June 2022

29 June - City Building is buzzing: three schools to benefit!

City Building is buzzing after sales of its honey helped to fund the installation of defibrillators at three Glasgow schools.

In partnership with Unite Staff union to acquire the lifesaving equipment for three Glasgow primary schools: Sunnyside Primary, in the Craigend area of the city; Hazelwood School, in Bellahouston, which caters for pupils with sensory impairment and complex needs; and St Bernard's Primary, located in Nitshill.

City Building adopted three beehives in 2017 as part of its ongoing commitment to protecting the environment. The hives are located in the grounds of RSBi and its new apprentice college, where the bees have ample trees and flowers to forage to produce honey.

After sales of the honey from amongst its workforce raised £225, the Glasgow construction firm partnered with Unite Staff to buy defibrillators for local schools.

There have been increasing calls for defibrillators to be located in all schools. Across the UK Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) kills more than 60,000 people annually including 270 children in schools.

Local teacher, Ms Katie Ewen from Sunnyside Primary School said: "I would like to thank City Building for their generous donation to our defibrillator fund. This has been a tremendous group effort between local businesses, school pupils and their families, and our local community and we are all thankful to have now secured a defibrillator. This life-saving piece of equipment is vital to community safety, greatly increasing the chance of survival from a cardiac arrest. Thank you to everyone involved."

City Building and Unite each paid half of the costs of the defibrillators.

Photograph is Thomas Glavin, City Building's JTUC Convenor and Staff Unite Convenor and Olivia Hazelton, Events and Marketing Support Assistant.

29 June - Become part of the solution - top tips!

There are lots of ways in which we can make small behavioural changes to make our homes and our lives more sustainable.

Every action we take can help make a real difference - we are all part of the solution. Not sure where to start? 

Check out our top tips on how to save energy and become energy efficient both at home and at work on our staff sustainable news pages.  

29 June - Introducing the National Care Service Scotland (Bill)

In 2020 the Scottish Government commissioned the Independent Review of Adult Social Care (IRASC), and a report with recommendations was published in February 2021 - also referred to as 'The Feeley Review'.

The Scottish Government subsequently commenced a national consultation on proposals arising from the initial IRASC in August 2021, which included the development of a National Care Service (NCS) for Scotland.

National Care Service (Scotland) Bill

The Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care formally introduced the National Care Service (Scotland) Bill to the Scottish Parliament on 20 June 2022.

Contents of the Bill along with related information is available on the Scottish Parliament website.

The Bill sets out the principles of and establishes the new National Care Service (NCS) for Scotland, and it will allow Scottish Ministers to transfer a range of services including adult social care and social work services from local authorities to the NCS subject to Parliamentary approval.

With regard to any potential transfer of children's services and justice social work services, the Bill requires a further public consultation to be held and the results to be laid before Parliament alongside any regulations. Ministers will also be able to transfer healthcare functions from the NHS to the NCS.

Our Health and Social Care Partnership's Executive Management Team are currently looking at the Bill to understand what it is proposing and what implications it may have for us.

Staff will be kept updated on developments and progress.

29 June - Council team process pandemic payments : staggering amount!

Over the last two years of the Covid-19 pandemic, our Scottish Welfare Fund (SWF) team in Customer and Business Services (CBS), have worked tirelessly behind the scenes making essential Crisis Grants, Community Care Grants and Self Isolation Support Grant payments to Glasgow citizens.

The SWF provides financial support to people on low incomes or benefits who are facing a crisis or need help to live in the community - it is normally a one-off payment for living expenses or household goods.

In addition, and in October 2020, the Self Isolation Support Grant of £500 was introduced by the Scottish Government for people who would experience reduced earnings because they had to self-isolate. 

The team worked from various locations and right through the Christmas break to ensure that all grant applications were processed and payments made to our vulnerable citizens as quickly as possible.

Sharon Gillespie, Customer Operations Manager said: "During the initial stages of the pandemic restrictions the number of Crisis Grant applications to the SWF fund more than doubled.

"Then with the onset of the Omicron variant the team also had to deal with the high volumes of applications for the Self Isolation Support Grant.

"Although it was extremely challenging at times, the team worked tirelessly to process applications - and did a fantastic job.

"I'd like to take this opportunity to thank everyone in the team and our colleagues across CBS who helped us cope with the unprecedented demand in applications for all their hard work, dedication and commitment in processing these critical payments. It's been awe inspiring and a real cross-service effort. Everyone showed a real sense of determination and compassion to support our citizens, processing nearly 100k grant applications during this time."

More Information

• To find out more about the Scottish Welfare Fund visit www.glasgow.gov.uk/swf

Photo from left to right: Chris McDonough SWF Service Delivery Manager, Donna Fenn Team Supervisor, Graham Wilson SWF Decision Maker and Gary MacGregor Team Supervisor.

22 June - Important staff update - 1 July changes due to Covid Absence Management and Certifying of Fit Notes 

Covid Absence Management

As outlined in our previous Managers' Briefing, the national agreement for a 10 day period of Special Leave to be given to staff suffering from COVID-19 will come to an end on 1 July 2022.

In agreement with COSLA and the Scottish Negotiating Committee for Teachers (SNCT) from this date, if you are diagnosed with COVID-19, it will be recorded and managed in line with our existing Maximising Attendance Policy and sickness pay arrangements. It will be recorded as COVID19 in SAP or through your normal absence reporting returns.

Certifying of Fit Notes

In addition to this, new UK Government legislation comes into force on the same day - 1 July 2022.

This will change who is able to certify a fit note to allow wider Healthcare professionals to ease the growing pressures on GPs and Doctors.

From the 1 July the following health care professionals can certify a digital fit note for you:

• Doctors and GPs
• Nurses
• Occupational Therapists
• Pharmacists
• Physiotherapists

This change does not affect our current requirement for the submission of concurrent fit notes for any periods of absence over 7 days - as outlined in our Conditions of Service - Sickness Absence: Leave and Pay

and Maximising Attendance Policy.

More Information on these Fit notes and these changes can be found here:

• https://www.gov.uk/government/news/more-healthcare-professionals-given-powers-to-certify-fit-notes
• https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/fit-note

22 June - New River Clyde Boom to Net Marine Litter

A boom is set to be built on the River Clyde to net plastic and litter pollution before it heads downstream.

A new environmental scheme will see a steel boom suspended across part of the Clyde to catch debris as it flows towards the sea.

We have teamed up with Marine Scotland, SEPA and Peel Ports to deliver a one year pilot project tackling marine pollution and will remove, weigh and analyse litter caught in the device in a bid to identify the most common types of litter in the river.

The boom will be made of steel mesh panels suspended on floats. It will not impede the passage of fish or other wildlife which will be able to swim under and around it. The removal of debris from the water will also improve the wildlife habitat. Rubbish in rivers can release toxic chemicals which can harm fish and other wildlife which can also ingest or get tangled in litter.

The best location for the boom is currently being decided, but it will be below the weir and will not cross the deepest part of the river channel which is used by boats.

The project aims to reduce litter in the river and also stop it being swept downstream to places like the Arrochar Litter Sink - a spot where winds and tides deliver large amounts of rubbish - including litter from the Clyde. The foreshore at Arrochar lies at the head of Loch Long, a sea loch off the Firth of Clyde.

The boom project support Glasgow's Plastics Reduction Strategy, released in 2019, to tackle waste in the River Clyde and its tributaries as a preventative approach to marine pollution.

Read the full story here.

22 June - Staff urged to start the conversation about Power of Attorney

Look out for the new campaign which aims to make it easier for you to have the confidence to talk about Powers of Attorney (PoA) with the people you support.

You might think it's something you don't need to trouble yourself with because you have a partner, parent, brother, sister or child who'll be there to do that for you, but that's not how it works by law. If you're incapacitated and don't have a PoA, you're in the hands of people who, while doing their best, can't possibly know what matters most to you.

So why not start a conversation on the key question of who you would trust to make the important decisions about your future if ill health meant you couldn't do it for yourself. 

Get involved and find out more

To help you start the conversation a range of online materials and information sessions have been produced by Glasgow City Health and Social Care Partnership and NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde. They raise awareness of the benefits of having a PoA in place - as well as the risks associated with not having one. 

The series of videos are based on research amongst HSCP staff from across the community and shows them having conversations about PoAs - such as who can get a PoA, how to arrange it and how to start a conversation about PoA with your family and friends.

Come along to an information session

• 12 July   Click here to join the meeting
• 19 July  Click here to join the meeting
• 27  July Click here to join the meeting .
• Watch the videos and find out more at  mypowerofattorney.org.uk

22 June - Council's first climate and sustainability board held

The council's inaugural Climate and Sustainability Board was held at the beginning of May. The board, chaired by George Gillespie, Executive Director Neighbourhoods, Regeneration and Sustainability (NRS) and made up of representatives from across the council including other NRS senior managers, finance, legal, corporate estates, economic development and procurement, have come together to make sure that as an organisation we focus our efforts and work together effectively to reach our 2030 net zero carbon target for the city.

The Board's focus will be in making sure we move towards this target at the required pace, primarily through climate mitigation action to cut, avoid or offset environmental consequences like reducing carbon emissions and single use plastic. And, embedding climate adaptation action, to manage the city's response to the effects of climate change that are already having an impact, including flooding through extreme weather occurrences and temperatures.

It will look at a broad range of climate change interests, such as carbon reduction, sustainable development, air quality, sustainable transport, development of a green and circular economy, and adaptation as part of NRS's Climate and Sustainability Programme.

Action in these areas all contribute to the overall aim of making Glasgow one of the most sustainable cities in Europe. One where we can create the conditions for everyone to have access to all that they need for their own wellbeing (the social foundation), without consuming an unsustainable amount of the earth's resources (the ecological ceiling) causing irreparable harm.

The council's main climate change polices, and plans are contained within The Glasgow Climate Plan. In 2019, the council formed a cross party working group to look and the climate emergency, conceiving 61 recommendations to deal with it. Among those proposals was for the council to declare a state of climate and ecological emergency, which it did. Following this, the Council then began translating the recommendations into policy, producing the Glasgow Climate Plan in 2021.

George Gillespie, said:" The Climate and Sustainability Board will provide the oversight and leadership required to ensure that The Glasgow Climate Plan and therefore sustainability is central to the council's every action.

"Becoming a sustainable, carbon neutral city, requires a stream of innovative and sometimes radical projects to transform our city and we will also be assessing partnerships and emerging projects, supporting the ones which will help Glasgow meets its ambitions and targets."

The first meeting agreed the board's role and responsibilities. It also reviewed funding applications to support a range of projects including carrying out a feasibility study to create a pipeline of projects to net zero carbon, discussed unlocking private sector funding as well as receiving a Green Deal update. They also agreed to partner with award winning environmental charity Hubbub to inspire Glaswegians into desirable ways of living that are good for the environment. Hubbub hope to replicate the successful work with Manchester City Council.

It also agreed to join the prestigious Ellen MacArthur Foundation to help us achieve our ambition to be Scotland's first circular city by 2045.

22 June - Don't Miss out - The Dance School of Scotland Presents The World Goes Round: starting tomorrow

This award-winning revue by the great Broadway song-writing duo of John Kander and Fred Ebb, is an eclectic mixture of showstopping hit songs from some of their great musicals and film scores including Cabaret, Chicago, Kiss of the Spiderwoman and New York, New York.

The original production opened off Broadway in 1991 and ran for just over a year. Conceived by the artistic team of Scott Ellis, Susan Stroman and David Thomson, it won numerous accolades including Outstanding Revue from The Drama Desk Awards and The Critics Award.

In this exciting re-imagining of The World Goes Round, the Musical Theatre Students from The Dance School of Scotland pay tribute to the citizens who are the true "Spirit of New York" and who live and work in Americas "City that never sleeps".

This production is made possible in partnership with the technical staff of The Citizens Theatre.

Buy tickets at https://tickets.glasgowconcerthalls.com/27753/27754

Evenings at £18/£15 and Matinee at £15/£12 Concessions

15 June - Thursday 16 June is Clean Air Day

Clean Air Day is a great opportunity to find out more about air pollution, share information with friends and act to make the air cleaner and healthier for everyone.

Air pollution disproportionately impacts upon older and very young people, and on those with existing heart and lung conditions.

Led by Global Action Plan and co-ordinated in Scotland by Environmental Protection Scotland, Clean Air Day brings everyone together to:

• Focus attention on air pollution
• Explain the easy actions we can all take to tackle air pollution
• Build awareness of how air pollution affects our health
• Showcases that a cleaner air future is both possible and desirable

Some of the actions the campaign will be promoting this year include encouraging us to talk about the harms of air pollution and walking those short distances for everyday journeys rather than using the car.

To stay up to date ahead of Clean Air Day 2022, sign up to the newsletter or for more information on how to protect your health from air pollution, head to the Clean Air Hub. 

15 June - People make Glasgow, make it yours

The council in association with People Make Glasgow, has launched a new campaign to increase mid-week footfall in the city centre. As we continue to move forward following the pandemic and the impact it has had on the City, the campaign aims to allow businesses to benefit and maximise their opportunity to recover. It is being financed through the Scottish Government's City Centre Recovery Fund.

Colin Edgar, Head of Communication and Strategic Partnerships said "The city centre marketing campaign targets those in and around Glasgow who are still working from home and reminds them of what the city centre has to offer. It encourages them to make it their first choice for dining out, shopping and socialising. It aims to stimulate the local economy and give a much-needed boost to local businesses after a tough couple of years of restrictions and closures.

"The multi media campaign carries the strapline 'People Make Glasgow, Make it Yours' and features an advert currently airing on STV until 29 June."

You'll find more information on the campaign at https://peoplemakeglasgow.com/spend-a-day-out-in-glasgow-city-centre

15 June - What weighs the same as 15 elephants? 

During the pandemic we reduced our city centre office printing by 50% by finding different and innovative ways of doing things - that's the same weight of paper as 15 elephants!!

So how many sides of paper have we saved over the past couple of years? 

Watch our video to find out and see how you have already helped to make a difference and contributed to reducing our carbon footprint to make Glasgow Greener.

Have you started printing now you're back in the office? 

We want you to be the change - save paper, save energy, save our planet! Before printing anything, ask yourself if you really need to print in the first place - do you really need to print that email, agenda, the papers for your meeting or that report?  

So let's all make a difference and play our part to reduce printing and go paperless - read more about how John has played his part.

John Hetherington - conducting training and sharing documents online

John Hetherington, Business Advisor, Chief Executive Department said: "I used to print multiple handouts and exercises for face-to-face training courses - in a six month period this could equate to around 3,000 pages. The introduction of Teams has provided me with the facility to deliver training courses online and to share electronic copies of handouts and user guides - meaning I no longer need to rely on printed copies of documents.

"Conducting training course online has many benefits - it reduces the time preparing and the printing required to deliver a course, as well as the environmental benefits associated with going paperless."

Do you know there are different ways to review documents without printing?

Check out our top tips to help you go paperless and change your printing habits at:https://www.glasgow.gov.uk/reducepaper

15 June - Glasgow's Low Emission Zone - One Year to Go!

Plans to effectively exclude the most polluting vehicles from driving into our city centre have been given the green light after Glasgow's Low Emission Zone (LEZ) was approved by Scottish Ministers.

Now in place but with a one-year 'grace period', Glasgow's LEZ will be enforced from 1 June 2023.

It will affect all vehicles entering the zone area, with a penalty charge payable if the emission standards are not met. Those with vehicles registered to a residential address within the zone have until 1 June 2024 to prepare.

Gavin Slater, Head of Sustainability, Neighbourhoods, Regeneration, & Sustainability said: "Glasgow's LEZ is an essential measure to protect public health by tackling stubbornly high levels of harmful air pollution in our city centre. Its design also supports wider climate change ambitions by encouraging a move away from private car use towards more sustainable forms of transport."

The LEZ will operate 24 hours a day - all year round and cover an area of the city centre bounded by the M8 motorway to the north and west, the River Clyde to the south and Saltmarket/High St to the east.

Road signage will be installed in the coming months to ensure that drivers are aware of the LEZ boundary and the alternative routes available to avoid the zone area if required.

For full details of how the LEZ will operate including the emission standards, exemptions and what funding support is available, you can visit the council's LEZ webpages.

15 June  - Minister presents industry-leading people award to City Building

Scotland's skills and training minister visited City Building on Thursday 18 May to present the Glasgow business with a historic accolade for developing its young workforce.

City Building is the first ever construction firm, and only the fourth business in Scotland, to achieve the Investor in Young People (IYP) Platinum accreditation.

The new Platinum award is the highest level that can be attained within the acclaimed (IYP) training and development framework. It was launched to encourage employers to prioritise areas including mental health, financial wellbeing, fair work practices and meta skills.

City Building, which has more than 2,000 staff, is Scotland's largest employer of apprentices with around 200 apprentices on its books. It is also the industry's largest employer of female craft trade apprentices, and it has one of the highest pass-out rates for apprentices at 94%.

In a report, Investors in Young People praised the firm for its training and development of its young workforce. It said:

"Young People are at the heart of City Building and continue to be at the centre of your future plans; you passionately believe in 'growing your own' to develop Young People.

"As the largest construction craft apprenticeship provider in Scotland, you are a leading ambassador for attracting, recruiting, developing and retaining Young People. Young People in Glasgow regard you as their employer of choice for seeking a craft or admin apprenticeship because they are aware of your commitment to develop and retain Young People and offer fair work practices. Your commitment to create 2,000 new craft apprentices over the next 30 years and to make an annual commitment to recruit 60 apprentices is commendable."

In recognition of the firm's success, Jamie Hepburn, MSP, Minister for Higher Education and Further Education, Youth Employment and Training Minister visited the business to present its with its latest accreditation and meet with some of its young people.

15 June - Equality, diversity, and inclusion training and support - sign up today

Our equality outcomes 2021-25 make it clear that we will not tolerate inequality and discrimination in the city. These outcomes reflect the diverse needs of our city, employees and the range of services we deliver.

To support our staff to achieve this, we have developed a suite of equality, diversity, and inclusion training and support which includes face-to-face sessions, online learning and information and other resources.

Thom Hughes, Senior HR Officer said: "It's important when we're dealing with members of the public and colleagues that we meet the ethos of our equality outcomes and that we recognise and value each other's differences and treat each other with respect.

Our suite of information and learning opportunities will help staff to do this, there's something there for everyone, no matter where they work. The best thing to do is have a look through the catalogue and what's on Connect. Line managers have been asked to support staff to take part in this learning, any problems with access to courses then ask your line manager to help you."

What's available face-to-face on MS Teams

Our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Training Catalogue 2022 includes 13 courses delivered across 48 events which will support employees across all aspects of equality, diversity and inclusion. The catalogue includes available dates and booking instructions.

What's available internally

Our equality diversity and inclusion area on connect include lots of guidance and factsheets including our Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion Calendar which outlines key events and activities throughout the year.

There are several employee networks you can join with the aim of increasing understanding of our differences. The networks are Black and Minority Ethnic Employee Network, Carers' Network, Disabled Employee Network, Prism our LGBTQ+ Employee Network and our Women's Network, visit connect for more details here.

What's available as e-learning

There are a variety of training available on GOLD. These courses can be completed at any time and can be accessed on personal devices such as home computers. Full details of how to access are shown at http://connect.glasgow.gov.uk/GOLD

Support from Employer Network for equality and inclusion

The council is a member of ENEI (Employers' Network for Equality and Inclusion), who offer a selection of training resources, webinars and updates throughout the year. All staff can access the vast number of members events, free of charge, either at the time or on demand at a time which suits them.

There are also factsheets and resources available. Recent events have included sessions on the menopause, disability awareness and future events coming up soon include Pride Month and dealing with fatigue and long Covid.

To access the information and events simply visit https://www.enei.org.uk/login and register, using your council email. Once signed in, you can access the Resources tab and find many equality related reports, articles, and case studies to help increase your knowledge and awareness.