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RuralACE <ruralace@slc.ac.uk>Mon, 27 Nov, 15:20 (7 days ago)Reply
to Karen From the Rural Academy – Lanark The Rural Academy is offering the following free Courses in January 2024. The Education Support Assistant course: The ESA course is free and available anyone over 16 year of age and officially left school and who are looking to work in the education sector in the Clydesdale area. The course duration is 6 months - January 2024 to June 2024. 3 days per week - 2 days in the classroom (tbc) and 1 day on placement (tbc) in a local school and the other 2 days are for self-study at home. The course is designed to be taught during school hours (9.15/9.30am - 2.45pm). The modules you will learn will include Play in Early Education and Childcare, Supporting Language, Literacy and Numeracy in an Educational Setting, and Supporting Children & Young People who require Additional Support Needs, are designed to get you ready to assist teaching in a class at all levels of educations - Nursery, Primary and High School as well as ASN Schools and classes. As the college works in partnership with South Lanarkshire Council, they will guarantee those who have submitted a successful application an interview with the Council for a post of Education Support Assistant. On completion and successful achievement of the 6-month course, you will gain the Personal Development Award in Education Support Assistance. The NPA in Admin Services and Numeracy course: The course is 2 days per week starting w/c 22nd January (days have still to be decided). The hours are 9.15/9.30am to 2.45pm to suit those with children at school. The course will be based in Lanark, 2 Hope Street, Lanark. This course will include numeracy skills at a level that is suitable for you. The other units include:
I would be grateful if you could circulate or display the attached poster to the parents, volunteers, clients and participant within your school and community. Contact me at the email or number below for further information. Thanking you in advance and hope to hear from you soon if you have any questions. Kind Regards Justine Naidoo | Rural Academy Employability Assistant 0781 3367422 ruralace@slc.ac.uk www.slc.ac.uk Rural Academy, 2 Hope Street, Lanark, ML11 7LZ South Lanarkshire College, College Way, East Kilbride,G75 0NE
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Biggar Community Council
Minutes BCC AGM meeting on 20 Nov 2023 at 7pm Venue: Biggar Library # ITEM a Recording of membership present and apologies received : Elected Members Present: Jimmy Richie, Roger Curtis, Gilllian Gardner, Caz Alcorn, Helen Leslie, Alan Wilson. Absent: Laura Shirley Other Members Present: Neil Ingram - Associate, Ben Waine- Associate. Ian McAllen -Ex Officio SLC, Alex Allison – Ex Offico SLC. Not Present: Ralph Barker - Ex Officio SLC, Mari McAllen MSP, David Mundell MP b The minutes of the last annual general meeting of the Community Council to be submitted for adoption. The secretary had not been able to find them and so sent them to BCC members on the 27th Nov by E Mail. c Chairperson’s Annual Report He listed items that had been the concern of BCC during the year including: graveyard wall, street lighting, Story Homes , Burn Brae litter, Paddling pool, Litter Picking, Bigger Bonfire, Police support, Biggar Park. He thanked the members for their support. d Secretary’s Annual Report. He outlined the process of producing agendas and minutes and sending out relevant items that had come on the BCC E mail, to members and placing them on Facebook and Weebly. e Treasurer’s submission of Balance Sheet and Annual Accounts – this was given by Lesley Craise acting as treasurer. f Standing down of current office bearers/election of office bearers None were standing down, Lesley Craise was unanimously voted in as Treasurer g Adoption of Constitution - adopted h Chairperson to declare date of next annual general meeting and close meeting. Date to be decided in 2024 Committee Meeting To Follow The AGM
Meeting of Biggar Community Council 20 Nov 2023 Venue: Biggar Library. Time 7:40pm Present: Jimmy Ritchie Alan Wilson, Lesley Craise , Neil Ingram (Associate Member) Helen Leslie, Roger Curtis (Secretary). Caz Alcorn, Gilllian Gardner, Apologies: Laura Shirley, Ben Wane Ex Officio: Ian McAllan (SLC), Alex Allison (SLC). 5 members of the public were present, including 3 people who currently use the caravan site, and 1 from the golf club
Matters arising from the minutes of 16 Oct Caravan Park The letter from SLC of the 15th November was presented to the meeting ( see appendix). Councillor Allison said that David Booth. Executive Director, Community and Enterprise Resources, SLC would like to attend our next meeting on the 18th December 2023 to explain the situation. It was agreed that the Secretary will send a letter giving details of the time and venue. The meeting felt that any development of BiggarPark should be for the benefit of all residents of Biggar, including Caravaners’ and the Golf club Kello Hospital The BCC has issued details sent from the NHS concerning new opening times for Kello Hospital these are: “Appointments can be scheduled by calling Lanark treatment room at 01555 667150. * There is a specific wound clinic in Biggar (located within the out-building at Kello Hospital) that was established when the minor injuries service was suspended. It is well-utilised, and the hours are being extended due to demand. The clinic is scheduled on Tuesdays and Fridays (13:30-16:00), and starting from November 7th, the Tuesday clinic will be operational from 09:00 to 16:00. Appointments can be booked via the Lanark treatment room number mentioned above.” Bus Times Stuarts have issued a new bus time table. It is hoped that will be more reliable. Bonfire This is on track. It was reported that no consumption of alcohol will be allowed on the street, nor any children’s flames. Adoption of Minutes of Previous Meeting (16/10/ 23). The minutes were then approved. Proposed by Lesley Craise, seconded by Allen Wilson
“Community Council-Police Report 16/10/2023 Police update –16/10/23 - 13/11/23 28 incidents were recorded for Biggar during this period. For comparison, in the same time period 174 calls were received for Lanark and 215 for Carluke. 3 crime reports were raised – these were in relation to 2 x Culpable & Reckless Conduct and 1x Fraud. From my analysis of incidents and crime reports there is nothing to indicate any other specific trends that should cause any concerns to the local community. Please report any incidents to police by either phoning 101 or using the online reporting tool on the Police Scotland website. Community Police officers can also be contacted by emailing LanarkshireLPSTClydesdale@scotland.police.uk PC Alan Kerr Q1240 PC Ross Allan Q646”
Windfarm plans – plan includes and reduction of four turbines and to include current access road
Gillian Gardner raised the issue about BIggar applying for a “Biggar in Bloom” recognition, and to have a license for a Farmers’ Market. Both items were approved by the BCC. Funding for the Clydesdale Walkway has been approved by the Government.
Appendix:
Wed, 15 Nov, Dear Mr Curtis, Thank-you for your letter from Biggar Community Council received on Thursday 19th October. Apologies for the delay in responding. I appreciate you seek assurances around storage of caravans until the new arrangements for the caravan park are agreed. Firstly, I would like to provide you with the following update on plans for the park. The Council has made this difficult decision to close Biggar Caravan Park taking into account the current standard of facilities available at the site and the necessary investment required to bring the park up to an acceptable standard. The caravan park will cease trading for a period of no less than a year from 31 March 2024, giving the Council time to look into options for the future of the wider park, considering market interest in the site and the outcome of a public consultation on the park. Currently, no decisions have been made on what services will be provided at the park in the future. Separate to this, the Council’s contract with the current provider of management services at Biggar Caravan Park will come to an end on 31 March 2024. You have asked about an extension for the caravanners beyond the 31 January date (the date you state the service provider says he is closing down the site). However, the Council has no legal basis for intervening on matters related to use of the site during the period January - March 2024, and any arrangements caravan owners have with the above provider are strictly between those two parties. South Lanarkshire Council cannot therefore become involved in discussions relating to these arrangements. Nevertheless, the Council expects all caravans to be removed from the site no later than 31 March 2024 and will be issuing a public notice to that effect over the next couple of weeks You asked about the contractual obligations when the site contract expires, especially in relation to remedial or repairs. I can inform you that the current service providers’ contract is for the provision of management services only i.e. it is not a full repairing and issuing lease. That said, there are general cleaning and maintenance obligations on the Council and the operators. I note that there will be many caravanners who will have enjoyed long-term seasonal residency at the site and apologise for any upset caused. I hope this gives you some further information which you can relay to your members. Regards Michelle Michelle Wilkie Performance and Policy Development Manager Enterprise and Sustainable Development Service Community and Enterprise Resources Council Offices, Floor 7 Almada Street, Hamilton, ML3 0AA Mobile: 077168 72992 Email: michelle.wilkie@southlanarkshire.gov.uk Biggar Community Council
Agenda BCC meeting on 20 Nov 2023 at approx. 740pm following AGM Venue: Biggar Library # ITEM 1 WELCOME AND APOLOGIES 2 NOTIFICATION OF AOCB 3 ADOPTION OF MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING ( 16 Oct 23) • Outstanding Actions • Matters Arising including replies from letters sent out ref: Caravan Park, Kello, Buses 4 APPOINTMENT OF NEW MEMBERS 5 MATTERS RAISED BY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC - Bonfire progress Dangerous pavements near Spa shop - 6 ITEMS FROM BCC E MAILS, FACE BOOK PAGE, BIGGAR COMMUNITY PAGE: 7 POLICE REPORT 8 SLC COUNCILLORS’ REPORTS 9 TREASURER’S REPORT including progress on signature mandates with RBS 10 WINDFARM MICROGRANTS 11 PLANNING MATTERS 12 OTHER MATTERS 13 AOCB Many thanks for your recent enquiry relating to Kello hospital.
I have noted the wider interest you refer to and thought it might be helpful to set out the background in terms the current provision of care at Kello hospital, particularly in relation to minor injuries. Firstly, I want to provide an overall and absolute assurance that our primary focus remains on patient safety across Lanarkshire through what continues to be a period of exceptional challenges. At the onset of Covid-19 pandemic, NHS Lanarkshire made the difficult decision to suspend the minor injury service at Kello Hospital. The continued pause of the minor injuries service is primarily and unfortunately related to broader staffing pressures across the NHS in Lanarkshire and Scotland and our obligations to ensure safe staffing arrangements across our services. It is important to recognise that nursing in a minor injuries context requires further qualifications and an enhanced skill set in addition to providing care in the main unit of the community hospital (or any given hospital environment). Recruiting staff with the minor injuries skillset to the community hospitals is exceptionally difficult at this time. Similar challenges also apply to the logistics of training existing ward staff in a way that does not disrupt the delivery and prioritization of care for existing inpatients or those in the community. We also remain especially vigilant regarding Covid-19 as we enter the winter months, aiming to protect both our workforce and our particularly frail patients. Given the challenges in recruiting the workforce required for the safe delivery of the service it is regrettably not possible at this time to specify when the minor injuries service at Kello Hospital can resume. We appreciate that this is frustrating. We are committed to ensuring appropriate care is available to the communities of Clydesdale, for example with the recent extension of our Hospital at Home service into the locality. In terms of available support, I would also highlight the following: From Monday to Friday, appointments are available at local treatment rooms across Clydesdale for many aspects of care, including minor burns, cuts, and wounds. Appointments can be scheduled by calling Lanark treatment room at 01555 667150. Choose an item. Phone: 0303 123 1008 Email: @southlanarkshire.gov.uk * There is a specific wound clinic in Biggar (located within the out-building at Kello Hospital) that was established when the minor injuries service was suspended. It is well-utilised, and the hours are being extended due to demand. The clinic is scheduled on Tuesdays and Fridays (13:30-16:00), and starting from November 7th, the Tuesday clinic will be operational from 09:00 to 16:00. Appointments can be booked via the Lanark treatment room number mentioned above. *I would also like to remind you that we actively encourage anyone requiring minor injuries services to initially contact 111, where they can receive remote assessment and advice on the most appropriate treatment option, including attending a dedicated minor injuries unit at one of the local hospitals if necessary. I do understand that this response may not provide the answer you were hoping for regarding the minor injuries service. However, I hope the information about available alternatives is helpful. I also want to emphasise that senior management, clinical leaders and staff are diligently directing and prioritising available resources and expertise to where it's needed most, including in our rural areas, during this time of unprecedented challenge. Thank you for your continued support. Yours sincerely Lesley Thomson Nurse Director
Meeting of Biggar Community Council 16 Oct 2023 Venue: Biggar Library Present: Laura Shirley , Alan Wilson, Lesley Craise (Acting as Chair), Neil Ingram (Associate Member) Helen Leslie, Roger Curtis (Secretary) Apologies: Gillian Gardner, Jimmy Ritchie Ex Officio: Ian McAllan (SLC), Alex Allison (SLC). 3 members of the public were present, including 2 people who currently use the caravan site.
Matters arising from the minutes of 18 Sept Caravan Park The reply from SLC was read out and discussed. Their letter is attached as an appendix to these minutes. It was agreed to reply to this letter expressing the concerns of the Caravan owners who may be forced to leave the site by the end of January 2024. The Community Council felt that it was reasonable that SLC allow them to stay on the site until new arrangements were agreed. It was noted the existing contract to run the park would formally end on the 31st March 2024. Kello Hospital The committee studied the letter received from the NHS (copy attached). It was agreed that the Secretary would write back saying that the information given in the last two bullet points was new to the committee members and further clarification was needed. Bus Times The Secretary reported that there had been no reply to the letter sent to the bus company. The traffic commissioners had forwarded our letter to their Scottish Office Adoption of Minutes of Previous Meeting (19/9/ 23). The minutes were then approved. Proposed by Alan Wilson, seconded by Helen Leslie
Bonfire Progress – the bonfire committee had been due to meet 10 October. There has been no information issued as yet. Councilor Allison advised that for next year, if the bonfire committee wanted to enlarge the size of the bonfire then they should seek permission early on in 2024. AGM Arrangements – this to take place on the 20th November 2023, at 7pm followed by the Committee Meeting. The venue to be the Library. Note the order of the meetings is in line with the BCC constitution.
Community Council-Police Report 16/10/2023 Police update –18/09/2023 – 16/10/23 35 incidents were recorded for Biggar during this period. For comparison, in the same time period 215 calls were received for Lanark and 219 for Carluke. 3 crime reports were raised – these were in relation to 1 x assault, 1 x Threatening behaviour and 1x Road Traffic matter. From my analysis of incidents and crime reports there is nothing to indicate any other specific trends that should cause any concerns to the local community. Please report any incidents to police by either phoning 101 or using the online reporting tool on the Police Scotland website. Community Police officers can also be contacted by emailing LanarkshireLPSTClydesdale@scotland.police.uk PC Alan Kerr Q1240 PC Ross Allan Q646
Incentive Account This account contains several funding streams, as well as the Incentive Fund itself, namely Incentive Fund Currently £376.56 Glenkerie Windfarm Currently £272.60 Lesley has completed the necessary paperwork for the top up. CAP (Community Action Plan) Currently £911.31 Clyde Extension Windfarm Currently £1445.27 Clyde Windfarm Account Currently £2017.00 Business Account Currently contains £372.00 Signature Mandates with RBS - it was confirmed by Lesley Craise that Roger Curtis has now been given a mandate by the bank to sign cheques.
Lanark Bus Station – Neil Ingram explained the latest developments as a result of objections by Morrisons. Review of Planning and Historical Environment in Biggar – there is a meeting due to take place early November.
Concern was expressed by the change to free dental provision by the NHS. Free checkups are to be every 2 years instead of every six months. D.O.N.M. 20th November 2023 after the AGM which is due 7pm. Both meetings in the Library. Appendix:
Thank-you for your correspondence dated 19 September on Biggar Caravan Park. We have indeed received the draft version of the consultants’ report in the last couple of weeks, the detail of which is being considered and discussed internally. The report is complex with a number of factors for consideration in relation to likely market interest in the site, necessary capital investment, and the impact on the caravanning community, local tourism and the wider Biggar community. For this reason, we need to consider the options carefully and ensure we have addressed the risks/opportunities raised within the report before carrying out wider consultation. As stated in my earlier correspondence, I am happy to come along to a future Community Council meeting once we have fully assessed the consultants’ report, when I will have more information to give you. South Lanarkshire Council has an occupancy and management agreement with the current service providers in the caravan park. This agreement comes to an end in March 2024. We have informed the service providers that a new caravan contract will not be operational from that time. Depending on the decisions related to the future of the park, there could be further development work required in relation to identifying a new service provider, carrying out infrastructure works and/or developing legal contracts. This will take some time. In terms of communications with the caravan owners, the Council has no oversight over this as the agreements to occupy the caravan pitches are between the caravan owners and the service providers; but as stated last time, we have been informed by the service providers that they have written to the caravan owners informing them of the above developments. I hope this provides you with the additional information you need at this time and we will continue to keep you updated as we progress plans for an alternative business model for the Park. Regards Michelle Wilkie written on behalf of David Booth Michelle Wilkie Performance and Policy Development Manager Enterprise and Sustainable Development Service Community and Enterprise Resources Council Offices, Floor 7 Almada Street, Hamilton, ML3 0AA Mobile: 077168 72992 Email: michelle.wilkie@southlanarkshire.gov.uk
Many thanks for your recent enquiry relating to Kello hospital. I have noted the wider interest you refer to and thought it might be helpful to set out the background in terms the current provision of care at Kello hospital, particularly in relation to minor injuries. Firstly, I want to provide an overall and absolute assurance that our primary focus remains on patient safety across Lanarkshire through what continues to be a period of exceptional challenges. At the onset of Covid-19 pandemic, NHS Lanarkshire made the difficult decision to suspend the minor injury service at Kello Hospital. The continued pause of the minor injuries service is primarily and unfortunately related to broader staffing pressures across the NHS in Lanarkshire and Scotland and our obligations to ensure safe staffing arrangements across our services. It is important to recognise that nursing in a minor injuries context requires further qualifications and an enhanced skill set in addition to providing care in the main unit of the community hospital (or any given hospital environment). Recruiting staff with the minor injuries skillset to the community hospitals is exceptionally difficult at this time. Similar challenges also apply to the logistics of training existing ward staff in a way that does not disrupt the delivery and prioritization of care for existing inpatients or those in the community. We also remain especially vigilant regarding Covid-19 as we enter the winter months, aiming to protect both our workforce and our particularly frail patients. Given the challenges in recruiting the workforce required for the safe delivery of the service it is regrettably not possible at this time to specify when the minor injuries service at Kello Hospital can resume. We appreciate that this is frustrating. We are committed to ensuring appropriate care is available to the communities of Clydesdale, for example with the recent extension of our Hospital at Home service into the locality. In terms of available support, I would also highlight the following: From Monday to Friday, appointments are available at local treatment rooms across Clydesdale for many aspects of care, including minor burns, cuts, and wounds. Appointments can be scheduled by calling Lanark treatment room at 01555 667150. Choose an item. Phone: 0303 123 1008 Email: @southlanarkshire.gov.uk * There is a specific wound clinic in Biggar (located within the out-building at Kello Hospital) that was established when the minor injuries service was suspended. It is well-utilised, and the hours are being extended due to demand. The clinic is scheduled on Tuesdays and Fridays (13:30-16:00), and starting from November 7th, the Tuesday clinic will be operational from 09:00 to 16:00. Appointments can be booked via the Lanark treatment room number mentioned above. *I would also like to remind you that we actively encourage anyone requiring minor injuries services to initially contact 111, where they can receive remote assessment and advice on the most appropriate treatment option, including attending a dedicated minor injuries unit at one of the local hospitals if necessary. I do understand that this response may not provide the answer you were hoping for regarding the minor injuries service. However, I hope the information about available alternatives is helpful. I also want to emphasise that senior management, clinical leaders and staff are diligently directing and prioritising available resources and expertise to where it's needed most, including in our rural areas, during this time of unprecedented challenge. Thank you for your continued support. Yours sincerely Lesley Thomson Nurse Director Biggar Community Council
Agenda BCC AGM meeting on 20 Nov 2023 at 7pm Venue: Biggar Library # ITEM a Recording of membership present and apologies received b The minutes of the last annual general meeting of the Community Council to be submitted for adoption c Chairperson’s Annual Report (any questions) d Secretary’s Annual Report (any questions) e Treasurer’s submission of Balance Sheet and Annual Accounts (any questions)/any changes to bank account f Standing down of current office bearers/election of office bearers g Adoption of Constitution h Chairperson to declare date of next annual general meeting and close meeting Committee Meeting To Follow The AGM Biggar Community Councils Application to Become Council Members There are three Council Member vacancies. If any resident of Biggar wishes to apply please complete an application form that is available from myself at 7 Moss Side Drive on by e mail at rogercurtis18@gmail.com. Please ensure that the form is signed by the applicant either an original or scanned copy. Please complete and return by 15 November 2023 Click h
Biggar Community Councils Application to Become Council Members There are three Council Member vacancies. If any resident of Biggar wishes to apply please complete an application form that is available from myself at 7 Moss Side Drive on by e mail at rogercurtis18@gmail.com. Please ensure that the form is signed by the applicant either an original or scanned copy. Please complete and return by 15 November 2023 |
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