Chief Executive, Laurence Rockey
Welcome to the October edition of Inform.
This month’s edition highlights some of the diverse work taking place across our council, from our workforce travel survey and new council housing developments to activities in our museums and a report from a recent Resilient Communities workshop. There is also a helpful update regarding our employee benefits programme.
I was delighted to see the finalists announced for this year’s Inspire Awards. As a judge, we had some incredibly difficult decisions to make as we received a significant number of high-quality nominations. To be nominated – even if a colleague hasn’t ultimately been named as a finalist – is an achievement to be proud of. I’m now looking forward to celebrating with colleagues on 26 October and recognising the outstanding contributions that employees and teams make every day across East Lothian. It should be another great event!
Many of you will have seen recent media coverage and my recent updates regarding the Scottish Government’s proposals for significant structural change within local government. I think it’s important to mention this in Inform also. I want to emphasise, that these proposals are at a very early stage and form part of a wider discussion with councils and the sector. Importantly, no changes would take effect during the term of the Council elected next year, meaning nothing is happening imminently.
While I recognise that reports of potential change may cause concern or uncertainty, please be assured that we are actively engaged in discussions at both local and national level. There will be many months of consultation and debate ahead, and we will keep you informed as matters develop.
Across East Lothian, our workforce makes a vital difference to communities, and we have a strong track record of delivering excellent services and positive outcomes for residents. As discussions progress, we will actively engage in the process to ensure the interests of our communities, employees and local area are fully represented. We will continue to make the case for the importance of local knowledge, local relationships and strong frontline services.
In the meantime, if you have concerns or questions, please speak with your line manager or Head of Service.
Alongside these wider discussions, it is a busy period and we are preparing for the next full Council meeting later this month. Recently, I attended the annual energy conference in Haddington, where discussions included the important role East Lothian plays in the energy sector and ongoing conversations around data centres. I was also pleased to meet with Head Teachers at Blindwells Primary School to discuss our education priorities and the opportunities ahead.
As always, thank you for your continued hard work and commitment. There is a great deal happening across our council, and I’m grateful for everything you do to support our communities.
Laurence