The Social Work Inspection Agency published the findings of its inspection of services in Clackmannanshire today (5th September 2008).

Clackmannanshire Council's Social Work Services were inspected between November 2007 and March 2008.

The Inspectors found that almost all the people who used the services agreed they were of
good quality, that they were involved in decisions that affected them and that they were treated with dignity and respect.

The report notes that there has been progress in improving services to children and young people and recommends that continuing improvements in the range and quality of services needs to be developed.

Social Work Services staff were found to be "committed and motivated" by Inspectors and there was a "marked improvement" in morale in child care services since staffing levels had increased and new structures put in place.

There was a strong commitment to working with health services and evidence of some very positive work being undertaken with other partners, with nearly all reporting good or excellent working relationships.

There was a commitment by elected members and senior members of staff to continue to develop and improve social work services.

The report highlights examples of good practice:

• The Council's in-house residential and day services for adults and older people had prepared service user handbooks which provided clear and helpful information about all aspects of the service provision.
• Click Café is operated by people with learning disabilities, physical disabilities and autistic spectrum disorders, supported by staff from adult day care services.
• The Mobile Emergency Care Service provides community alarms and other rapid support systems on a 24-hour-a-day basis which ensures that individuals received a very speedy response to an emergency situation.
• The Integrated Mental Health Service is a whole system partnership between the Authority's mental health service and NHS Forth Valley. It operates with a pooled budget and a single management system undertaking joint management, planning, development and resource management.
• The Management Information Systems (MIS) had been developed and updated to ensure that a wide range of staff were fully supported technologically in their day-to-day tasks.

Councillor Sam Oven, Portfolio Holder for Regeneration said: "I'm pleased to note that the inspection report highlights many areas of good practice and I'd like to praise our social work staff for the high standard of work they do. Many of the recommendations have already been addressed with key senior people brought in and the strong commitment from elected members to continue to develop the services and this work will continue."

The Inspectors graded services as adequate or good in all ten areas and made 16 recommendations for the improvement of services which will be actively and systematically addressed. They also agreed that the Council has the capacity to continue to improve.

The Council will now produce an action plan in response to the inspection report which will set out how improvements will be made.

The scam starts when a consumer enters into a new contract for a mobile phone. Many retailers now offer insurance contracts with their mobile phones. Fraudsters are targeting these customers by phoning up and claiming to be from the insurance company. They pretend to be offering additional cover at a heavily discounted rate, or else they will simply state that they are preparing the necessary paperwork, and need to confirm some details. They go on to ask for personal information, including credit card and bank account details. Needless to say, these fraudsters have no connection with the mobile phone retailers or any legitimate insurance companies. Customers in the Stirling Council area who have recently been taken in by these fraudsters have found that they subsequently remove significant sums of money from their bank accounts, typically between £80 and £120.

Mobile phone retailers do not pass on personal information about their customers. Instead, these fraudsters rely on the fact that the airtime providers often release mobile phone numbers to retailers in blocks. If the fraudsters can identify a genuine number from a particular retailer, they can then dial a range of consecutive numbers using the same prefix, and hope that they will eventually get through to somebody. They will be able to make false claims about working in association with the retailer concerned.

Hugh Hamilton, Trading Standards Team Leader, warned consumers not to be taken in by these fraudsters. He said: "Consumers should never give out any personal information, especially credit card and bank details, to anybody who makes an unsolicited telephone call. If the caller claims to be from a legitimate organisation that you are already dealing with, take appropriate steps to verify that they really are who they say they are. Check your paperwork, and call them back using a number that you have already been given or which has been publicly advertised, for example on television or in a reputable telephone directory. Better still, ask them to confirm their request in writing. Legitimate organisations will rarely ask you to disclose personal information over the telephone, so be wary if you receive such a request."

Any person who receives a suspicious telephone call should contact the police or their local Trading Standards Service. Members of the public can contact the Stirling and Clackmannanshire Councils joint Trading Standards Service on 0845 277 7000 or by visiting them at Municipal Buildings, 8-10 Corn Exchange Road, Stirling, FK8 2HU during normal office hours.

And once the big day is over, the dress is likely to be shoved in the loft or at the back of a wardrobe, never to be worn again.

As long as you looked stunning on your wedding day, that's all that matters... so what if someone suggested dusting off your wedding dress and donning it again?

That's what Beatrice Campbell has spent months persuading women to do in aid of a good cause.

And it seems that local ladies are only too keen to wear that special dress again, as Beatrice has already sold 100 tickets for the county's first Wedding Dress Ball.

Beatrice, who lives in Alloa with her husband of ten years David Hutchison, has organised the ball to take place at the Claremont Lodge Hotel on Saturday 20th September. The event is a fundraiser for CHAS.

Beatrice said: "My husband and I wanted to do something for a good cause and we realised that a lot of women were looking for an excuse to wear their wedding dresses again. The ball will also be a fun night out with their husbands and friends."

Provost Derek Stewart will meet Beatrice and David at Alloa Town Hall on Thursday 4th September at 3pm when the couple will be wearing their wedding outfits. You are invited to send a photographer.

The ball will also feature live music from Poles Apart, a buffet, raffle and mini-auction. MC is Matt Hens and professional photographer Fred Phillips is covering the event.

When you receive your canvass form you can confirm or change the details in a number of ways:

• If no changes to the details on the form are necessary telephone, text, or email, using the contact details listed on the form as soon as possible

• If any change is required then the form should be amended, signed and returned by post or fax.

A new Register of Electors and Edited Register of Electors are published on 1st December 2008 which will include all the alterations made until 24th November 2008.

Not making a annual return could result in your name(s) being removed from the Register of Electors which may prevent you voting. It can also affect your credit rating as the Register is used by Credit Referencing Agencies.

More information on registering to vote is available from
ERO. Hillside House, Laurelhill, Stirling FK7 9JQ
Tel 01786-892207
Fax 01786-892255
www.saa.gov.uk/central or www.aboutmyvote.co.uk

A total of 81 people entered this year's competition, with each garden showing a great deal of individual effort and devotion to provide beautiful spaces which enhance the communities across Clackmannanshire.

The final round of judging took place on Wednesday 6th August 2008 when the regular judges were joined by David Crighton from Stirling Council and Provost Derek Stewart. They selected Rosemary and Tom Ramage from Clackmannan as the overall winner.

Mr and Mrs Ramage will collect their silverware at a reception this week. The couple also claimed the best floral title in Clackmannan, Kennet and Forestmill and best floral containers category.
David said he very much enjoyed visiting the gardens and saw a great range of different gardens which had been beautifully and thoughtfully designed with many making excellent use of compact spaces.

He added: "A very high standard of work and thought had gone into all the gardens we looked at with some interesting plants on display which made my job very difficult. The gardens were a credit to each of their owners."

The competition trophies, certificates and prize money will be presented at a reception hosted by Depute Provost Harry McLaren at Kilncraigs on Friday 5th September 2008. You are invited to send a photographer at 7pm. The trophies are kept by the winners for a year.

Roy Wood will talk on 'Samuel Jones & Co./Devonvale Ltd' which was once an important paper business in Tillicoultry and occupied the site which now houses Sterling Furniture. The talk will cover the history of the company, which spanned almost half a century, the buildings it used, its processes and products, as well as some of the people who worked in the business.

Roy Wood was one of the very last people to work at 'Devonvale', as it was known in the county before its sudden closure in 1972. He has a wealth of detail about the company, as well as several entertaining stories about Sidney Augustus Platfoot, who ran it for many years and was a familiar figure in Tillicoultry business and civic life. His talk will be illustrated and there will also be a chance to see photographs of the processional banner from Devonvale which is part of the Museum collection and is in the process of being restored.

Refreshments and a fundraising raffle will follow the talk. The Friends want to encourage more people to join them, so would like to welcome anyone who has never attended one of these events before. This talk will bring back memories to many of the people who used to work at Devonvale, so please come along and share this nostalgic trip with us.

Please contact Susan Mills at Clackmannanshire Council Museum and Heritage Service, Speirs Centre, Primrose Street, Alloa, Tel: 01259 216913 for more information.

'Lighting up the Ochils' will take place at 8.30pm on Wednesday 17th September 2008.

It is anticipated that the lights will be visible for miles around raising the profile of this new event which takes place on 18th - 22nd September.

Flares will be lit on 13 of the Ochil Hill's peaks and burn brightly for around two minutes.

The Ochils are Clackmannanshire's greatest natural asset and offer superb walking opportunities all year round.

The Walking Festival celebrates the county's magnificent scenery, heritage and wildlife. It offers four days of free guided walks, ranging from half a mile to eight miles, through the most picturesque parts of the county.

The walks are suitable for everyone, from serious walkers to those who want to learn a little about the county, its history and natural heritage. The walks will cover wild moorland, wetlands, woodlands, grasslands, historic towers and castles, wildlife, real ale pubs and an ancient silver mine, so there's something to suit all tastes.

Each walk is graded, and for the most adventurous, volunteer Army Mountain Leaders will take walkers on a challenging full-day four summit climb in the Ochils. While families with toddlers can enjoy a leisurely 'Buggy Walk' in Alva's Cochrane Park.

Sarah Cameron, Clackmannanshire's Tourism Manager, said: "We hope that the Walking Festival will attract new visitors to the area, while locals will also use it as an opportunity to rediscover the beautiful countryside and hidden gems around Clackmannanshire."

A brochure detailing the festival's 19 walks is widely available. More details are available online at www.clacksmannashiretourism.com.

Notes to Editors

The flares will be lit at 8.30pm on Wednesday 17th September 2008. Photographers are invited to the Beam Engine House near Fishcross, FK10 2AN, where there will be a good view of the flares. Members of the public who wish to enjoy a good view of the flares are invited to attend Cochrane Park, Alva. Army volunteers, the Ochil Mountain Rescue Team, and members of Menstrie Scout Troup will be climbing the peaks and lighting the flares.

Information evenings are being held for people keen to help vulnerable children and young people who are facing difficult circumstances in their lives. Volunteers are needed to become members of their local Children's Panel, part of the Children's Hearings system.

An appeal is launched today (1st September) for people across Central Scotland to find out more about the real difference they can make in a young person's life.

To supplement a national recruitment campaign, information sessions will be held in Falkirk and Stirling where potential applicants can see a mock hearing taking place as well as hear from existing Panel members describing how rewarding their work can be.

David Forsyth, chairman of the Joint Children's Panel Advisory Committee (which oversees the appointment of members) said:

Young people can be brought before a Children's Hearing for many reasons such as being beyond parental control; being in moral danger; having been physically, emotionally or sexually abused, or having truanted or offended.

Panel Members' expenses such as child-care and travel will be met and you may be eligible for a contribution towards loss of earnings when you are taking part in Children's Panel work.

The informal cheese and wine and information evenings are being held in:

• The Albert Halls, Dumbarton Road, Stirling on Wednesday 24 September 2008 from 7pm to 8pm.
• Municipal Buildings, West Bridge Street, Falkirk on Wednesday 1 October from 7pm to 8pm.

To attend the evening, to receive an application pack, or just have a chat about the type of work involved in becoming a Panel Member, call Hazel Oliver on 01324 506117. This is an information only evening and does not commit you, so come along and find out more.

You can also request a pack via email to: cpanel@falkirk.gov.uk. More information is also available from www.childrens-hearings.co.uk. Closing date for applications is Friday 17 October 2008.

Leanne works as an Active Schools Co-ordinator based at Alva Academy, organising a full range of after school clubs and inter-school competitions.

The midfielder and her team will be up against teams from Serbia, the Netherlands and Moldova.

Leanne, who has been capped 26 times for the Scottish women's A squad, has just returned from Finland where Scotland were beaten by the hosts.

She said: "Playing football has given me lots of opportunities to travel all over Europe and further afield and I really enjoy the competitive side of it, but playing in the UEFA Women's Cup will be a new experience for me.

"It's a great chance for us to play against European opposition and we'[re confident in our own ability and we'll be giving it our best shot."

Leanne was an integral member of the Glasgow City team that won the Scottish Women's Premier League title last season. That result meant they qualified for the first round of the UEFA Cup which takes place from September 4 to 9.

Leanne completed an HND in Sports Coaching at Forth Valley College before progressing to Stirling University. As well as her role as an Active Schools Co-ordinator, Leanne is also a sessional coach and is training to become a tutor for the Positive Coaching Scotland programme.

Marjorie Macfarlane, Sports Development Manager, said: "Leanne is a tremendous asset to the Active Schools team, not just with her great skills of organisation to deliver the aims of the Active Schools initiative, but she is also a wonderful role model and elite performer for football and women and girls into sport."

The south bound carriageway will be closed first, followed by the north bound carriageway to allow the resurfacing to be completed. The work is due to be completed on 15th September 2008.

Local residents and businesses have been informed and access to Park Primary School, Alloa Family Centre, local businesses and homes will be maintained by following signage within the traffic management system.

A range of improvement works have already been carried out in Lime Tree Walk including:

• replacing the diseased lime trees with heavy standard lime trees on the central reservation
• constructing new footpaths
• adding cycleways
• adding car parking
• putting in railings, gates and street furniture
• soft landscaping
• additional streetlighting for the ''safe routes to school'' programme

These improvements mean that the distinctive and historic wide avenue will be retained as a dual carriageway with space for the passage of vehicles and convenient lay-bys so that cars can pull in. A wide footway and cycle path will encourage people to walk or cycle.

The Council's Property Development Team Leader Ninian Somerville said: "Our contractor has pledged to keep disruption and noise to a minimum over the next fortnight. Should anyone have any concerns over how the work is being carried out, I would ask that they call me immediately and we will try to resolve matters."

Ninian can be contacted on 01259 452636.