Maximising efforts to protect and maintain critical and essential services. Support for social care is to be intensified as a national priority alongside the NHS and emergency services, as staffing pressures and increased demand reflect the extent and nature of the spread and effect of Omicron.
During November and early December, COSLA agreed pay settlements with our Unions for three groups of Scottish Local Government Employees. A summary of the agreed settlements is provided below.
With the role of the Councillor changing dramatically over the last few years, the time is right to review the job - and its pay, COSLA has said. COSLA President Councillor Alison Evison says there has to be a ‘realistic' review of remuneration for the role, and called for the Scottish Government to look at Councillors’ salaries.
Owners of second homes who abuse a tax loophole by claiming their often-empty properties are holiday lets will be forced to pay under tough new measures. Homeowners who leave properties empty while pretending to let them to holidaymakers will be targeted Under the new rules, holiday lets must be rented out for a minimum of 70 days a year to qualify for business rates, which often brings financial advantages Changes to tax rules will protect genuine holiday lets and benefit popular holiday destinations, including Devon, Cornwall and the Lake District Owners of second homes who abuse a tax loophole by claiming their often-empty properties are holiday lets will be forced to pay under tough new measures announced by the government today (14 January 2022).
Campaign launches as booster uptake among young people is lower than older age groups Young people aged 18 to 34 are being urged to get their COVID-19 booster jabs in a new advertising drive New Snapchat filter launched to encourage younger audiences to Get Boosted Now Campaign launches as booster uptake among young people is lower than older age groups A new advertising campaign to encourage 18 to 34 year olds to get their vital COVID-19 booster jabs has launched as uptake among young people is lower than other age groups. While more than 80% of eligible adults in England have had a booster jab, just 57% of eligible 18 to 34 year olds have been boosted.
SSSC registration and PVG checks to be funded. New staff joining the social care workforce are to have entry costs paid by the Scottish Government until the end of March.
Visiting at Caithness General Hospital, Belford Hospital in Fort William, Lorn and Isles Hospital in Oban, and New Craigs Hospital in Inverness has moved to Level One. This means up to two visitors are able to visit patients.
9,910 new cases of COVID-19 reported*. Please note that this figure now includes cases identified using either a first LFD (lateral flow device) or PCR (polymerase chain reaction) positive test.
Move to bring salmon population back from crisis point. An ambitious strategy which aims to bring the wild salmon population in Scotland back from crisis point has been launched.
Financial backing of up to £80 million is being offered to help the Scottish Cluster carbon capture project accelerate its effort to help Scotland's just transition to net zero. The investment would come from the Scottish Government’s Emerging Energy Technologies Fund.
A £4million funding package will help provide support to unpaid carers, in recognition of the enormous role they play in looking after loved ones, and the added pressure many have faced during the pandemic. Over the next few weeks, the additional winter funding will allow organisations working with unpaid carers to expand the services they provide to all groups of adult and young carers, including those looking after disabled children and young people and those caring for a friend or relative with dementia.
Dr John says,"Omicron is less severe and natural immunity works.".
Football, rugby, ice hockey, basketball and horse racing benefit. Professional sports affected by the recent COVID-19 crowd limits have been allocated £2.55 million in financial support from the Scottish Government.
8,203 new cases of COVID-19 reported*. Please note that as of 13 January 2022, this figure includes cases identified using either a first LFD (lateral flow device) or PCR (polymerase chain reaction) positive test.
DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd, (January 12th) sold 566 store cattle, 8 adult head of breeding cattle and 113 OTM cattle. Bullocks (305) averaged 239.5p and sold to 319.2p per kg for a 235kg British Blue cross from Shewglie, Glenurquhart and £1,460 gross for a 715kg Limousin cross from 8 Englishtonmuir, Bunchrew.
Children's Hearings Scotland have launched an ambitious national campaign, to recruit new volunteer Children's Panel Members to support children and young people in their local communities. This year, the organisation aims to recruit over 700 trainee Panel Members from across Scotland.
PickupMyPeriod connects to hundreds of venues across Scotland. A mobile app has been launched to allow users to identify locations across Scotland where period products can be accessed for free.
7,606 new cases of COVID-19 reported*. 46,737 new tests for COVID-19 that reported results* 19.1% of these were positive.
Finance Ministers in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have called on the Treasury to guarantee that money allocated to support Covid responses will be provided in full, following a meeting with the Chief Secretary to the Treasury. They are also urging action to tackle the cost of living crisis and help households with rising bills.
Scottish Government scientists, collaborating with a Spanish university, have uncovered a new family and species of deepwater soft coral, from seas to the west of Scotland. Scientists say the discovery of the coral, or seapen demonstrates there is still much to learn about the deep sea around our coasts and highlights the importance of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) as a key tool in conservation efforts.
