data support in relation to social work data support are fit for purpose
• Work progressed with GIS team to develop an enhanced interactive small area stats map

Customer Services

• Training for new agents and refresher training for existing agents continues to ensure the team have the required knowledge to appropriately respond to all customer enquiries
• Preparation Work for the ERC team continues for the new shared digital call handling platform for telecare community alarms.
• User testing continues for the new Netcall CRM system
• Tender evaluation for the replacement public space CCTV system nears completion which will provide greatly improved CCTV monitoring functionality

Human Resources & Organisational Development

• Continued engagement with the Trade Unions on strategic and operation HR initiatives.
• Continued support for employees and managers on HR policy based and guidance noted, with support in attendance on ER case work.
• Following settlement of the Local Government Workers Pay Award, preparatory work undertaken to allow for implementation.
• The People Development team delivered 16 sessions across topics including SMART Working, Health and Safety & Leadership topics. In total 135 delegates received training.
• Small Tools training design for Criminal Justice
• ACCA Reaccreditation as Approved Employer.
• Continued facilitation of regulatory training for frontline services via approved providers
• Research and review of Workforce Strategy and associated organisational plans in advance of next iteration going to Council in December 2023
• Working with Oracle Project to support the planned roll out of training to users of the new system.
• Working with services, undertaken a series of Job Evaluation interviews and review of role profiles.

East Dunbartonshire Leisure and Culture Trust

Overview of Progress

Leisure Centres                                Period 8

Target:                                                 78,353 
Actual:                                                 85,435            

Details	Actual	Allander	Kirkintilloch	Leisuredrome
Wetside	28,872	13,307	6,302	9,263
Dryside	56,563	23,346	16,150	18,933
Total	85,435	36,653	22,452	26,330

Libraries

For period 8 there were 25,197 visits in person and digital usage was 49,105 totalling 74,302.  This represents 109% of the overall target for the period.

Details	Actual	Target	Actual as % of target
Physical	25,197	23,914	105%
Digital	49,105	43,939	112%
Total	74,302	67,853	109%

Physical visits have recovered with a busy Book Week Scotland and extended opening hours at Westerton Library compensating for the ongoing closure of Bearsden Library during RAAC exploration and repair works. There has been a 111% increase in Westerton footfall compared to P8 last year; and a 24% increase in Milngavie footfall compared with the same period last year.

There have also been temporary service restrictions as the libraries have been upgraded to new internet access infrastructure.

As has been the pattern throughout the year, digital usage continues to exceed targets, despite the increase in footfall, demonstrating an overall increase in library services.

Museums

For period 8 there were 1,674 visits in person and digital usage was 3,846 totalling 5,520.  This represents 135% of the overall target for the period.

Details	Actual	Target	Actual as % of target
Physical	1,674	1,274	131%
Digital	3,864	2,827	136%
Total	5,520	4,101	135%

Sports Development

Term time class membership dropped slightly (by 21) this month to 2,942 members.  This is largely related to the movement through swimming levels with some children leaving creating spaces for others to move up.  A new intake will take place for classes beginning again after the Christmas break.

Key Achievements / Areas of Focus

Leisure Centres

KLC – KLC hosted the Kirkintilloch & Kilsyth Amateur Swimming Club’s annual Championships with over 80 swimmers competing. On the same day Springburn Harriers held one of their regular running events outside the centre in Woodhead Park with similar numbers attending.

LD - The Leisuredrome provided the main pool and pool gallery for Scotia Amateur Swimming Club – club championship on Monday 13 and 20 November with over 80 swimmers taking part.  The event was heralded a great success and for competitors of all age ranges.

Happy Days Nursery used the main lobby to hold a bake sale for members of the public as a fundraiser for the tiny tots who use the facility.

Museums

• Period 8 saw the opening of Christmas selling exhibitions at the Auld Kirk Museum & Lillie Art Gallery. 150 visitors attended the opening at the Lillie Art Gallery, which also offered a sellout puppet show for families.
• The arts programme saw 153 attendees to this popular programme, delivered across cultural venues.
• Digital engagement in period 8 saw 926 views of the collections on flickr  and 1,520 searches of the online collections catalogue.

Libraries

• Book Week Scotland delivered a full programme of activities across branches and in community venues, including; outreach visits to primary schools, class visits to libraries, participation in Halloween storytelling at Hillhead Primary, author events on board a barge on the canal.
• The Children & Families team took part in Pathways Through Play - a collaborative project with Scottish Book Trust (SBT) involving playworkers from PlayTalkRead going out to two East Dunbartonshire nurseries to encourage play based around the books in the SBT Bookbug nursery bags, gifted to all 3yr olds.
• Audiobook walks have resumed and have proved popular at Milngavie Library, with the programme being extending over the festive period due to user demand. The group listened to “The Polish Girl” by Malka Adler coinciding with Remembrance Day.
• As part of the Wellbeing programme, the “Library Lamps” are back out for the winter period. This initiative, unique to East Dunbartonshire, loans daylight lamps to help counteract Seasonal Affected Disorder (SAD). The service has set up a partnership with Glasgow University's Living With SAD research group who will provide additional resources to libraries with the intention of applying for funding to pilot lamps for loan. 

Sports Development

The Scottish Schools Swimming East Dunbartonshire heats were held earlier this month at the Leisuredrome with almost 100 swimmers taking part from local schools.  The annual event was organised by Swimming Development and supported by Active Schools and our valued volunteers from local swimming clubs.

The android tablets are finally being used for registers across all sports and swimming lesson achievements.  There are still some issues relating to contact information not being available, however it doesn’t look like this can be resolved until we move on to the new web based system next year.

Education

Overview of Progress

The Service made very good progress against priorities in the Business Improvement Plan (BIP) 2023-2026. Key achievements included collaboration between the ASN Quality Improvement Team and Policy Planners to gather the views of children and young people about what matters most to them in relation to where they live to create a participation statement for the The Local Development Plan (LDP). This forms part of the Council’s Vision in the Local Outcomes Improvement Plan (LOIP). A key area of focus will be for representatives from the pupil forum to share this work in schools.

Early Years and Supporting Families

• The Early Years and Supporting Families Quality Improvement Team led a Quality Improvement Review of Cleddens Early Years Centre.  A Head of Centre also participated in this process. This collaborative approach enabled the early years centre and the local authority to identify key strengths and plan future areas of focus for improvement.
• Language and Communication Friendly Environments: two sessions were delivered to local authority and partnership early years centres by the Educational Psychology Service (EPS), Quality Improvement Officers and Speech and Language Therapy Service. Evaluations demonstrated increased knowledge about communication with very young children aged 0 to 5. Participants carried out a practitioner enquiry in relation to improving the language and communication within their centres.
• Family Learning: The joint Scottish Booktrust and Pathways (SBP) Play pilot was completed, involving Auchinairn, Hillhead and Lennoxtown Early Years Centres. Parents participated in reading workshops based on Book Bug Explorer Bags. Evaluations were very positive. Almost all parents reported increased confidence about their child’s language development. All practitioners strongly agreed that the sessions were a good example of partnership working, high quality activities and good practice. 
• 63 families are currently being supported through 1:1 family support interventions, with 28 new requests for assistance received. 8 parents accessed the Fear-Less 6-week parenting programme. 10 parents have been supported by EYC Family Champions with light touch interventions on promoting positive behaviour and routines at home.
• The Families Together Seminar brought multi agencies together to share practice. This included Youth Development Workers and Family Learning Assistants delivering sessions on the Food, Health and Affordability Project. Speakers from Active Schools, the Community Learning Development Team and Zero Waste Scotland shared information about their services and how they can support families. The session was attended by over 40 teachers and practitioners and was highly evaluated. Schools and centres will integrate this to enhance family learning approaches and signposting.
• 40 practitioners attended the second seasonal related session in Mugdock Country Park led by Park Rangers. The focus was risk assessing the outdoor environment with children and winter crafts in nature. This will improve outdoor learning experiences in ELC.

All Schools

• The Secondary Quality Improvement Team led a Quality Improvement Review of Lenzie Academy. Senior leaders from five other secondary schools participated in the process. This collaborative approach enabled the school and the local authority to identify key strengths, celebrate good practice that can shared across the authority and plan future areas of focus for improvement.
• Attainment visits took place in all secondary schools. These focused on improving literacy and numeracy qualifications; the impact of attainment factors; curriculum planning; and next steps for improving the attainment and achievement.
• The Primary Quality Improvement Team carried out quality assurance attainment visits in all schools to review monitoring and tracking data. A key area of focus will be to support all schools to set their own stretch aims for attainment and wellbeing by 2025/26.
• The Traffic-Free Schools pilot scheme was launched to improve child and pedestrian safety. Traffic-Free Schools is an initiative where driving is prohibited on sections of road immediately outside the entrance to schools for a short period of time at the start and end of the school day. Three locations have been selected for the pilot: Clober Primary, Craighead Primary and the shared St Matthew’s and Wester Cleddens Primary site.
• My Voice My Choice: pupil representatives from almost all schools attended the most recent pupil forum sessions to consider the impact of the Child Poverty within the context of Children’s Rights. The Child Poverty Action Group delivered engaging sessions on the Cost of the School Day, using fictional case studies to further explore the impact of child poverty and what this may entail for those attending school, and how some simple measures can be implemented to ensure all children and young people can be supported to fully engage in school life. Sessions were highly evaluated by all participants. A key area of focus will be to continue to ensure that all children and young people are poverty aware.
• The ASN and Children’s Services Quality Improvement Team worked with colleagues from other local authorities within the West Partnership and Education Scotland to develop  Keeping the Promise Award (KTPA), supported by resources and guidance https://education.gov.scot/resources/keeping-the-promise-award-programme/
• 173 young people from 7 schools completed Level 2 of the Bikeability programme. 8 members of staff completed Cycle Ride leader training allowing them to take young people out on led rides around the authority.
• Westerton Primary School achieved Bronze Rights Respecting School award.
• Woodland View School hosted a successful music festival, inviting children, young people and families to participate in drumming, singing and percussion across a number of classes. The event included an afternoon concert with Abercorn Secondary and their music group. Secondary learners attended the concert and were entertained by a range of performances from both schools.

Educational Psychology Service (EPS)

• Primary Nurture: evaluations from 2022/23 demonstrated statistically significant gains in children’s social and emotional functioning across 13 targeted primary schools. Children also reported more positively about their wellbeing following the intervention. Importantly, follow up from the previous year’s cohort revealed that the gains made for core Nurture Group children in 2021/22 were sustained and the children continue to make progress. 
• Family engagement with Nurture has grown significantly with 48 families of Core Nurture Group pupils accessing regular support and interactions with the Family Learning Assistants (FLAs). All core Nurture Schools demonstrated substantial efforts in progressing their whole school Nurture capacity and outside of Core Nurture; almost 800 additional wellbeing interventions were documented across the 13 schools and FLAs provided support to an additional 187 targeted families.
• The support for professional development for Early Years practitioners was highly evaluated with great examples of Nurture in action across establishments. 
• Secondary Wellbeing Teachers highly valued the opportunities to reconnect as a community and share practice. Consultation with young people demonstrated that this support is hugely important to the young people. They reported positive impacts from the interventions and saw the Wellbeing Teachers as people who help and listen.
• Non-Violent Resistance (NVR): 43 participants from education, health and social work teams were trained in Levels 1 and 2 of the NVR programme. Evaluations from both levels of training demonstrated that participants felt able to use aspects of NVR in their day-to-day practice, with examples.

Skills for Life, Learning and Work

• An HMI Community Learning and Development (CLD) Inspection took place in November. Inspectors met with learners, community organisations, partners and staff. Feedback from the inspection was very positive on the impact of provision on learners and communities. A full report will be published by Education Scotland in December and shared with elected members in due course.
• Elections for Members of the Scottish Youth Parliament were held in November with good levels of voting taking place across East Dunbartonshire. Unfortunately, with only 2 secondary schools left to vote the Scottish Youth Parliament had to stop the vote across the whole of Scotland due to technical difficulties with the online voting platform which is provided by YoungScot. Discussions are ongoing nationally on how best to complete the election.

School Planning and Improvement

• The Council welcomed confirmation that Lenzie Academy is to receive Scottish Government funding for a new build school. The Council bid successfully for phase 3 of the Scottish Government's Learning Estate Investment Programme (LEIP) funding. Work will now begin to develop a project plan and timeline to deliver this new learning facility in Lenzie, with a target completion date to open to pupils no later than December 2027.
• Progress continues with the project team for the planning and design of Balmuildy Primary. Workshops have been held with the school and design team to review and finalise plans for the design.
• There were two consultation events (October and November 2023) for the new build Westerton Primary project.  These were hosted by the design team with Education attending to support. Queries and questions were answered on the day to members of the community.
• Continued planning and designing of the refurbishments and decant of Bearsden and Milngavie primary schools still progressing with the design team. Future meetings with stakeholders will be held in the new year.
• Primary 1 registrations and transfer from Primary 1 to S1 was open for the month of November. A key area of focus will be to analyse data and support schools with workforce planning for next session

Finance & Digital Services

                                                                                                  

Overview of Progress

Finance

The month of November saw the Finance Team progressing work on systems working towards the Oracle Fusion General Ledger replacement.  Work is continuing on the budget process for 2024/25, alongside monitoring of the current position.

The Council continues to deliver against an ambitious capital programme supported largely by borrowing.  Treasury Management Report continues to highlight the increasing revenue costs associated with the current programme with ongoing affordability being challenged within a tight funding settlement.  Future Reports to Council will continue to provide updates on the programme the associated costs and any mitigations required.

Internal Audit

Internal Audit has been focussing on progressing the 2023/24 audit plan, with audits for the Council and the HSCP underway.  Recently completed audits include M365 consultancy and Reserves Management.  Work nearing completion includes Self Directed Support – Transitions, School Transport and M365 Project. 

The team has also attended sessions on Data Analytics supported by the Institute of Internal Auditors and hosted by Glasgow City Council and the team are considering how best to embed the use of Data Analytics in the team’s working practices where this would be beneficial in terms of audit outcomes.

Corporate Fraud

The Corporate Fraud Team has been focusing on the investigation of referrals received and proactive 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. 

The school registration applications opened in November 2023, as expected this has resulted in an increase in the number of referrals received and applications requiring vetting.  The team continue to work in conjunction with Shared Services to identify potentially fraudulent applications.      

Work has continued on the National Fraud Initiative (NFI) data matches, which were released in early 2023, with this work nearing completion.    The team have now also received further 1,351 data matches from the Cabinet Office, who administer the NFI exercise.  These further matches have occurred as a result of the matching of HMRC records against Council Tax and Housing records.  This is the first time that this data match has been performed and given the large number of matches it is anticipated that work on these additional matches will be completed around Autumn 2024. 

Testing of the new Customer Management System has been finalised from a Corporate Fraud perspective and the system appears to be working as expected. 

The team is pursing the development of in-house anti-fraud and bribery training materials.  Two other Councils have shared their Counter Fraud training materials and these will be utilised as a starting point.

Revenues & Benefits

The Revenues and Benefits team have continued to progress Council Tax and Benefits services and administration of the Scottish Welfare Fund.  The team continues to develop the new Document Management System to improve the efficiency of the system.  The team continues to encourage customers to apply for online accounts for the new system which enables customers to apply for all Council Tax exemptions, discounts and housing benefits.  The application form for Household Support Payment went live and the team has been processing these as they come in.

The Council Tax Collection Rate at 74.27% is marginally behind expectations (74.60%) at this point in the year with an increase noted in arrangements to repay arrears over several months.  Collection rates continue to be closely monitored with the Council’s Recovery and Enforcement Procedures being applied and individuals being signposted to the exemptions and discounts available as appropriate.

Shared Services

The Shared Services Team continues to provide support across all Council services.   The Education Team have started processing school registration applications for academic year 2024/25 which opened on November 1st.  The Social Work Team started uploading files for the Adult Support & Protection (ASP) Inspection. The Homecare Team continue to support a new initiative from the Planning & Commissioning Team processing variations in addition to their normal workload.

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 over 1,800 tickets in November and dealt with almost 500 telephone calls.  ICT continues to support the migration of services to Microsoft 365 (M365) in partnership with the Business and Digital Change Team.  The ICT Security team continues to monitor the estate and perimeter defences alongside ongoing improvements to ensure that our systems and data are protected.

Housing Rent and Tenant Participation

Housing Operations

Housing Operations, Rents continues to prioritise the maximisation of rental income and assist and support tenants who are engaging and may be struggling to meet their rent liability.  Pre-tenancy contact with applicants who have recently accepted an offer remains a successful resource in preparing payment plans and rent affordability before tenancy sign up.  The Rents Team commitment to reducing active rent arrears has seen a decrease of £159,757 on same period as last year (week 35).

Tenant Participation

Direct ongoing support is being provided to active Tenants and Residents Associations.

Business & Digital Change Team

During November, the Business & Digital Change Team have continued to support services across the Council in the delivery of key strategic digital development 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, standardised, value for money and secure.

Key Achievements / Areas of Focus

Finance

• The Oracle Fusion General Ledger system replacement is continuing to be progressed, with Workstream Leads across Finance and Corporate Procurement liaising with the external implementation partners who are supporting the project.  The go-live date has been extended to Feb 2024.
• Review of Period 6 actuals against budget and preparation of associated report for committee in December.
• 2024/25 budget preparation for General Revenue and for Housing, HRA and General Services Capital.
• Preparation of Treasury Management Mid Term Report.
• The team continues to respond to external audit queries on the Council and Mugdock accounts as the external auditors continue their work. 
• Work has started on two of our major external returns, the Local Financial Returns for the Scottish Government and the Whole of Government Accounts for the UK Government.
• Staff development is a key focus and given a challenging external recruitment market, the service is aiming to upskill existing staff where possible.  The Council has successfully renewed its position as an ACCA accredited employer.
• The Treasury team continues 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.

Internal Audit

• The team continues to progress the 2023/24 Internal Audit Plan, with work focussing on a range of Council and HSCP services.
• Advice is continuing to be provided by Internal Audit in line with the Internal Audit Charter to support the enhancement of governance arrangements, risk management and controls.  This has included advice in relation to new systems being implemented on request by management.

Corporate Fraud

• Corporate Fraud is investigating allegations received, focusing on suspected fraud or error within Education, Housing and Revenues Services and on the remaining cases resulting from the National Fraud Initiative. 
• The team also continue to undertake vetting on applications, from a number of services, in order to prevent to fraud and any potential reputational damage.

Revenues and Benefits

• In the month of November, the team issued:
  
  • 2,300 Council Tax bills, 700 reminders, and 1,580 Benefits notifications
  • Over 120 Non-Domestic Rates bills.
• Over 320 crisis grants and community care grants were awarded under the Scottish Welfare Fund.
• The team received and dealt with almost 1,600 documents for Council Tax queries and reduction and almost 900 for benefits.
• The team dealt with 2,800 telephone enquiries and 200 Household Support applications.

ICT Services

• ICT Services are working closely with the Business and Digital Change Team to implement M365. This includes:
  
  • Completing the migration of Corporate Mobile phones to M365
• The Infrastructure Team completed:
  
  • Completed the network upgrades at 13 sites: 9 primary schools and 4 Early Years Centres.
  • The migration Milngavie Library, Bishopbriggs Leisuredrome and Bearsden EYC, to Software Defined Wide Area Network (SD-WAN).   This has the benefit of: materially increasing the bandwidth at these locations, the ability to divert internet traffic to the quickest route, and also the benefit of enhanced internet traffic monitoring facilities for each site.
  • Completed the evaluation of the Replacement CCTV tender process.
• The ICT Security team:
  
  • Were notified of and investigated 4 security alerts.
  • Continue to progress the PSN renewal for 2023.
  • Upgraded the Internet Proxy Filter which prevents access to unauthorised websites.

Shared Services

• The Residential Team and Homecare teams liaised with Business and Digital Change colleagues to test Oracle Fusion modules.
• The Transport Team have been gathering information for budget preparations for 2024/25
• The Direct Payment Audit Team finalised audits for clients receiving self-directed support.
• The Transactional Finance team completed the migration work for transmission of payments to the new system.

Housing Rent Arrears

• Active Tenant Rent Arrears were £1,345,456 which is a decrease of £159,757 on same period as last year (week 35).
• 3 tenants assisted and successfully awarded payment from Hardship Fund towards rent payments, totalling £4,973.
• 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, escalating actions against tenants whose rent arrears are increasing, and also providing advice and assistance to tenants who engage and need additional support.
• Appointments with a Housing Officer are available at Kirkintilloch Job Centre every Tuesday morning to assist tenants in receipt of the Universal Credit housing element.
• Reducing active tenant rent arrears continues to be a priority for the Housing Service.
• Former Tenant Arrears are £772,039 with the team continuing to work on former rent arrears to bring this figure down.

Business & Digital Change

• The Integrated Housing Management System project has progressed significantly over the past month and the project is on track to go live in May 24.   Current focus areas are User Acceptance Testing and Training Plan development, letter development, data migration, reports development and document management. 
• The Council’s Enterprise Systems Architecture review is nearing completion.  A report on the findings and recommendations is currently being finalised and will be considered in early January 2024.  
• Work continues on the transition from analogue to digital telecare.  Supplier engagement has now commenced, and testing of digital alarm units for use on the new platform is underway.  This will allow both our ERC management colleagues and agents unprecedented access to both the cloud platform and devices to be used in the field.  The project is on track to go live in Spring 2024. 
• In house development of seven legacy notes developments using the M365 power platform is on track for completion before end of December.  Six of the seven applications are now live and all have had very positive feedback from service users evidencing the value and capability of this platform.  
• M365 Sharepoint implementation configuration has been completed and three of the seven Pilot business units have completed file remediation in preparation for migrating files to this new platform before end of December. 
• M365 OneDrive Pilot has been successfully completed.  Plans are now being developed to deploy this to the seven Sharepoint Pilot Business Units. 
• Work continues to migrate content to the new EDC website in preparation for launch.  The development work for the HSCP website is near completion and design and development are in process for EDLC. 
• As part of the ongoing Cemeteries project to migrate historical records, work has taken place in the test system and all records are due to be added to Cemeteries Live System Records in December. 
• The requirements gathering process has begun for the Roads Management System Phase 2 (CRM Integration, Flooding & Environment) and Phase 1 is progressing with report development taking place for Roads & Lighting.  
• A pilot of our new booking system for desks, rooms, pool cars and pool bikes has been successfully completed.  Work continues to prepare the system before launching to all employees in January 2024. 
• Our Oracle Fusion journey has continued at pace, however, based on outcomes from our User Acceptance Testing stage, the go live timeline has been extended from December 2023 to February 2024. To take full advantage of the timeline extension, additional user acceptance testing and a further Data Migration cycle will take place. 
• Development on our new CRM platform continues. The team have been engaging with colleagues across service areas on the development and testing of processes. 
• New Electronic Payment Gateway System (PTX) successfully launched. 

Health and Social Care Partnership

Overview of Progress

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 the Council’s 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 November 2023, the HSCP has performed on or above target on all of its identified performance indicators. Work is ongoing on implementing the 2023-24 Annual Delivery Plan actions.

Key Achievements / Areas of Focus
Key Achievements:

• The Local Area Co-ordination for Older People team, in partnership with Take Ctrl and East Dunbartonshire Voluntary Action (EDVA), hosted two workshops in November, for people who run local clubs and groups for older people to showcase the impact that these important local resources have on older people’s health and wellbeing.
• An excellent uptake in Care Home and Housebound programme immunisations, with 99.5% uptake for Flu and 99.7% for Covid. The Housebound programme delivery is ahead of schedule.
• The following strategies are now in draft and published for public consultation: Learning Disability Strategy 2024-2029; Alcohol and Drug Partnership Strategy 2023-2026; and the Integration Scheme between East Dunbartonshire Council and NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde.
• East Dunbartonshire was one of only two areas in Scotland achieving 100% of drug and alcohol treatment waiting times of three weeks or less during the second quarter of 2023/24.
• Promotional activity in support of:
• Your Body Matters curriculum pack for schools
• Challenge Poverty Week
• Re-branding of Anticipatory Care Planning to Future Care Planning
• World Mental Health Day
• National Cholesterol Month
• World Menopause Day
• Suicide Prevention Community Development Session
• Power of Attorney awareness
• Volunteers for the Patient Carers and Service User group membership
• Winter Connections

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.
• 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 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.
• Notification received from the Care Inspectorate of a joint inspection of our Adult Support and Protection services to commence on-site from January 2024.
• Preparatory work and submissions for the joint inspection of our Adult Support and Protection services are underway.

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.

Land Planning and Development

Overview of Progress

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

Land Planning Policy

• Following approval at PNCA on 09 November 2023, the public engagement as part of the Evidence Gathering process for Local Development Plan 3 launched on 27 November 2023.  The Land Planning Policy Team worked with the Corporate Communications Team on a strategy for promoting the engagement, which includes a press release, ongoing social media posts, online videos and the Local Development Plan newsletter.  The first drop-in information session was held in Bishopbriggs War Memorial Hall on 30 November 2023. Planning Officers also attended the Pupil Forums held at Lairdsland Primary School and Boclair Academy.
• The team has been working with the City Deal Team on the preparation of the Westerhill Masterplan, in particular regarding biodiversity enhancement and key requirements and developer contributions for the development parcels within the masterplan area.
• 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 identifying 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 continuing and surveyors are progressing with the assessment of 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 and Local Development Plan 3.
• Work on the preparation of the statutory Biodiversity Duty Report for the period 2021 – 2023 has been completed and was reported to PNCA Committee on 09 November.
• A brief for the Kelvin Valley feasibility study has been completed and submitted to the Council’s Procurement Service.  As part of the work officers have established a working group with key agencies and interested bodies to help guide the project.
• A draft response to the Strategic Framework for Biodiversity consultation has been circulated to elected members for comment prior to submission to the government in December.

Sustainability Policy

• Work on the Climate Action Plan and Local Heat & Energy Efficiency Strategy is continuing. A Programme Plan has been prepared to build on The Evidence and Options Report that the Climate Change Member Officer Group reviewed on 24 August and Council approved on 28 September.  Internal engagement has been undertaken on key parts of the CAP including the structure, visions, objectives and themes to allow a report to be taken to Council during the first half of 2024, prior to public consultation being carried out.  Engagement work on the Local Heat & Energy Efficiency Strategy (LHEES) was undertaken with Scottish Power Energy Networks and internal colleagues in November and December while interviews of an LHEES officer were undertaken and a provisional start date has been set in January 2024  to allow the Draft LHEES to be brought to Council in the first half of 2024 and public consultation to be carried out following Council approval.
• An update report on the Council’s Sustainability and Climate Change Framework (SCCF) and an update report on the Carbon Management Plan are being prepared for PNCA committee in January 2024. Both reports required extensive engagement with a wide-range of Council services to ensure that sustainability developments and projections were based upon the most up-to-date information. A report on new Allotment Regulations is also being prepares for PNCA committee’s consideration.
• Input was provided by the Sustainability Policy Team Climate Ready Clyde’s Newsletter and Independent Assessment, with a follow-up interview being attended to provide additional content.
• An update was provided to East Dunbartonshire Community Planning Partnership on the Community Carbon Literacy Training Programme.  The provisional dates of the16th of January 2024, the 25th of January 2024, the 6th of February 2024, the 22nd of February 2024 and the 27th of February 2024 with the introductory session taking  place on the 11th of January 2024 have been confirmed and the venues are being booked.The Sustainability Policy Team is also  continuing to work with colleagues in the Education Team and Keep Scotland Beautiful to deliver Climate Ready Classrooms a one-day programme on the science behind climate change and how to reduce emissions.
• The report on the statutory Public Bodies Climate Change Duty Report 2022/23 and Carbon Management Plan Report 2022/23, were approved by the Place Neighbourhood and Corporate Assets Committee on 9 November. The two reports provided an analysis of emissions data from the Duty Report, an analysis of emissions reductions in key areas of Council activities (built assets, fleet, waste, street lighting and business mileage), an analysis of costs associated with these areas, high-level projections of future costs and an outline of the potential pace of decarbonisation. The Public Bodies Climate Change Duty Report was submitted to Scottish Government in advance of the deadline of 30/11/2023.
• The development of the Council’s Active Travel Strategy is on hold due to the Transport Policy Officer leaving the Council in October 2023 and the post still being vacant.
• A Winter Climate Action Plan Newsletter will be published in December to outline a range of Council action on sustainability related activities, including the CAP.

GIS Team

• The team has continued to carry out a range of GIS analysis for the 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.
• We have now completed the transition to ESRIs new experience builder platform. This allows apps to have increased functionality and customisation. The team have recreated a number of critical web pages and the links are now with Corporate Comms, to add to the EDC site.
• The team have finalised our analysis for the 20 minute neighbourhood project. This analysis has now been incorporated into new dashboards and story maps, to show how different areas in EDC score. We have also worked with Policy to help branch the project out to other services, to get their input and add more datasets that we may have overlooked.
• The team have provided GIS training sessions to a number of sectors across the council, with all user groups finding the sessions useful. This has increased the number of active GIS users and improved the awareness of the software across the council.
• The team have been working with the Roads department to create a number of new Experience Builder apps to help when they are out in the field and need to view information.
• The team have also been working in collaboration with roads to help amend their gazetteer to match ours, to ensure consistency across council departments.
• The team have worked with roads to use the data gathered by consultants in our own EDC apps, to allow for greater access across the roads department to this information.
• The team have completed all road adoption requests during the last month
• 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.
• The team have completed a number of address queries this month and have resolved all the issues for the residents.
• The team have developed a number of MS Access reports for teams such as Dev Apps, Community Protection and Environmental Health. This has been very helpful for their statutory reporting and has allowed the services to have more efficient workflows.

Housing Strategy & Systems

• The new IHMS implementation is well underway, with functional testing progressing in all modules. User Acceptance Testing (UAT) training has been delayed due to additional functional testing being required.
• Systems Officers are assisting with the data cleansing of the current Saffron IT system as well as Housing folders, to ensure a smooth transition when migrating to the new system, while also assisting with day-to-day processing of 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 are ensuring the successful transition of analogue telecare to digital telecare throughout the sheltered complexes.
• The Housing Estates Adviser is working closely with the sheltered wardens and concierge to ensure a robust service is provided to tenants and residents.
• Housing staff training held at McGregor House on withholding rent procedures completed Wednesday 29th November.

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 the Find Business Support website.  Start-up enquiries are increasing but business growth and employment are still running at a slower pace than pre pandemic due to economic and market issues.
• The Digital Development Grant has been launched and already fully subscribed, and applications are now being processed. The Green Business Support grant is to launch shortly as following the start of the regional green audit support. The project will help businesses analyse how they practice and identity green measures and support that can be provided via a grant process.  The team is in the early stages of developing the site enabling and regeneration grant.
• It is likely that Digital Boost funding will no longer be available and Local Authorities will be expected to provide this support with the exception of Webinars which will be picked up by Business Gateway National.

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 and the Westerhill Development Road for which the design contract is now underway.  The project team are currently analysing the various route options in order to select a preferred route to develop further through the OBC process. .
• 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.

Regeneration & Town Centres Team

• The project to improve Regent Gardens in Kirkintilloch Town Centre is on site, and making good progress. Works are expected to complete around February 2024. The Campsie Memorial Hall project in Lennoxtown has 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.
• The programme management of the Shared Prosperity Fund is ongoing. A range of projects have been identified and are being progressed for implementation up to March 2025.
• The Lennoxtown Main Street Improvement Project is ongoing to develop outline designs. An application to support Lennoxtown regeneration projections has been prepared for the the UK Levelling Up Fund, to submit once Round 3 of the fund opens, for which there is currently no date.
• Working ongoing to support Milngavie BID as it moves towards re-ballot which starts 14th December. The Kirkintilloch BID was successful at its ballot and work now focuses on setting up the BID formally, including the Board and limited company. 

Traffic & Transport Team

• The construction phase of Canniesburn Toll Improvement Project is on site and is expected to complete around spring 2024. Four Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) have been 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, including works to improve Canal Street which is part of the John Muir Way and a key link onto the canal towpath. Traffic Free Schools pilot project went live in November 2023, with positive feedback provided so far.
• 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 56 applications.
• The Building Standards team have received 111 building warrants and approved 105 applications. 
• The Enforcement Team opened 4 new cases.
• The Development Applications team prepared reports for the forthcoming meeting of the Planning Board. They have also provided a Planning Advisor to the November meeting of the Local Review Body and assisted with the requested site visit. 
• The Team continues to work closely with the Councils Major Assets and Housing  team helping to deliver on locally important projects
• Both Planning and Building Standards teams continue to offer support and informal advice to customers through our daily duty service Monday to Friday.

Key Achievements / Areas of Focus

• Launch of the Traffic Free Schools Pilot
• Continued improvement in timescales to validate planning applications
• Launch of LDP3 Public Engagement

Legal and Regulatory Services

Overview of Progress

Democratic Services

Throughout November, the Democratic Services Teams continued to support the internal governance of the Council, in addition to certain regulatory functions.  Since August and the return of the Council’s governance meetings, the Democratic Services Team has been implementing the Council’s new committee management system, Modern.Gov.  This work continued into November and a second cycle of meetings.  The system is now used for writing committee reports, managing the diary, preparing, and issuing agendas and the publication of committee papers to the Council’s website.  In time, it will also be used to support public engagement and consultation, and a petitions function.  In addition, the service continued to support Members and the Strategic Leadership Team.  The Information Management Team continues to provide important support and advice to the MS365 implementation team, in addition to business-as-usual support in relation to freedom of information and data protection.

Key Achievements / Areas of Focus

• Registration & Customer Services completed 90 birth and 188 death registrations in November.  32 marriages & 3 Civil Partnerships were also registered in this period.
• The Team provided administrative and other supports to the Civic Office.
• Implementation and roll-out of a new committee administration system, which included support for report authors and the production and distribution of committee and board agendas.
• Democratic Services administered, 4 Strategic Service Committees, 2 P&R Sub-Committee, 1 Planning LRB, 1 Licensing Board and 1 Housing & Social Care Forum.
• Democratic Services administered the ballot for the Kirkintilloch Business Improvement District (BID).  The process began mid-September and concluded in November with a significant majority (by number of businesses and by aggregate Rateable Value) voting in favour of the creation of the Kirkintilloch BID.
• Preparation for the Milngavie Business Improvement District ballot due to take place over December/Jan.
• Initial preparations for the anticipated General Election in 2024.
• Information Management received & processed 144 FOI/EIRs and 6 SARs (Subject Access Requests)

Legal Services

Overview of Progress

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 November 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 a public report.

Key Achievements / Areas of Focus

• During November, the Team processed 10 contract form reviews, 6 Contract award letters, 43 taxi licence applications, and 13 grants.
• Supporting the City Deal team with the finalising of site investigation licences (including licence for works compound) with relevant Westerhill landowners to facilitate DMRB Stage 2 Ground Investigations, provided advice on s75 Agreement provisions relating to Bishopbriggs Town Centre Civic Space, and supporting the provision of procurement advice on options appraisals for anticipated contracts.
• Property and planning work included three open market purchases for Council housing stock and a section 75 agreement in relation to developer contributions and affordable housing for residential development at Milngavie Bowling Club.
• Contracts concluded in this period included grant offers accepted for Care Experience Children and Young People’s Attainment Fund, subscription Agreement & Data Processing Agreement entered into with Heriot Watt University for an online learning tool, Basic Asset Protection Agreement entered into with Network Rail re works at Kirkintilloch Road, Lenzie, Contracts entered into for RAAC remediation services at Bearsden Hub, mezzanine office space reconfiguration at Kilsyth Road Workspace, Kirkintilloch and alcohol & drug rehabilitation placements 
• The Litigation Team continued to provide support to Social Work in relation to adults with incapacity and permanence planning and to Education on a variety of matters.  In addition, there was some emergency litigation carried out including a banning order and responding to interim orders in the Sheriff Court and the Court of Session.  The Team has also provided significant support to colleagues in HR this month including supporting work on the flexible working policy. 

Procurement

Overview of Progress

During November, 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 data cleansing, Solution Design, Communication planning, Key User training meetings, Data Reconciliation and User Acceptance testing 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 as it leads four of the six implementation workstreams.  The Team also continuously works to manage and support the operational activity in terms of the buyers work centre, Iproc catalogue and supplier management and payment processing, and in November was focussed on preparing for the usual increase in demand at the end of the calendar year.

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, Westerhill Development Road, school estate Professional Fees, school summer maintenance works, Vehicle Purchases, whilst supporting workforce of the future planning and Business as Usual workstreams.
• Participation in extensive meetings and workshops in order to train, test, reconcile data transfer and solution re-design, in preparation for the implementation of the Oracle Fusion upgrade.
• Completed renewals for support and maintenance of business-critical systems to facilitate workforce of the future.
• Ongoing support for the transition/implementation of Fusion to support the technical requirements for Payment integrations, Managed Stores and e-invoicing on Iproc.
• 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.
• Ongoing work on the review of Contract Standing Orders for alignment with Organisational changes, financial management and Procurement governance
• Processing and payment of Welfare Support, ALT Fuel & EBSS Payments in line with Council support requirements.
• Completed planning and communications in relation to Christmas payment processing timescales
• Commenced planning and communications for Oracle shut down mitigations for February 2024.

Strategic Commissioning  

Overview of Progress

The Strategic Commissioning Team provided enhanced support and guidance to the market as unprecedented demand pressures exacerbated by the on-going cost of living crisis continued to disrupt and undermine the sector.  In addition, the team was instrumental in supporting the progression of HSCP strategic priorities, responding to acute pressures whilst planning for the forthcoming winter period

Key Achievements / Areas of Focus

• Developed commissioning proposal to help support delivery of the national resettlement programme for asylum seekers 
• Improved and strengthened commissioning governance arrangements across the HSCP following a period of training, roll out, implementation     
• Progressed provider uplift requests whilst taking into account/ balancing budget pressures with provider sustainability 
• Commissioned suitable / appropriate resources to accommodate individuals awaiting discharge from hospital
• Contributed to the development of the HSCP’s Winter Plan 
• Explored service delivery options to alleviate unscheduled care pressure & facilitate early discharge
• Informed and supported progression of agreed commissioning arrangements for building based day care services 
• Successfully planned / transitioned bespoke supported accommodation placements
• Commissioned bespoke support for individuals moving into short / long term care
• Reviewed transitional planning arrangements and aligned to the dynamic risk register
• Facilitated Care Home Provider Forum 
• Identified an appropriate commissioning model to support delivery of the national resettlement programme for unaccompanied asylum-seeking children.
• Supported development of the new Learning Disability Strategy (2023 – 2028).
• Successfully concluded financial negotiations for local respite services.
• Implemented new Schedule of Rates 2023/2024.
• Developed robust procedures to help strengthen governance procedures for off-contract arrangements and rolled out / implemented across the HSCP.
• Commissioned suitable / appropriate resources to accommodate individuals awaiting discharge from hospital.
• Supported the development of a new local respite service for adults diagnosed with complex / challenging behaviours.
• Supported progression of various Scotland Excel Framework Agreements – ensuring local requirements (current / future) are reflected accordingly.
• Continued to review / progress provider uplift requests (to support viability) via agreed process.
• Supported progression of agreed commissioning arrangements for building based day care services.
• Successfully planned / transitioned bespoke supported accommodation placements.
• Progressed performance management returns for services commissioned via Scotland Excel’s Care and Support framework in line with agreed procedures.
• Commissioned bespoke support for individuals moving into short / long term care
• Identified the commissioning model required to support delivery of the key priorities entailed within the Carers Strategy
• Reviewed transitional planning arrangements to inform / update the dynamic risk register.

Overview of Progress

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

This Service area is divided into seven 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. Waste Services (including domestic & commercial waste & recycling collections)
6. Fleet Services (including fleet operations, maintenance, and transportation)
7. 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 operational posts. The service has commenced the winter maintenance period on both carriageways and footways with several actions already instructed due to lower road surface temperatures.

The 2023/24 capital programmes for carriageway, footway resurfacing programme and lighting projects are ongoing with road space booked and work programmed in as per the Roads Resurfacing Programme Technical Note which will be updated in October. The next Roads Resurfacing update is schedule for January 2024. Regrettably, the Streetlighting Team continue to work at a reduced capacity, so this is likely to affect the projected capital programme. If this is the case any outstanding projects will be carried forward into 2024/25.

The Roads Network Team Leader and Senior Roads Technician are currently finalising the proposed 3 Year Resurfacing Programme following the network wide condition survey. It is intended to share the proposed programme early in 2024.

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 and taking forward individual projects including gateway features, replacement bridges, signalised junctions, and other important road safety features.

Streetscene Operations

The three geographical based teams have completed work on their summer grounds maintenance programmes including grass cutting operations, herbicide treatment, care of Gardens service, play area inspections etc. The teams have now switched to their Autumn/Winter maintenance programmes which include autumn leaf collection and shrub pruning 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.

Streetscene Technical Support Team

The team continue to work with community groups regarding Environmental Improvement Projects including path improvement, play area renovations, amenity planting, cemetery, and allotment development.

The team also continue to manage the Councils tree stock. The team is current analysing the results of the first Ash Dieback Surveys which will inform the actions that need to be prioritised to address this important issue. The team manages and performs burials in the eight operational cemeteries.

Mugdock Country Park

The team have also completed their summer maintenance work and are moving into the autumn/winter maintenance period. The team have been monitoring the quarry area during the summer months following the installation of the new perimeter fence and it is having a positive effect on unauthorised access which is welcome due to the health and safety issues previously experienced at this location within the country park. The monthly visitor number continue to exceed expectation and the team area focused on enhancing the visitor experience to the country park with various improvements planned to key attractions.

Waste Services

The Waste Team has continued the frontline service operations for the collection of over 400,000 assorted household bins over the month of November, 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 400 of our local commercial premises and provides recycling disposal provision at the Mavis Valley Recycling Centre.

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 1846 tonnes of waste through this contract in November, ensuring our waste undergoes treatment for recycling extraction prior to being sent through an Energy from Waste process.

Fleet Services

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 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 Social 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

Roads Network Operations Teams (including Street Lighting)

Carriageway and Footway surface defects and service level agreements (SLA):

Between 01/11/2023 and 30/11/2023, we have identified 199 defects in East Dunbartonshire Council carriageways and Footways. We have completed 126 repairs on time (about 63.3%), which below our expectation). This could be due to the prioritisation of Winter Maintenance over repairs. However, all high-risk repairs were completed on time.

Below chart compares our last three months performance:

Road’s capital carriageway and footway surfacing projects in September 2023:

Below table indicates the list of footway and carriageway capital resurfacing projects, committed in October 2023.

Town	Carriageway Resurfacing February to April 2023	Date Completed
Bishopbriggs	Springfield Road	November
Bishopbriggs	Westfields	November
Milngavie	Glasgow Road	November
Bearsden	Ravelston Road	November
Kirkintilloch	Waterside Road	November

 

Town	Footway Resurfacing February to April 2023	Date Completed
Milngavie	Dougalston Avenue (footway)	November

 

Carriageways and footways Safety inspection:

Between 01/11/2023 and 30/11/2023, East Dunbartonshire Council has successfully completed all safety inspections.

Winter Maintenance – November 2023:

East Dunbartonshire Council winter maintenance team completed 185 actions between 01/11/2023 and 30/11/2023 with approximately 698 tonne salt/ grit were used during this time

Please see below summary report of winter maintenance actions between 01/11/2023 and 30/11/2023.

Group	Total actions	Number of days with operations	Number of days without any operation	Total salt amount used (Tonne)	Dry Salt 10g/m²	Dry Salt 20g/m²	Patrol	Patrol and blast wet spots
East Dunbartonshire Council	185	14	16	698.42	40	141	1	3
Primary Carriageway Routes	112	10	20	545.98	24	88	0	0

Roads Technical & Engineering Teams

Traffic

• Auchinloch Rd/Crosshill Rd, Lenzie Roundabout. High friction surfacing and signs completed.
• Campsie Rd, Milton of Campsie gateway. High friction surfacing and signs completed.
• Vehicle Activated Signs upgrade. 1 new sign per ward. Installation arrangement is in progress.
• Springfield Rd/Menteith Ave, Bishopbriggs. Traffic calming associated with Climate Ready Park. Objections received and being processed.
• Campsie Cross, Milton of Campsie. Junction signallisation approved by PNCA and advertisement process is in progress.
• Attendance at various meetings related to Transport Scotland Bill and road safety. Committee paper to follow.
• Signalisation of Milton of Campsie Cross approved by PCNA and is with Legal Services.
• Station Road at Drymen Road, Bearsden. Topographical survey being carried out, but work will not be able to start on the ground while Canniesburn Toll is ongoing.
• TRO for Disabled Parking 22-23 (new requests from June 2022 – June 2023) approved by PNCA is with Legal Services awaiting advertising.
• Burnbrae roundabout ongoing issues with signage now complete.
• Various locations installing new or replacing street signs as per customer requests. ie Allander Toll and EDC boundary sign at Crow Road.
• Responding to Planning Applications.
• Responding to lining requests and refreshing faded road markings on a priority basis.
• Commenting on various licences e.g. street trader licences, public entertainment licences and occasional licences.
• Dealing with various requests for temporary road closures and Temporary Traffic Management
• Officer completed Good Egg Child Seat Safety course.
• Junior Road Safety Officer participation to be re-established following recent training.
• The team are providing technical support for City Deal projects, Canniesburn Toll, Lennoxtown Main Street and Cycling Connectivity Corridors. 

Development

• Site visits to monitor progress on developments currently under construction.
• Site meetings to inspect developments and identify remedial works prior to adoption by EDC.
• Assisting Planning with development applications, distributed to officers for their comments on potential future developments.
• Process road adoption enquiries from internal and external departments.
• Coordination of future works, road openings and temporary traffic management permits.
• Staff attended roadworks course to renew streetworks monitoring accreditation.
• Antonine Gate development adopted.
• Currently reviewing the internal capital carriageway and footway programme for 2024/25. Once his has been checked for conflicts the Team will record works notices on the register.
• We chaired the recent Local RAUCS meeting 6th December 2023 and any issues within EDC we have passed onto the appropriate Statutory Undertaker. We sent away the November FPN and are awaiting acceptance from undertakers and continue to process TTL permits / Invoices
• Co-ordinating works in Bearsden/Milngavie area due to Canniesburn Upgrade with the closure of Switchback (southbound) from 7TH Jan 24 to 27th Feb 24.

Flooding and Drainage

• River Glazert Restoration Project, Lennoxtown - Detail design report finalised. CAR licence obtained and Planning is now being submitted. Some interim tree felling may commence during the winter Jan – March 24 in preparation of appointment of contractor.
• Kelvin Tributaries River Restoration Project – Draft Statement of Requirements being finalised and will be passed to Procurement for appointment of consultant – On going
• Climate Ready Park – Tenders returned and evaluated. Appointed contractor selected and award letter to be issued once Legal Services have reviewed and finalised.
• John Muir Way – Re-routing of Path at Glazert Water / Weir – Work is completed and path is open.
• B822 Campsie Rd – Replacing stone cundie under road with new piped culvert. Planned works from January 24. Full road closure will be in place to undertake these works.
• Burnside Walk - Manse Burn Bearsden – Culvert blockage caused by large tree trunks and debris in burn. Has been cleared and is flowing well.
• River Kelvin Flood Defence Scheme – Pumps are being serviced and checked. K8 pump which was removed to workshop for remedial works has been installed back in K8.
• Flooding between – 6-8th October 23, we are still working through a few locations, investigating, and sharing information we hold with Scottish Water. We have acted on a few locations i.e., Hillfoot Drive, Balmore area as a result of our investigations to minimise flood risk to property in these areas.
• Hillfoot Drive Bearsden - removed channel drain and replace with 2 x double gullies, replace existing 2 gullies and shaped watercourse.
• Camstradden Drive West, Bearsden – gully replacements. Complete
• Camstradden Drive East, Bearsden – gully replacements with road crossing. Complete
• Initiative Road, Kirkintilloch -system surveyed for possible further works.
• Campsie Rd, Torrance- carrier system clear and jetted – under review for further works
• Balmore Rd, Balmore - emergency works to clean system due to flooding - under review for further works
• Hillfoot Dr, Bearsden - culvert cleaned following flooding.
• Craigdhu Rd, Milngavie – surveyed and cleared system.

UPCOMING WORKS

• Lochend Rd, Bearsden – remove 2 x gullies from system. Due 15/1 – 17/1
• Hawthorn Ave, Lenzie – remove channel drain and install 2 x gullies. Due 22/1 -26/1
• Ledcameroch Cres, Bearsden – install double gully. Due 29/1 – 2/2

Structures

• 2023/24 General and Principal inspections programme ongoing.
• Review & response to abnormal load requests.
• Capital programme for 2023/24 in progress.
• Moss Maigry culvert road undermining, Crow Road, Lennoxtown complete.
• Soil erosion at 2no. culverts at Crow Road, Lennoxtown, near Jamie Wright’s Well. Remediation works complete and outlets extended.
• Langmuir Rd retaining wall, Kirkintilloch. Fencing replacement works atop retaining wall complete.
• The Cottage Merkland leaning boundary wall, Waterside Rd, Kirkintilloch. Works commenced November. Construction of buttresses in unaffected sections complete, demolition of leaning section near completion and excavation for new foundation underway. Works likely to be complete early January, weather dependent.
• Bencloich Burn, Lennoxtown. CCTV survey of 4no. culverts planned for December.
• Burncrooks Footbridge, Milngavie. Timber parapet installation planned for Jan/Feb.

Greenspace & Streetscene Teams

Streetscene Operations

• Street cleansing and associated tasks such as leaf litter sweeping; removal of fly posting and uplifting of fly tipping, mechanical street sweeping and installing replacement or additional bins. 
• Graffiti removal
• Ongoing cemetery operations, digging and carrying out interments, installing headstone foundations, benches etc
• Winter cyclical works ongoing; leaf fall removal and clearance; pruning of shrub beds and tree works.
• Checking and clearance of culverts
• Play park inspection
• Football pitch lining.  Marking out Athletic tracks at Merkland  blaes track
• Completion of Spring bedding preparation and planting
• Bulb planting
• Responding to Customer Service Requests and complaints.
• Culvert grill cleaning and monitoring
• Christmas Tree installation
• Arranging winter servicing of machinery

Streetscene Technical Support

• Play Area Kincaid, Lennoxtown – new rubber crumb surface has been applied
• Cemetery Management Rules – internal review ongoing noting recent wider Scottish Govt consultation
• Headstones/Memorials – plan being developed around improving the inspection process – currently reviewing procurement options
• Cadder Cemetery – plans progressing to improve traffic management and parking around entrance area
• Sports Pitches – grass pitches/synthetic – maintenance ongoing with pitches at Luggie Park and Waterside now fully operational
• Tree condition survey of Old Aisle Cemetery complete – Officers will review recommendations
• Ash Dieback Surveys completed within EDC Schools Estate – progressing costs to undertake remedial works as required
• Ash Dieback Survey on Roadside – a small number of trees require urgent works – ownership is a mixture of public and private – arrangements are in progress re contact with private owners. Wider analysis of other trees and works is ongoing
• Climate Ready Park – tender returns being reviewed – award imminent
• Team working with City Deal Team and Consultants in relation to Masterplan of Bishopbriggs Public Park and Bishopbriggs Relief Road
• Rosebank Allotments – Officer working with group to undertake relevant repairs to paths, fencing etc
• Allotment Regulations – currently being reviewed by Officers in advance of a wider consultation
• Allotment Waiting List – new weighting matrix applied to waiting list – this will form part of the wider consultation
• Nature Restoration Fund – number of projects ongoing via this fund (as per earlier Technical Note)
• 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.
• Planning application responses and support to Planning Team ongoing
• Open Space audit work for input into the Grounds Maintenance System ongoing for Milngavie & Bearsden.
• Leams Survey 2  - internal survey complete
• Assisted a number of Community Groups with Litter Picking resources across EDC

Mugdock Country Park

• Ranger activities in November included –
  
  • Forest School – Bird Feeders
  • Forest School – Trial by Fire
  • Stargazing at Mugdock – Moon Evening
• Education events with schools and community groups – conservation and biodiversity
• Training nursery practitioners (3 sessions) – winter activities for children
• Preparation for Pantomime – Jack and the Beanstalk
• Preparation for Festive Fun Day and Reindeer Run
• Room hire, land hire, filming
• Seasonal trail – Elf trail
• Christmas window display in Visitor Centre
• Gift shop stocked and items promoted and sold
• Visitor information provided
• Rooms and land sent up for hires
• Cleaning – premises and offices
• Bin emptying and car park maintenance
• Gritting, clearing leaves from paths and gutters
• Tree work arising from negative tree survey and responding to issues as they arise
• Checking and clearing drains and culverts
• Clearing invasive birch, gorse and willow
• Clear, widen and deepen open ditches crossing and running down the sides of WHW track
• Weave willow fence and sow yellow rattle in grassland
• Cut rhododendron regrowth down to height suitable for herbicide spraying
• Install twin wall culvert pipe to reduce flooding across path
• Planting thorny hedging along base of Craigend Quarry fence and yew hedge in Craigend Walled Garden
• Liaising with building control (Stirling) re replacement bbq sites
• Progress on new Waste Water Treatment Work – out to tender (Asset Management)
• Working with Mugdock Trust to develop Mugdock Castle Maze project
• Working with the Astronomical Society of Glasgow for the launch of Observatory

Waste Services

• The Clyde Valley Residual Waste contract say 1846 tonnes of household general waste throughput in October for recycling pre-sort, and then ongoing production of energy from waste.
• The garden waste kerbside service has come to an end for 2023, the final collection took place on Saturday 18th November. 
• The new Waste Routing Software contract was passed through the Legal team with an implementation date identified of 11.12.23.  This resource will assist in the modernisation of our frontline kerbside routes, creating efficiencies across the service.
• Waste Manager attended a workshop with Zero Waste Scotland to discuss the benefits of routing software for the organisation, discussions took place around case studies and super user experiences.
• The Oil recycling contractor was on site at Mavis Valley Recycling Centre and extracted 2500 litres of oil delivered by our householder for recycling.
• Support was provided through the provision of Waste and Recycling containers at the controlled Lenzie Firework display, whilst the wider team supported the Community Safety in the removal of unauthorised firework displays in early November.
• Support was provided through the provision of waste and recycling containers at both the Christmas events in Milngavie and Barleybank.
• The Technical team have been working with Community Safety on fly tipping issues around the Community Recycling locations, identifying individuals through the capturing of evidence within the accumulation of waste tipped.
• Attendance at the Waste Manager Network Meeting on 14th November.  This meeting is represented by all 32 local authorities, an opportunity to discuss relevant Waste related topics.  This month meeting was attended by SEPA on the topic of Persistent Organic Pollutants, hazardous material that can be found in householder upholstery items.
• Gas and Leachate monitoring was carried out at the Broomhill Depot site by the Waste Technical team.
• Liaising with Corporate Communications in the delivery of the Christmas Service message.

Fleet Services

• During the period 1/11/23 to 30/11/23 there were 178 vehicles/plant inspected/repaired in line with the servicing schedule and defect procedure.  
• We currently have a variety of vehicles/plant on order to replace an aging fleet in line with the vehicle replacement programme.   
• 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 for both Traffic and Compliance and a 100% first time pass rate for annual tests.   
• Training has been organised to ensure our mechanics stay up to date with relevant legislation and inspection techniques.   
• Vehicle gate checks have been reintroduced and the compliance team have carried out multiple checks, any issues identified have been relayed to the relevant management team. 
• Working closely with people development we have identified funding to allow our mechanics to become qualified HGV drivers, this in turn will allow them to be able to test drive the vehicles they are working on. 
• Currently working with the customer and digital services team to identify a new fleet management system with a view of merging current systems and streamlining current processes 
• Monthly audits have been implemented to ensure O licence and MOT compliance