Work on John Muir House SPOC due to begin later this month

Work on the new ‘Single Point of Contact’ (SPOC) for John Muir House is due to begin later this month.

Before work starts the contractor will be setting up a compound on part of Peffers Place (the lane between John Muir House and the Corn Exchange – see below). This set-up work is expected to take place from 15 February. This will enable the contractor to access the main John Muir House reception area from the inner courtyard and gardens.

The main reception at John Muir House is expected to remain open throughout the project. There is the possibility of a one-day reception closure which, if required, will be notified well in advance. Every effort will be made to minimise noise and inconvenience during the works.

The whole area behind the main reception desk will be closed off during the project work. The tables in the Planning reception area (behind main reception) will be relocated. This will allow a new Planning area with secure doors and partitions to be created.

When work is complete the counter at the Court Street entrance - which handles customer payments and other enquiries - will close to the public. The main reception on Brewery Park will then become the SPOC for all customers and visitors to John Muir House. This work is due to be completed in May 2019.

As plans are also being made for the relocation of Haddington Police Station to the former Sheriff Court building, it is expected that the Peffers Place compound will remain in place until Summer 2020.

In due course, a separate compound will be established to the rear of the Corn Exchange to accommodate refurbishment works starting there in the Spring. As a result a small number of parking spaces will be out of action. Scaffolding will need to be erected outside the Corn Exchange along Peffers Place, which will stay open to pedestrians.

Look out for updates in the weeks and months ahead.

New Primary School contract awarded

A new primary school is to be built in Haddington fully funded through developers’ contributions.

School meals service receives quality award for 6th year in a row!

East Lothian parents are being encouraged to take advantage of fresh, healthy, and sustainable school meals which have once again been recognised with a national award.

School catering staff are celebrating after the council achieved the Soil Association Scotland’s Bronze Food for Life Served Here award across its primary schools for the sixth year running.

The Food for Life Served Here award is a widely respected and independently assessed scheme, supported by the Scottish Government, which supports Local Authorities to put more local food on school dinner plates and serve freshly-prepared, sustainable meals. It recognises and rewards councils that are serving food made from fresh ingredients, using free-range eggs and high-welfare meat, and free from genetically modified ingredients and undesirable additives.

East Lothian Council serves 3,700 meals a day across 35 primary schools.

The Food for Life programme works with Local Authorities to get more Scottish food on plates, shortening supply chains and supporting thriving local economies. Pupils in East Lothian primary schools regularly enjoy:

• Locally sourced fruit and vegetables from George Andersons & Sons, including potatoes, cabbages and brussel sprouts from East Lothian, summer soft fruit from Fife, and prepared vegetables, soup mixes and turnips from Tayside;
• Scottish cheese from McLelland;
• 100% free range eggs, 77% of which are Scottish and the remainder of which are British.

The boost in local produce from the Food for Life Served Here Bronze award has also linked into educational activities with the pupils.

Lorraine Faulds, senior officer in facilities management services, said “George Anderson & Sons has been our distributor and supplier of fresh vegetables for several years. They organised a competition for schools to grow their own potatoes and the school with the highest yield then visited to see potatoes being graded and packaged. The school cooks also used the produce the children had grown as part of the lunch time experience’.”

Fergus Ewing, Cabinet Secretary for the Rural Economy, said: “We want children to enjoy more of Scotland’s fantastic produce as part of their school meals. The Food for Life Scotland programme is helping us to achieve that, and I’m delighted to congratulate East Lothian Council on the renewal of their Food for Life Served Here award.

“The programme helps us to deliver on our shared ambition with the food and drink sector, to find new market opportunities, helping to sustain and grow their businesses, whilst bolstering the local economy and improving our children’s health. We look forward to seeing more local authorities across Scotland sign up to the scheme.”

Cllr. Shamin Akhtar, East Lothian Council’s Education and Children’s Services spokesperson congratulated staff on the achievement. She said, “Providing a range of healthy, nutritious meals to children and young people is a really important part of the school day.

“Our school catering teams have been very innovative in not only encouraging a greater uptake of schools meals through taster sessions but also preparing most meals from scratch and increasingly using locally sourced produce. Parents and carers are also asked for their feedback on the school menu. I’d like to take the opportunity to thank everyone for their collective efforts in achieving this award and I’m sure that this work will encourage even more children and young people to opt for a school meal.”

Every day is a good time to talk

Just like physical health, we all have mental health, yet we can be uncomfortable talking about it. Sometimes we have good mental health and other times it is not so good. We may have a mental health condition and be managing this very well, have some bad days or are struggling. Life events can knock us and sometimes it is pile of things that build on top of each other which can make us feel overwhelmed and unable to cope. We are also all different in how we respond and what helps. Some people will share with others how they are feeling, others prefer not to or are unaware how they are feeling as they are unwell.

 Time to Talk day is  7 February which is a national campaign by the mental health charity See Me. However, every day is time to talk. Listening to a colleague when they’ve had a bad day, having a laugh, showing we care, catching up over a coffee help us all to have better mental health. Don’t underestimate the impact we can make to someone’s wellbeing by showing an interest. It is the small things that can make a big difference such as:

• Performing a random act of kindness for someone
• Checking in with someone over a text
• Arranging to meet up with someone you care about
• Having a chat over lunch
• Calling someone you have not spoken to for a while
• Telling someone that you appreciate what they have done for you
• Asking “how are you?” and meaning it
• Going for a walk with someone and finding out how they are getting on

Conversations have the power to change lives, wherever they take place.

 

Local Development Plan shortlisted for national award

East Lothian Council’s Local Development Plan (LDP) has been nominated for a prestigious planning industry award

The LDP has been shortlisted as a finalist in the category for Excellence in Plan Making at the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) Awards for Planning Excellence 2019.

The RTPI Awards for Planning Excellence are the most established and respected awards in the UK planning industry. Running for over 40 years, they celebrate exceptional examples of planning and the contribution planners make to society.

The LDP is the key planning document guiding development across East Lothian to 2024 and beyond and has involved a huge amount of preparation and extensive public consultation. It was approved by Scottish Ministers in September 2018, after the Report of Examination made only minor recommendations for changes to the work of East Lothian Council’s planning team.

Norman Hampshire, Depute Council Leader and Cabinet Spokesperson for Environment, said:

“The LDP is a hugely important piece of work as it provides East Lothian with a sustainable strategy for jobs and homes, making the best use of existing infrastructure whilst allowing for new infrastructure including new schools and improved transport networks. It supports our aim of securing an even more prosperous, safe and sustainable East Lothian, that enables all of our people and communities to flourish.

“I was personally very pleased that Scottish Ministers accepted our draft LDP with only very minor changes as it reflected the extremely high quality of work and careful consultation that was carried out by colleagues. The fact it has been shortlisted for this prestigious national award is just another huge endorsement for our planning team and all colleagues across the council who helped inform the LDP preparation process. It’s a great example of team working and a One Council approach.”

RTPI President Ian Tant MRTPI said: “Many congratulations to all this year’s finalists, who demonstrate outstanding contributions to planning, producing a positive effect on our communities, the economy and the environment. They have shown how planners can use their passion and skills to meet needs, deliver high quality design and tackle environmental challenges – they should all be proud of their role as a force for good in society.”

The winners will be announced during a ceremony held at Milton Court Concert Hall in central London on 24 April 2019.

 

Dunbar Grammar welcomed Doddie Weir

Scottish rugby legend and Motor Neurone Disease (MND) campaigner Doddie Weir recently visited Dunbar Grammar to receive a cheque from the school’s Charity Committee for £1102.52 for his foundation, My Name’5 Doddie. The school community raised funds through a dress down day, bake sales and donations from the Rugby Club.

Doddie shared his experiences of living with MND at a special assembly, held in the school’s new social hub. He spoke of the work that his foundation is doing to raise funds for research into this incurable disease, including gene therapy, and also to support people living with MND.

Pupils also had the opportunity to put their own questions to Doddie in a Q&A session, covering his rugby career, Six Nations predictions and his positive attitude in the face of his devastating diagnosis. Doddie explained that it is the same determination that drove his rugby career that is fuelling his charity work and his desire to further research. He encouraged pupils to make the most of all opportunities and experiences offered to them and discussed the benefits of sport for health, wellbeing and being part of a supportive community.

Doddie was invited by S1 pupil Holly Berry-Shotton, a member of the school’s active Charities Committee. Holly’s Grandad lives with MND and she, along with her fellow committee members, were keen to raise awareness as well as money for this cause.

Following a discussion with her parents, Holly emailed My Name’5 Doddie Foundation. Doddie explained it was this personal approach that led to his visit: “This is the first time I have gone to school after receiving an email from a pupil. Holly’s message spoke about her Grandad and the work Dunbar Grammar pupils were doing to raise awareness and funds. I’m really grateful to her and the school for inviting me and for all that they’ve done,” he said.

Doddie Weir was awarded an OBE in the Queen’s 2019 New Years Honours List for services to rugby, Motor Neurone Disease research and the Scottish Borders community.

 

EU Settlement Scheme

On 21 January 2019 the prime Minister announced that there will be no fee when the EU Settlement Scheme fully opens on the 30 March 2019. 

If you have already applied you will have your fee refunded. However, there are no details on the refund policy at this stage. Once the details are announced we will provide you with an update.

Who Should Apply?

If you’re an EU citizen or a family member of an EU citizen, you’ll usually need to apply if you want to stay in the UK after 30 June 2021.

This includes if you either:

• were born in the UK but are not a British citizen
• are married to a British citizen and you’re from the EU

You do not need to apply if:

• you’re an Irish citizen - your family members from outside either the UK or Ireland will still need to apply
• you have indefinite leave to enter the UK
• you have indefinite leave to remain in the UK

You can apply if you already have indefinite leave to remain in or enter the UK, but you do not need to.

Your family members from outside either the UK or Ireland will still need to apply even if you do not need to.

WHERE CAN I FIND OUT MORE?

Please refer to the Home Office websites:

https://eucitizensrights.campaign.gov.uk/

https://www.gov.uk/settled-status-eu-citizens-families

This site is kept up to date and provides vital information and guidance to those who need to apply.

New system for booking pool cars to be launched

A new, easy-to-use system for booking out pool cars is to be introduced at John Muir House.

Anyone wishing to book a pool car will soon need to use Enterprise Car Club self-service.

The first step is to register for an account – you can sign-up now. When registering enter your work email address and the postal address for John Muir House.

You will be asked to insert a date of birth. You should use the generic date of 01/01/2000 instead of your own personal date of birth. You can enter your line manager’s details as ‘Emergency Contact’.

Those who are not existing users of pool cars will then be contacted by Transport Services to arrange a familiarisation drive in one of the pool cars.

You will be able to make bookings and access your account via the Enterprise Car Club website. After booking a car you will receive a confirmation email with instructions. The car allocated will be accessed using your staff ID card and you will be given a passcode to start the vehicle.

The advantages of our electric pool cars include:

• Reduced emissions
• An allocated parking space on your return to John Muir House
• Less wear and tear on your own vehicle

Enterprise Car Club self-service has already been introduced for colleagues working at Randall House.

We will also be taking delivery of some new vehicles which means our fleet of pool cars at John Muir House will soon consist of six electric vehicles. The Enterprise team will be visiting John Muir House staff to meet staff and answer any questions they may have – look out for more information in due course.

 If you have any questions in the meantime, please email transportservices@eastlothian.gov.uk

Council Roll of Honour

Across the council individuals, teams and departments have achieved recognition and awards for their innovation and ideas. We would like to ensure that all are recorded and acknowledged. If you know of any recent award please send in details to Hazel Boak.

In the past year East Lothian Council has achieved:

• A double award win at the 2018 APSE Scotland Striving for Excellence Awards. Gold award in the Parks, Grounds & Streets category and a silver award in the Fleet category at APSE Scotland’s Fleet, Waste and Grounds seminar
  
  
• Alan Smith, apprentice joiner, was awarded the 1^st Year Apprentice Award in the APSE Scotland Building & Housing Apprentice of the Year Awards
  
  
• Roads Services shortlisted as finalist in the APSE UK awards - ‘most improved performer in roads, highways and winter maintenance
  
  
• Council – Recognised for Excellence from Quality Scotland – 4 Star Award
  
  
• Community Housing – Scrutiny Excellence Award from Tenants Information Service
  
  
• Dunbar Grammar and Knox Academy – finalists in the Scottish Resources Awards 2018 in the Best Partnership Initiative Award
  
  
• The East Lothian Library Service made the shortlist for The Bookseller’s Library of the Year Award
  
  
• Eight beaches won Scottish Beach Awards from Keep Scotland Beautiful
  
  
• Yester Primary were awarded three highly regarded eTwinning National Quality Labels
  
  
• Agnes Guyon won the inaugural Youth Libraries Group Public Librarian award
  
  
• East Lothian Rangers Service were presented with certificate acknowledging role as a long-standing provider and assessor of the Scottish Junior Ranger programme
  
  
• Longniddry Primary received a ‘Rights Respecting School’ award from UNICEF UK.
  
  
• Council received Bronze award for Armed Forces Covenant work

Government recognises innovation at Innerwick Early Years

Innerwick Early Years Setting has been recognised as a setting of innovation and impact for Early Years and Childcare by the Scottish Government. The nursery is one of only six settings across Scotland that has been chosen for a project that will see its work shared across the country so that others can learn from it.

The Scottish Government had committed to identifying excellence in Early Years settings as part of its expansion of early learning and childcare. The evidence can be developed and shared across the sector, raising awareness of pioneering practices that offer the best outcomes for children.

Following extensive self-evaluation, Innerwick’s early years team spent time developing its approach to play-based learning, introducing loose parts play and developing creative ways that make positive impacts for the children. Children in the nursery are fully involved in planning their day through ‘map-do-review’ to choose their activities. During its 2016 visit to the nursery, the Care Inspectorate reported that this process encouraged reflection, commenting that children were actively engaged in play and encouraged to be independent through a range of opportunities including outdoor play. Feedback from parents has been very positive with many noting that the stimulating experiences their children receive at nursery have changed how they play at home.

Innerwick’s Senior Early Years Practitioner Sarah Laing said: “We are extremely passionate about children’s right to play and the many benefits it brings. Our children play with a real intensity and can hold their attention on their ideas for a sustained period. They are imaginative, resourceful and work well together when playing inside or outside. Involving and including families has been vital and it’s great to hear that they are also seeing a positive impact at home from the stimulation children receive in nursery.”

A small team drawing together Scottish Government Improvement Team, Care Inspectorate and Education Scotland will work with Innerwick nursery staff to develop evidence of their innovation so this can be shared along with details from the other five settings.

Single primary school for Prestonpans to proceed

Plans to create a new, single primary school for Prestonpans are to go ahead after Scottish Ministers advised that they will not call in the proposal.

The proposal to close Prestonpans Infants and Prestonpans Primary schools and establish a new primary school covering Nursery to P7, operating from the existing school sites, followed a statutory public consultation. Councillors agreed to progress the plans at a council meeting on 11 December 2018.
 
This decision needed to be ratified by Scottish Ministers. Confirmation from Scottish Government that it will not call in the proposal means that our Education Service can proceed with its proposal to establish a new primary school for Prestonpans.

Fiona Robertson, Head of Education, said:

“Prestonpans is the only area in East Lothian where nursery to p3 and p4-p7 are taught across two schools. We believe that having one primary school, working under a single management structure, will benefit pupils at all levels of their learning as it does elsewhere in the county by ensuring a smoother progression through school and better coherence across the curriculum at all ages and stages. Education Scotland has recognised the potential educational benefits and opportunities for greater coherence in the curriculum.

“We have written to staff and parents to advise them of this decision. Our priority now is to work with the Headteachers and the Parent Council Chairs in both schools, and to support staff, parents and pupils during the move to a single primary school.

“We are grateful to everyone who responded to our consultation and are mindful of the range of views that were shared through this process. We are committed to working closely with all staff, parents and pupils to establish a new learning community in Prestonpans that will deliver the best educational outcomes.”

Out of Africa!

Well done to the team of amazing fundraisers led by Ray Montgomery who have just returned from successfully climbing Kilimanjaro in aid of Cancer Research UK.

Over the past 6 years, following the death of valued colleague, Vera Cameron, colleagues, friends and family of Vera have embarked on a range of challenges to raise funds for a number of cancer charities.

After Maggie’s Monster Bike and Hike, Ben Nevis Charity Challenge, West Highland Way and climbing the three highest peaks in the UK, 9 intrepid adventurers put their best feet forward and flew out to Tanzania to climb Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest peak in Africa.

Ray said: “It was an incredible experience which challenged us all. Walking from the base up to the summit included a range of extreme temperatures from tropical heat to -10 at the mountain top. I would like to thank all of our supporters over the years who have helped with our training, event preparation and of course with their generosity for our fund raising.”

Since 2012, the fundraisers have raised more than £70,000 for cancer charities.

Give Blood

Stocks of some blood groups are currently low.

Find out if you can become a donor with the ScotBlood quiz.

This month in East Lothian you can give blood at the Brunton on Sunday 24 February: 10.30-12.30 and 14.00-15.30 and Monday 25 February 14.30-16.00 and 17.30-19.30

Health and wellbeing at local libraries

East Lothian Libraries have a variety of resources and groups to encourage and contribute to health and wellbeing within our community.

We have 12 libraries which have a variety of resources, fiction and non-fiction for a variety of age groups. We also have a healthy reading scheme which is a range of self-help books, fiction and non-fiction books for children, young people and parents to help understand and cope with a variety of health conditions and events.  These resources are aimed at tackling issues that can arise in childhood and ADHD, anger, anxiety are just some of the topics covered.  See the Special Community Services page for more information.

East Lothian libraries currently provide books to 36 book clubs within the East Lothian Area, some are based within our various libraries and some are private book clubs. East Linton and Haddington libraries also run ‘Walk and Talk’ book groups, where books are discussed whilst out walking. Aging Well and Changes groups also run walking groups that leave from Dunbar Library.

We also run and/or support a variety of community groups, some of which are to support those affected by specific health conditions, to encourage socialisation and to promote wellbeing.

There are two Cancer Support groups that currently run at North Berwick and Dunbar Libraries.

At Dunbar library, there is a Dementia Carers group which provides an opportunity for people with dementia and their carers a change to get together and meet others. There is also a Singalong group which provides uplifting music and afternoon tea for older people and their carers. Dunbar library also has dementia friendly resources.

Haddington library run a Sporting Memories group for men over 65. This was set up to promote and improve wellbeing and the lives of older men through conversation and reminiscence using sporting memories.

Other groups within our libraries include a smoking cessation group, Pans Pals for people over 60, ‘Yin’ O Oo’, a chat and social group. At Prestonpans library, midwives run an antenatal class with attendees at classes arranged though midwives and currently at Musselburgh library there is an NHS Speech and Language Therapy drop in being run for parents with concerns about their children’s listening and talking.

We also have number of craft groups and ‘Knit and Natter’ groups that run in various libraries.

Other services include the Hospitals and Homes service that provides material to sheltering housing complexes, residential homes and hospitals and we provide a Home Library Service to those that are housebound and unable to attend the library. Bags of books are made up according to their interests and delivered to recipients by volunteer drivers.  

Hearing aid batteries are also available at all our branches. Online applications for blue badges can be made in all our branches by appointment. Applications for disabled bus passes and Concessionary bus passes can also be made.

Please contact your local library to see which groups are being run or alternatively contact the Digital and Adult services at Library and Museum Headquarters.  Please also get in touch if you have any Health and Wellbeing ideas.

Win guide books

As the days slowly get brighter and longer with Spring just around the corner get ready to explore the East Lothian section of the John Muir Way and the John Muir Link with two wee books produced by Friends of John Muir’s Birthplace.

There are 2 sets available to win. To enter simply send your name and contact details to Inform