This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Top award for East Ayrshire Council
10/02/2003
An apple tree was planted at the Dalmellington Area Centre today in recognition of its Public Management's Prize for 2002.
The East Ayrshire Council centre, which provides a range of local services for community, is the first council to be given the award in Scotland in its 13-year history, and only the second council in the whole of the UK.
Minister for Finance and Public Services Andy Kerr said:
"I am delighted to be invited back to Dalmellington to see the outstanding work being done to improve local services for the community.
"The Dalmellington Area Centre has made a considerable improvement to local people's lives by providing accessible services that are there when people want to use them.
"This award pays tribute to the hard work of the staff at the centre who are working to break down barriers between local agencies to deliver a seamless, one-stop shop service to the people of Dalmellington."
Mr Kerr also officially opened the Drongan Resource Centre, which is a smaller scale version of the Dalmellington Area Centre. It includes health care services through two GP practices and consulting and treatment rooms, local authority services and police services.
He said:
"This centre is an excellent example of the benefits which joined up working can bring to a community. It provides a resource centre for the community bringing together health services, social services and police services.
"I am certain the community of Drongan will feel the benefits of this project which will bring services together under one roof making them as accessible and available as possible."
The Minister also visited Bellsbank Adventure Playground, health breakfast club. The club was originally an Urban Aid project aimed specifically at children and young people in the Doon Valley Area however it now provides a wide range of activities including healthy eating initiatives.
The Dalmellington Area Centre also received the NHS Estates 'Building Better Healthcare Award 2002'. It was the first time a Scottish project has taken the top honours in this UK wide scheme.
Dalmellington Area Centre was allocated £1.2 million from the Scottish Executive's Primary and Community Premises Modernisation Programme. The total cost for the project was £2.3 million.