They informed shoppers of the free advice service they provide to help householders reduce their fuel bills and to become more energy efficient.
At the event, Janet McCallum from Alva participated in an energy advice survey and became the winner of the lucky prize draw that was held on the day.
Mrs McCallum stated that she really enjoyed speaking to the energy advisors who provided her with lots of useful tips on how to reduce her fuel bills.
Housing Convener, Councillor Les Sharp who presented Mrs McCallum with her winners voucher said: "The fuel advice workers have helped local people to make savings of £130,000 in the past 12 months by helping them to access the best fuel rates, maximise their benefits and help those who had fallen into fuel debt.
"Many low income earners don't realise that they may be entitled to a warm home discount of £135 and their fuel bills and often miss out on grants and assistance."
The fuel advice team, in conjunction with the Energy Saving Scotland Advice Centre (ESSAC) will be touring the district over the next few months to provide free impartial advice on how to make energy efficiency and fuel bill savings and also how to apply for the warm home discount. They will have stalls at local gala events and within community centres.
To arrange a home visit, arrange to meet a member of the Councils Fuel Energy Team or if you are a member of community group and wish the team to hold a surgery at your community hall call 01259 450000 or email: fuelenergyadvice@clacks.gov.uk.
Alternatively, you can also call the Energy Savings Scotland Advice Centre on 0800 512 012 for support and help with your energy efficiency queries.
The school has been shortlisted for the Active Nation Award thanks to the work that is done in relation to physical activity, sport and active learning, which lies at the heart of the curriculum and school community.
Clackmannanshire Council's Education Convener, Councillor Ellen Forson explained: "The core of this work is the formal PE curriculum delivered using a Council programme which develops skills, fitness and various sports which starts with three-year olds in nursery with the Active Start Programme.
"This work is also a major influence on the health and well being work at Alva Primary School.
"Children are encouraged to participate and then think about improving their performance to develop skills and enhance life styles thus helping improve their future outcomes and encourage other family members.
"They have developed a philosophy over a number of years and base it upon participation, enjoyment, self improvement, sharing success, team work, appreciating the efforts of others, learning to win and to lose and having fun.
"I am delighted for the school being nominated in this category and now to be shortlisted in the final three is a tremendous honour not just for the school but for the whole of Clackmannanshire. I wish them well at the finals."
Alva Primary will join finalists at an awards ceremony at the Hilton Hotel in Glasgow on Monday 10 June 2013 where judges will unveil the winners of each award category.
People in Clackmannanshire are being thanked for nominating their local schools, nurseries or individuals into the Scottish Education Awards 2013 so that their exceptional achievements can be recognised.
The awards, which celebrate the achievements of schools and teachers across Scotland, are open to all publicly funded schools, including secondary, primary, nursery and special schools. There are also categories to recognise and reward the dedication of teachers, head-teachers and support staff across the country.
For further information visit www.scottisheducationawards.org.uk
A specially selected panel of judges selected three finalists in every category. The finalists have been invited to attend an awards ceremony on Monday 10 June 2013.
Full list of finalists for this year's Scottish Education Awards:
Health & Wellbeing Award
Active Nation Award
Literacy Across Learning Award
Numeracy Across Learning
Enterprise and Employability Across Learning (Primary & Early Years)
Enterprise and Employability Across Learning (Secondary)
Aiming High Award
Sustainable Schools Award
Global Citizenship Award
Learning Through Technology Award
Educational Supporter of the Year
Probationary Teacher of the Year
Teacher of the Year
Headteacher of the Year
Lifetime Achievement
Parents as Partners in Learning Award
Gaelic Awareness Award
The Scottish Education Awards 2013 is managed by the Daily Record and delivered in conjunction with Education Scotland and the Scottish Government.
For further information please contact Ashleigh McLucas, Consolidated PR on 0131 240 6420 or ashleighm@consolidatedpr.com
Councillors on Thursday ratified a motion which originally had been tabled before the Housing, Health & Care Committee on 21st March
Council Leader, Councillor Gary Womersley, proposing the motion, said: "This Council opposes the bedroom tax.
"This Council will do everything it can to mitigate the negative effects of bedroom tax. In addition, this Council resolves that for a transitional period of one year, where the appropriate senior officer is satisfied that tenants who are subject to the bedroom tax are doing all they reasonably can to avoid falling into arrears, it will use all legitimate means to collect rent due, except eviction."
The motion was seconded by Depute Leader, Councillor Craig Holden and was unanimously agreed.
The signing of the contract, which was approved on Thursday by the Council will ensure a positive future for the Speirs Centre. It will also make the building, which is a category 'A' listed building, and of historical importance to the area, more easily accessible to meet the needs of the wider community.
The project will also see the restoration of the buildings historic fabric and features and contribute to the regeneration of Alloa town centre. It will see it converted into a modern library facility, with a new ramped access, main entrance and lifts.
Council Leader Councillor Gary Womersley said: "The signing of this contract will eventually ensure the maximum use of an important but underused building by adapting the listed building in a manner which is sympathetic to its character and appearance while enhancing the town centre as a whole.
"The refurbishment of the existing areas on the ground and first floors will provide access to a wide range of public services including heritage information, health and well being support, learning zones and information technologies."
The redevelopment of the Speirs Centre was approved by Council in September 2010, with Marshall Construction Limited selected as the main contractor to carry out the refurbishment on behalf of Hub East Central Scotland Limited.
The contractor is due to start work on the building by the end of this month with the work expected to take 46 weeks to complete.
The redevelopment of the Speirs Centre will create a new modern library a local and family chistory centre, a visitors gateway for information regarding the heritage of Clackmannanshire, displays and exhibits, registration of births deaths and marriages, wi-fi and computers for public use, plus relaxation areas.
The newly refurbished centre will also include a customer service point for information, enquiries and payments and bookings.
The contract will also be a boost for local employment, with Hubco targeting a local workforce to carry out the refurbishments, and in addition will also be offering training opportunities through the contract.
Scottish Futures Trust has injected £190,000 into the refurbishment and Historic Scotland £195,000 towards the overall cost of the contract.
Gordon Shanks has been a foster carer with Clackmannanshire Council for 10 years. In that time he has cared for 38 children.
Provost Tina Murphy attended the awards ceremony at Airth Castle Hotel and was delighted to see Gordon collect his well deserved honour.
She said: "My warm congratulations go to all of the winners and nominees in the 10 categories, and particularly to our own local hero Gordon Shanks.
"This award recognises Gordon's commitment and dedication as a foster carer and also highlights the vital role that foster carers play in the community. It is most appropriate that this award has been given during Foster Care Fortnight.
"Clackmannanshire Council relies on a fantastic group of foster carers to support and care for vulnerable children, including Gordon.
"Being a foster carer can be an incredible rewarding role and we are always looking to attract new carers and to retain those who provide this vital service. Children thrive in families and finding local people who can offer local children a loving family home can be difficult."
The Council is holding a fostering information evening at Dunmar House Hotel, Alloa, from 5-7pm on Wednesday 22nd May. The event is free and refreshments will be provided.
The event, which takes place during Foster Care Fortnight, will give potential foster parents the chance to find out more about fostering; meet social workers from the fostering team; and talk to current carers.
You can find out more about fostering in Clackmannanshire online at www.clacksweb.org.uk/children/fostering
]]>
The new school will be create a 21st century learning environment which will house pupils from St John's and Claremont Primary Schools.
The Council has been allocated funding of £4.05 million from the Scottish Government Schools for the Future programme for the new building.
On Thursday the Council unanimously approved the signing of the contract with Hub East Central Scotland Limited for the design and build of the new school, with the signing taking place today (Monday).
Robertson Construction Limited were selected as the main building contractor to deliver the project on behalf of Hub East Central Scotland Limited.
Council Leader Councillor Gary Womersley, said: "The hub process is designed to bring better value for money to construction projects and drive down costs due to the long term partnering arrangement of the Hub. This contract will represent value for money for the Council.
"It is a very exciting time. We are on track for the school to be completed in 2014.
"Redwell Primary will provide educational benefit to the maximum number of pupils in Alloa West. It will allow for the very effective implementation of the Curriculum for Excellence by making use of flexible learning areas, indoors and out, and promoting interdisciplinary learning across stages and areas of the schools."
Along with lead contractor Robertson's Construction, other's involved will be architects Keppie Design, with the civil and the structural engineers Blyth & Blyth. Wallace Whittle have been appointed mechanical and electrical engineers.
There will be 18 classrooms in the modern energy-efficient building, which will be sufficient to accommodate the projected roll of 434 pupils when the school is due to open its doors for the first time in August 2014. This will also meet the projected future increases in roll due to additional house building in the catchment area.
Councillors this week were shown drawings of the new building and an artists' impression of what the new Redwell Primary will look like.
Councillor Womersley added: "We appear to have a fabulous school facility on the way, which will also be a modern community facility and an asset that the whole of Clackmannanshire can be proud of."
Derek Shewan, managing director for Robertson Construction Group, said: "Redwell Primary School will serve the west of Alloa for many years to come and Robertson is proud to be chosen to deliver such an important addition to the area. We look forward to working with Clackmannanshire Council and the local community to deliver a project which will affect the lives of many of the region's young people.
"As part of our delivery of the new school, we are also looking forward to creating training and career opportunities for local people - further evidence of the new school's long-lasting impact on the community."
Ian Mullen, Chairman, hub East Central Scotland said: "This major investment in local primary school facilities is the latest project in a £500million programme to build sustainable community-based facilities across Forth Valley, Fife and Tayside.
"The long-term nature of the programme will help provide a range of business, employment and training opportunities for local organisations through a structured and measured approach to local community benefits planning. "
Provost Murphy, on behalf of Clackmannanshire Council, said: "This is a tremendous achievement for Alloa Athletic and will give a great boost, not only to Alloa but to Clackmannanshire as a whole.
"On behalf of all elected members of the Council I would like to offer our congratulations to the players, the manager Paul Hartley and everyone involved at the club."
A 3-1 aggregate win over Dunfermline Athletic following the second-leg of the Division Two play-off on Sunday means that the Wasps can now look forward to moving into the First Division of the Irn-Bru Scottish Football League in 2013/14 season.
The 26-year-old Clackmannanshire sportsman has been one of Scotland's leading performers in disability sport over the last few years and this week claimed the Spanish Para-Badminton International SL3 men's singles crown for a second time and won silver in the men's doubles with Dalkeith player Colin Leslie, to become world No1 in the SL3 category.
Provost Murphy said: "I am absolutely thrilled for Alan who has worked extremely hard to have achieved this status. On behalf of the Council I would like to offer my congratulations to him. He has not just brought credit upon himself, his family and Clackmannanshire, but the whole country. He should be rightly proud of his magnificent achievement."
Oliver, who is originally from Alloa and currently works as the Borders Disability Sports Officer, has cerebral palsy which affects his right side, but he played able-bodied football before being persuaded to switch to disability sport.
Alan's next major challenge is the world championships in November this year.
In December the Enterprise and Environment Committee agreed to make a formal offer to the owner and in the event that the offer was declined to commence compulsory purchase proceedings and report the matter to Council.
On Thursday councillors were told that attempts to buy the property voluntarily had failed, as have attempts to get the owners to carry out necessary repairs to the property.
The report to Committee advised Members that a valuation report from the District Valuer had assessed the property as having a "nominal" value but that an inflated offer had been made based on the estimated opportunity cost of avoiding the need for compulsory purchase action. This too failed, so it has now been agreed to obtain the property by a Compulsory Purchase Order.
Council Leader, Councillor Gary Womersley said: "It is perhaps not surprising that the offer has been rejected, given that the owners appear to have a very inflated view of the current value of their property. The owners have repeatedly failed to carry out any significant repairs to the property or address its unacceptable condition.
"The former Alva Glen Hotel has become a dangerous structure and there is little to be gained in prolonging unproductive negotiations if the Council is prepared to go down this route. Further evidence of the continuing deterioration of the condition of the building is the recent direct action the Council has taken in respect of a dangerous chimney on the property."
The Council's Housing Strategy has identified Alva town centre as one where poor property condition needs to be addressed and it is envisaged that the Clackmannanshire Local Development Plan will promote town centre regeneration which will include the provision of affordable and social housing.
The potential redevelopment of this site for housing use would therefore accord with existing and proposed strategies and policies.
This year's celebrations are based around the theme of Bookbug's Big Adventure. Babies, toddlers and their parents will gather at special events across Clackmannanshire to enjoy mini adventures, rhymes, stories and songs. Children who attend the events will also receive a special rhyme mat featuring adventure-themed songs and rhymes, with beautiful artwork provided by Scottish illustrator Cate James.
Bookbug Week events taking place in Clackmannanshire include:
Bookbug in Clackmannanshire is part of Scottish Book Trust's national Early Years Programme, which supports the gifting of 540,000 free books to every baby, toddler, three year old and Primary One in Scotland every year. A total of 2,640 children in Clackmannanshire benefitted from this programme last year, with even more set to receive free books in 2013 and 2014.
The Clackmannanshire Council-run programme also runs regular free story, song and rhyme events called Bookbug Sessions, which attracted audiences of 5,613 parents and children in 2012-13, and are held in libraries and community venues across the region.
Education, Sport and Leisure Convenor, Councillor Ellen Forson, said: "Our regular Bookbug Sessions are very popular with parents, but if you haven't come along to one then Bookbug Week is the perfect opportunity to join in the Big Adventure. It's never too early to introduce books to babies and young children and it can help them to develop a life long love of books. The earlier youngsters begin to enjoy sharing books, the quicker they will develop their language and listening skills and go on to have a head start in school. The Bookbug Sessions are also a great chance to meet other parents, so come along to your local library and catch the book bug."
Anna Gibbons, Scottish Book Trust's Early Years Programme Manager, said: "We're very proud of Bookbug Week, our annual celebration of the Bookbug programme, run in partnership with Scottish library services. Thousands of families come together to celebrate reading with their children at hundreds of libraries across Scotland. Bookbug hopes that everyone will join in with his Big Adventure and spread the message that sharing books with young children is free, fantastic and fun!"
PHOTO OPPORTUNITY: Clackmannanshire children aged birth to five, their families and Councillor Ellen Forson will attend a special Bookbug's Big Adventure celebration at the Bowmar Centre, on Monday 20th May from 10am - 10.30am.
Bookbug Programme - Some Important Facts:
The Bookbug programme encourages all parents and carers to enjoy books with children from as early an age as possible, developing a lifelong love of books in children all over Scotland. Working through locally-based organisations, the programme gives the gift of free books to all Scottish children at around eight weeks, 18 months, three years old and in Primary One, along with guidance materials for parents and carers. Bookbug also aims to foster a love of books through a range of fun activities. Parents wishing to receive a pack should speak to their Health Visitor or contact their local library.
The Bookbug programme is managed by Scottish Book Trust and benefits from sponsorship from children's publishers and central funding from the Scottish Government. Local Authorities and Health Boards also provide funding for the programme through the provision of local staff time and logistics solutions.
For media enquiries about the national Bookbug Programme, please contact Helen Croney on 07751 69 58 54 or email helen.croney@scottishbooktrust.com.
]]>