Local Government Archives - Page 4 of 4

Director of Education leaving Comhairle

January 6, 2015

Peter Carpenter will relocate to Abu Dhabi in April.

Comhairle nan Eilean Siar’s Director of Education and Children’s Services, Mr Peter Carpenter, is taking up a new post as a Director of Education in Abu Dhabi.

Mr Carpenter said: “I have enjoyed my work with the Comhairle and I have been privileged to work with so many skilled and able colleagues in the Western Isles.”

The Comhairle’s Chair of Education and Children’s Services, Cllr Catriona Stewart, said; “Peter has met the challenges of running the Education and Children’s Services in the Western Isles during a period of considerable change and it has been a pleasure to work alongside him. I wish Peter every success in his new post.”

Mr Carpenter will start work in the United Arab Emirates in April 2015.

Comhairle backs three Uist projects from capital grant fund

November 21, 2014

Awards have been made to projects based in Lochmaddy, Grimsay and Lochboisdale.

Comhairle nan Eilean Siar has announced significant grant awards in the third-round of its Community Capital Grant Fund (CCGF).

Projects totalling over £2M were awarded £234,977 in funding from the CCGF, including three based in Uist (details below).

Awards were made to five successful community economic development projects in total, each seeking to deliver community projects and create additional employment within local communities.

Cllr Alasdair Macleod, chair of the Comhairle’s Sustainable Development committee, said: “This is the third round of grants awarded to community groups from the Comhairle’s Community Capital Grant Fund. We have seen very high quality applications from community groups wanting to develop facilities. In this round we have helped shoreside enhancements, community facilities, marine development and tourism projects.

“The Comhairle’s Economic Development service is accessible throughout the islands to support and assist properly-constituted groups with projects that will continue to create real economic development opportunities within local communities”.

Community Capital Grants have been awarded to:

Breasclete Community Association (£29,777): A multi-use dedicated pathway will be created between the Callanish crossroads and the Callanish Visitor centre running adjacent to the single track village road which will provide a proper and safe route for all non-vehicle purposes. This will interlink all villages and community facilities, to a world class visitor attraction and complement the forthcoming Hebridean Way.

Harris Development Ltd (£100,000): The project called Harris Marina Hub proposes the installation of floating pontoons in East Loch Tarbert, Harris. The pontoons will be located in the village of Tarbert and on the Island of Scalpay; providing a marina hub for visiting yachts and local pleasure craft. This project will promote the creation of new business, develop marine tourism and provide social opportunities.

Grimsay Community Association (£50,000): The new Centre for Grimsay, North Uist will be an economic, cultural and social hub for the island, to include a cafe, Post Office, community growing and market area, gathering and performance space, local history archive, and be a venue for Gaelic as a living language.

Lochboisdale Development Ltd (£30,000): The aim of the project is to complement the major regeneration project in Locboisdale by increasing visitors to the area, both tourists and from within the wider area. The project will transform the redundant quayside space into a vibrant, attractive and commercially productive area.

Comann na Mara (£25,000): A shoreside development in Lochmaddy will be provided to complement the successful pontoons which were installed earlier this year. The project will develop marine business investment and promote tourism.

The Comhairle’s Regeneration Team administers the Comhairle’s Community Capital Grants Programme (CCGF) and the team has been active in helping to deliver significant economic development opportunities within local communities over many years. Since the launch of the CCGF in July 2013, the Comhairle has recorded a high level of interest and a significant number of Expressions of Interest have been received from a range of community organisations to-date.

The Fourth-round of the CCGF is now open for Expressions-of-Interest, with the closing-date for applications to Round-4 being 30 March 2015. For further information please contact David Macleay, Senior Regeneration Officer on: 01851 622 693, or dmacleay@cne-siar.gov.uk

Comhairle community meals service to commence in Uist and Barra

October 20, 2014

A new community meal service will commence in Uist and Barra on 24th November.

Comhairle nan Eilean Siar is to introduce a pre-prepared frozen meal service on a phased basis, beginning in Uist and Barra on 24th November 2014 and in Lewis and Harris from early 2015.

The development of this service is on the basis of substituting the main meal preparation that service providers currently offer. Service users will still be able to choose whether to have their main meal at lunchtime or tea time. If service users have been assessed as requiring assistance with breakfast, this will also continue.

A well-balanced and nutritious diet plays an essential part in maintaining strength and maximizing good health. Even though energy needs decline through age, the requirement for essential nutrients (vitamins and minerals) does not diminish. The Community Meals Service ensures that the meals provided contain the correct nutrients in the right balance and the nutritional criteria specified by the National Association of Care Catering.

The Assessment and Care Management Team will contact service users shortly with sample menus and information sheets. One option will be for service users to choose from a menu prepared by local company Maclean’s Bakery.

Cllr Uisdean Robertson, Chair of the Health and Social Care Committee, said: “The introduction of this meal service will re-distribute the time taken to prepare meals to enable other tasks and care time to be provided. The consultation proposals for changing how care time is provided will consolidate the time benefits that community meals will generate in releasing time for other priorities. We are committed to providing the best possible care for our older folk, including providing tasty, nutritious meals.”

Comhairle preparing for winter and extreme weather

October 16, 2014

Winter is on the way…

Over the coming winter months, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar aims to provide a comprehensive Health and Social Care service. However, the Comhairle would remind people that there may be extreme weather conditions, which could potentially result in care staff being physically unable to travel to service users’ homes.

The Comhairle will aim to offset this situation and contingency plans will be implemented on behalf of those service users deemed to be most at risk. The service manager with responsibility for home care will be writing to all service users to inform them of the measures that will be adopted in the event of extreme weather conditions ordaining it unsafe for carers to travel.

These arrangements have previously involved amendments to times of service delivery, in close consultation with emergency planners, family and representatives of those in receipt of home care. This model will be applied in the event of such situations occurring in the coming winter period to safely manage care needs.

As an integral part of the winter planning, the Comhairle is also seeking the assistance of the wider community, especially close family members, friends and neighbours, by visiting or phoning vulnerable neighbours in times of severe weather to check that they are safe and well.

It is important for older and vulnerable people or those in poor health, and those around them, to be aware of the potential risks associated with cold weather. In particular, extreme cold can make heart and respiratory problems worse and is a concern where people are not able to heat their homes adequately.

When visiting or calling elderly or vulnerable people, it’s important to check;

If they are generally feeling happy and well
That their homes are adequately heated
That they are getting at least one hot meal a day
That they have all the groceries that they need
That they have all the medication they need

People are advised to:

Have regular hot drinks and, if possible, at least one hot meal a day. Eating regularly helps to keep energy levels up during winter
Wear several light layers of warm clothes
Keep as active as possible
Remember to wrap up warm if you need to go outside
Keep your home at the right temperature – between 18 and 21 degrees centigrade. We are also asking people to take some simple steps during the cold weather to stay warm

Iain MacAulay, Director of Social and Community Services, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, said: “As we prepare ourselves for the winter months it is essential to ensure that the boilers and central heating systems of our vulnerable, elderly friends and relatives are in working order and that an adequate supply of fuel is ordered in advance.

“It’s also very important to check that people are wearing appropriately warm clothing and that they are getting a hot meal. Not keeping warm enough during cold winter months can exacerbate existing health conditions. Staying warm is vital.

“It might seem like a small gesture, but visiting or picking up the phone to call someone living on their own can make a real difference to their wellbeing. We’re encouraging people to take a few minutes out of their day to think of those around them; consider the difference a phone call or visit could make to someone spending the Christmas and New Year period alone.”

The first point of contact for people worried about themselves or their neighbours needing assistance should contact FAIRE on 01851 701702. For a medical emergency call 999.

UNISON calls off strike action planned for next week

October 15, 2014

Public-sector trade union, UNISON, has called off a day of strike action planned for 21st October 2014 while it consults local government members on a last-minute offer from the Scottish Employer (COSLA).

The employers have put forward proposals which concentrate on three areas of the dispute: their future participation in the agreed bargaining machinery; consolidation of the Living Wage; and the deletion of spinal column pay-points below the level of the Living Wage.

With the Living Wage being hugely significant for low paid workers – and the consolidation affecting at least 24 of the 32 Scottish local authorities – UNISON will consult its members on whether this offer is sufficient to halt industrial action in the future.

On the offer from the employers, Alison MacCorquodale, local branch secretary said: “The UNISON members I have spoken to feel that this is yet another insulting offer. Whilst consolidation of the Living Wage will benefit our low paid workers, this last-ditch attempt to appease us does not go far enough. We keep hearing that the economy is in recovery, but where is the money going?”

“Councils are choosing to bank money rather than reward the very people who are keeping public services going. All local government workers in Scotland deserve a pay rise – that’s what a real recovery looks like.”

UNISON members had voted to undertake a programme of industrial action, calling for:

Fair pay – specifically, an extra £1 per hour for all workers in local government. In 2013, the employers imposed a below-inflation award of 1%.
An end to low pay through consolidation of the Living Wage and the deletion of spinal column pay-points below the level of the Living Wage.
The employer to return to the negotiating table to talk about the biggest issues facing local government, including future pay awards. By imposing 1% in both 2013 and 2014 – and refusing to negotiate with the trade unions – the employers were going against long-standing, mutually agreed protocols.

UNISON branch organiser Flora Somerville said: “The employers should not underestimate the anger amongst local government workers at the way they have been treated. They have seen a 14% reduction in their pay since 2007, nearly 40,000 jobs have been lost across Scotland and the cost of living continues to soar. Our members are being pushed to the edge by a government that doesn’t care what happens to our public services or the workforce that provides them.”

The ballot will open on Monday 20th October and close on Monday 3rd November 2014. The Western Isles Local Government Branch will consider their stance on the revised offer at a meeting on 21st October and will make a recommendation to their members immediately thereafter.

Call for moratorium on Outer Hebrides designations

September 24, 2014

A large Special Protection Area is currently proposed west of the Southern Isles.

Comhairle nan Eilean Siar’s Sustainable Development committee today unanimously agreed to call for a ten year moratorium on the introduction of any new environmental designations in the Outer Hebrides.

Speaking earlier today, Cllr Alasdair MacLeod, chair of the committee, said: “The Outer Hebrides are affected by several forms of environmental designations – International RAMSAR designations, Special Protection Area, Special Area of Conservation, SSSIs and Wildland.

“The Outer Hebrides are making a significant contribution towards Scotland’s overall commitment to safeguarding the natural environment. We make a greater contribution than any other part of Scotland, with significantly more of our land under designation than any other part of Scotland. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that we have the highest level of designation and the lowest level of GDP.

“With the introduction of Marine Protected Areas and the potential for new marine Special Protection Areas we can see the potential for our seas to become overly designated in the same way that our land has. For an area dependent on so many forms of marine activity this is a development that we should be incredibly wary of.

“Over the past period the Comhairle has adopted a policy position of only supporting new designations if it could be clearly demonstrated that they had no potential to adversely impact on economic activity and if they were supported by local communities. With the publication of new information in regard to the suite of draft Special Protection Areas, I think the Comhairle’s position should now become stronger.

“I would therefore wish to put forward a new recommendation asking that Comhairle nan Eilean Siar adopt a position of seeking a ten year moratorium on the introduction of any new environmental designations in the Outer Hebrides. I recommend formally writing to both the Scottish Government and the European Commission outlining that position.”

The recommendation of the committee will now go to the full Comhairle next Thursday (2nd October).

Chance to examine plans for the new North Uist Primary School

September 10, 2014

Visualisation of the new North Uist Primary School.

A public exhibition is to be held in Lochmaddy Hall from 6.30 to 8pm on 11th September 2014.

This will include the current site and building plans for Sgoil Uibhist a Tuath, as well as visualisations to explain the consented development.

The event is designed to raise awareness prior to site start and provide a forum for discussion with the project team.

Any queries regarding the event can be made to 3DReid on 0345 271 6300.

On the same day the project team will conduct an external landscape workshop day involving both both pupils and teachers.

Full planning permission was recently granted for the new school.

Director of Education leaving Comhairle

Comhairle backs three Uist projects from capital grant fund

Comhairle community meals service to commence in Uist and Barra

Comhairle preparing for winter and extreme weather

UNISON calls off strike action planned for next week

Call for moratorium on Outer Hebrides designations

Chance to examine plans for the new North Uist Primary School

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