Green Corner
Warning about dangers of blue-green algae
Hot and dry weather conditions have led to increase in algae production. 
East Lothian Council is issuing a reminder to people to be on the lookout for blooms of potentially hazardous blue-green algae in the area’s waterways including rivers and ponds.
Blue-green algae are tiny organisms which develop naturally in lochs, ponds, reservoirs, rivers and in the sea. They are a common seasonal occurrence and waters, which have been affected by agricultural, domestic or industrial discharges, are most at risk of developing the algae. The algae can multiply during the summer months and discolour the water which appears green, blue-green or greenish brown and, occasionally, they clump together to form a scum on the surface of the water. At the shoreline, algal crusts may appear brown to almost black in colour.
People and animals can be affected as a result of direct contact with water affected by blue-green algae and we are advising the public, especially people undertaking water sports, anglers and dog owners, to be alert to the blooms as temperatures rise. If blue green lgae is suspected, people and animals should avoid direct contact and seek advice.
“Our Environmental Health team routinely monitors levels of blue-green algae over the warmer months because of the potential health risk to people and to animals,” explained Councillor Norman Hampshire, Cabinet Spokesperson for Environment.
“Canoeists, wind surfers and swimmers who come into contact with the algal scum or who accidentally swallow affected water can suffer from complaints such as skin rashes, eye irritation, vomiting, diarrhoea, or pains in muscles and joints. These symptoms are usually mild, but in some cases, can be severe.
“The risk to small animals like dogs is significant over the summer months as they tend to drink more water in the heat and may eat shoreline algal crusts. Dog owners should keep an eye on their pets, especially if they come into contact with water which could be affected.
“The public should be reassured that public water supplies are always treated to prevent any harmful effects to health due to blue-green algae.”
Where monitoring reveals higher than acceptable levels of algal bloom, warning notices will be posted at the affected waterways.
Anyone who finds a loch, pond or river which they suspect is affected by blue-green algae and which is not displaying a warning sign, should contact Environmental Health or Sport, Countryside and Leisure on 01620 827365 or 01620 827423. ehts@eastlothian.gov.uk
HWL Practitioners appointments
Massage (location JMH) - Susan Green 
- 3 August 11.00 and 13.30
- 17 August 9.00, 11.00, 13.30, 15.00 and 16.00
- 24 August 09.00, 10.00, 11.00, 12.30 and 13.30
Massage (location JMH) - Angela Jones
- 1 August 09.00, 10.30, 11.30, 12.15, 13.00 and 14.30
22 August 09.45, 10.30 and 11.30
Podiatry (location JMH) - Lesley Nichol 
- 1 August 09.00, 10.30, 11.30, 12.15, 13.00 and 14.30
- 22 August 09.45, 10.30 and 11.30
To check availability and book an appointment please e: hwl@eastlothian.gov.uk
Draft Transport Policy for children, young people and adults using ELHSCP-commissioned transport to access social care resources in East Lothian
New consultation open - please give us your views.
The Draft Transport Policy has been developed by a team of professionals drawn from East Lothian Council (ELC), East Lothian Health and Social Care Partnership (ELHSCP) and Local Area Partnerships. They have reviewed all current policy in relation to transport to social care resources and examined good practice models from other local authority areas. This revised policy draft aims to support sustainable transport provision and procedures for the efficient administration of health and social care transport.
Find out more and take part in the consultation at https://eastlothianconsultations.co.uk/communications/draft-transport-policy-for-children-young-people-a/
We are looking for a new carer representative and a new independent sector representative
The IJB’s remit includes:
- having an overview of planning and commissioning integrated services for health and social care (including approving allocation of integrated budget)
- ensuring a successful partnership between the various stakeholders, for example, clinicians, housing, the third and independent sectors
- providing assurance to the NHS Lothian Board and East Lothian Council that the Health and Social Care Partnership is working within its delegated authority.
Two of our current members are retiring so we are looking for:
- a member who will represent the views of carers
- a member who will represent the views of the independent health and care sector.
If you would like to be considered for membership as a representative of any of the groups above, you will need to demonstrate that:
- you have a comprehensive understanding of the sector you wish to represent
- you can provide evidence of the networks you will be using to gauge the prevailing views in your sector
- you are able to articulate these views and represent the interests of your sector within a collective decision-making group.
For an information and application pack, please email elhscp@eastlothian.gov.uk
Applications must be received by midnight on 31 July 2018.
Interviews in week beginning 20 August 2018
Brunton room bookings
When making Quickbook bookings for meeting rooms at Brunton Hall, i.e. Esk Room 1, Esk Room 2, Esk Rooms 1 & 2 and Regent Room please note that the Meeting Room Accommodation Standards will no longer be added as an attachment to your confirmation email but can now be found on El.net > Room Bookings. 
The Meeting Room Accommodation Standards will assist you in making decisions about your preferred meeting room layout and any equipment that may be required for your event along with other useful information, e.g. Health and Safety, catering, etc.
Once you know your requirements, please email Bookings – Accommodation or tele: Ext 7625. This information will be added to your booking and will allow for the Caretakers to have your meeting room ready prior to your arrival providing enough notice has been given, i.e. 24 hours.”
Congratulations to Library Service
The East Lothian Library Service made the final shortlist for The Bookseller’s Library of the Year Award. 
The judging team noted: "A packed events programme and support for its school librarians gained East Lothian Council Library Service its shortlisting.
'The small council has 12 public libraries and six secondary schools, with the school librarians recently integrating with the public library service. East Lothian is now one of the very few councils in Scotland with a full-time qualified librarian in every secondary school, and the school librarians get professional support and leadership from the Schools & Young People’s Service at the council,specifically from senior librarian Agnes Guyon.
'The library service also has an impressive events programme, making use of support from Creative Scotland and the Scottish Book Trust to hold more than 30 author events last year, including with Judy Murray, cyclist Mark Beaumont, broadcaster Sally Magnusson and Katie Morag creator Mhairi Hedderwick.
'An extensive programme for Book Week Scotland, a young people’s book festival to celebrate the 700th anniversary of a charter granted to the town of Haddington by Robert the Bruce, and a series of adventure talks featuring the likes of writer Benedict Allen and filmmaker Gordon Buchanan are upcoming in 2018.'
"Author visits are something we’ve been really keen on," said area librarian Trina Gavan. "While it’s great to see authors at the Edinburgh Book Festival, that’s not affordable foreveryone. We want to present events that are accessible to everyone."
The library service also has its own book award, the Lennox Award, for titles aimed at those aged five to seven. The nominated authors attend an awards ceremony, while classes of schoolchildren give presentations to champion their favourite short- listed book.
Which? report places East Lothian Council in top tier for food safety
East Lothian Council is in the top bracket of the UK for food safety. 
A new league table put together by consumer magazine Which? covers the whole of the UK and places East Lothian third highest in Scotland and in the top 25% of all UK authorities.
In 2016/17, 88% of East Lothian's food businesses were judged "broadly compliant" by council Environmental Health staff, achieving 98.5% of all planned interventions. ‘Broadly compliant’ is a categorisation that considers each food premises in three areas – hygiene standards, structural standards and confidence in management of the business. Depending upon the nature of any non-compliance, an officer will revisit the business to ensure that the necessary improvements have been made.
Cllr Norman Hampshire, Cabinet Spokesperson for Environment said: "The results of the Which? Report are welcome news for people consuming food in East Lothian. Both local residents and visitors to East Lothian can be assured that the overwhelming majority of our food businesses are fully compliant with current legislation.
"This data also shows that East Lothian Council is keeping up to date with our food inspections, and that we are visiting business at regular scheduled intervals.
"We have over 1,150 food businesses on our database and ultimately the hard work of our Environmental Health team makes this a safer place for our residents and visitors."
In June 2017, Food Standards Scotland audited the food safety function of the Council and reported Substantial Assurance: Controls are robust and well managed, with no required improvements and further identified two areas of Good Practice.
Customers across Scotland asked to use water wisely
Scottish Water is asking customers to use water wisely in their daily activities to help maintain supplies during the current period of hot summer weather.
Following a sustained dry period without any significant rainfall, customer usage has increased significantly. With the current weather conditions forecast to continue, Scottish Water is encouraging people to take simple but important steps to conserve our public water supplies. 
In some areas there has been a 30% increase in demand for water during the summer so far and an additional 140 million litres are currently being produced and pushed through the system every day to meet current customer usage.
Scottish Water has been monitoring the situation closely and managing supplies across the country, including deploying additional resources to move water between distribution areas and tankering water to supplement local networks.
Some water treatment works and distribution networks are working at near capacity to meet demand.
Average reservoir levels are generally normal for this time of year but the current level of usage and continuing dry weather means stocks of stored water available for use are reducing.
Customers are being asked to reduce usage wherever possible. Businesses are also being asked to consider their usage and how they can use water more efficiently. Simple, practical steps which we encourage include:
• Taking shorter showers
• Using a watering can rather than a hose to water plants
• Using a bucket rather than a hose to wash vehicles; only washing windscreens/lights instead of the whole vehicle
• Turning off taps in the home whenever possible
• Using washing machines and dishwashers fully loaded
To help customers use water wisely, advice is available on their website www.scottishwater.co.uk/savewaterscotland or call Customer Helpline on 0800 0778 778.
Council travel insurance
Are you travelling on council or school business? Does your trip involve at least one night overnight stay?
If so, you should ensure that you have adequate travel insurance to cover you in the event of cancellation, curtailment, illness or loss of property. The council has a group travel policy in place available for all Councillors, members of staff and children travelling on approved trips.
Applications should be submitted as soon as you know the dates of your trip but at least four weeks prior to your leaving date, especially during school term times when we are very busy issuing policies for school trips.
- Travel must be for council/school business or excursion either in the UK or foreign travel
- There must be at least one overnight stay
- Any medical conditions may have to be referred to the scheme underwriter
- A risk assessment may be required depending on the activity/country being visited
Some package trips may include insurance-please check you are not paying any additional charge as you cannot claim from two policies.
Applications and queries should be emailed to Protective Services at insurance@eastlothian.gov.uk
All travel applications forms are on ElNet (type insurance & claims forms in the search box). They are undergoing an update but the current ones are fine to use.
Former colleague Archie Martin
Sadly we have been advised of the sudden death of former East Lothian Council colleague, Archie Martin. 
Archie came to East Lothian Council from Orkney Islands Council in October 1990 though he was originally from Musselburgh. Archie worked in Planning as a landscape architect, though he also had a qualification in Planning, dealing with many of the Council’s environmental improvement projects throughout East Lothian under the Scotland’s Gardens Programme banner.
These included the gateway signs and planters to many of East Lothian’s towns and villages, the work on Court Street in Haddington to re-landscape the front of the Council Buildings and Corn Exchange, which used to be a car park, and at Civic Square and Winton Place in Tranent. He also worked on environmental works to improve the common areas of many of the Council housing areas. He also approved work to trees in conservation areas and to tree preservation orders, and provided advice on the landscape aspects of planning applications including appearing at local plan public Inquiries and planning appeals.
Archie took flexible retirement in 2010 and fully retired from the Council in December 2013.
His funeral is tomorrow (Weds 25 July) at 11am at Yester Kirk, Gifford to which friends are invited.