Building Briefs – February 12th

A late bid to halt funding for a permanent home for the Great Tapestry of Scotland has failed as Scottish Borders Council agreed its budget.

Conservative councillors hoped to block that element of the ruling SNP/Lib-Dem/Independent administration’s plans.

That move failed and the spending proposals were approved.

East Lothian home modernisation programme receives £112m budget boost

More than £112 million is to be invested in East Lothian Council’s housing modernisation programme over the next five years as well as an increase of new affordable housing across the county, it was announced this week.

The local authority said a 5 per cent rise in council house rents will allow the council to continue to deliver significant investment in its existing stock and new build housing without compromising key day to day services such as repairs and housing management.

Councillor Norman Hampshire, cabinet member for housing, said the council is working alongside a number of partners, including housing developers, to deliver more affordable housing in East Lothian.

Funding approved for three carbon reduction projects in Sutherland

The Highland Council has awarded funding to three community groups for carbon reduction projects in Sutherland.

A total of £200,000 has been made available in the 2015/16 Carbon CLEVER Community Grant Fund.

Councillors have now approved funding to The Embo Trust, Ardgay Public Hall Committee and Tongue Village Hall.

The Embo Trust will use the £15,989 it has been awarded towards double glazing the extension to Embo Community Centre, which aims to create a village hub with a hall, café and shop.

The £5,852 awarded to Tongue Village Hall will go towards installing interior wall insulation throughout the building and the replacement of double glazed windows.

Ardgay Public Hall Committee are to receive £658 to enable them to reduce the hall’s running costs by installing new draught proofing and ceiling insulation.

Work continues on plans for Midlothian community hub

Work is progressing on plans to create a new community hub at a village in Midlothian.

The Rosewell Community Trust has successfully secured a derelict site for the facility at Rosewell Mains Steading.

Plans include creating a community cafe, local produce market, arts and crafts centre and general community facility.

Submissions call for Unlimited Doha Design Prize 2016

The British Council, with its partners including the Royal Institute of British Architects and Foster and Partners, have launched an Open Call to invite architects, designers, researchers and other related specialists to participate in the Unlimited Doha Design Prize 2016.

The week long design-residency, from the 18th – 26th of March, offers participants from the UK the unique opportunity to collaborate with colleagues from the Gulf, to explore the theme of ‘The Open City’ and to develop new ideas, innovative design solutions and future practice that will serve to improve the experience of movement and accessibility within cities.

For all the information you’ll need to apply, please download the Unlimited Doha Design Prize Open Call.

Submission deadline is the 28th of February 2016.

Roads and street lighting roles among 200 jobs to go at Dundee City Council

Dundee City Council has announced that 200 posts will go as part of plans to save £25 million across the next two years.

Confirming the job losses yesterday, finance spokesman Willie Sawers said they would be cut through voluntary redundancies and retirals. He assured staff there would be no compulsory redundancies.

The figure announced by the council, which employs more than 6500 people in Tayside, is more than four times anticipated by workers’ union GMB which had predicted the axing of 45 jobs at the council just over a week ago.

Mr Sawers said other cost-cutting measures would be implemented to services including waste management, roads and street lighting, children and family services and environmental services.