Briefing highlights the financial pressures faced by Scottish Councils The key financial challenges facing Scotland's 32 Councils are highlighted in a briefing prepared by the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (SPICe), COSLA said today (Monday 6 September 2021). The document comes as Pre-Budget Scrutiny begins.
Islands contributing to net zero commitment. At least three of Scotland's islands will become fully carbon neutral by 2040, the Islands Secretary Mairi Gougeon has announced.
Care Workers In Hanover To Start Industrial Action Against "Insulting" Pay Cut Plan. Care workers employed by the charity and social landlord Hanover (Scotland) Housing Association will start a programme of industrial action against their management's "insulting" 1 per cent pay offer.
6,368 new cases of COVID-19 reported 48,033 new tests for COVID-19 that reported results 14.2% of these were positive. 0 new reported death(s) of people who have tested positive (noting that Register Offices are now generally closed at weekends).
Record investment to ensure Scotland's NHS is ready to meet changing patient demands and the impact of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic will be at the heart of the 2021/22 Programme for Government (PFG) next week. The PfG will confirm plans to introduce an unprecedented increase in frontline health spending of 20% over the current Parliament.
Free vaccine extended to secondary school pupils Primary and secondary school pupils will start receiving their flu vaccine tomorrow (Monday 6 September 2021) as Scotland's biggest flu immunisation programme gets underway. Over four million people will be offered the free flu vaccine this year with secondary school pupils eligible for the first time.
Wearing of face coverings vital to limit COVID-19 spread. Abuse directed at retail and bar staff who ask customers to comply with the law and wear face coverings will not be tolerated, Justice Secretary Keith Brown has said.
Information for Kickstart gateways on how to help employers with the Kickstart Scheme and how to add jobs or employers to the grant agreement. What the scheme is The Kickstart Scheme provides funding to create new jobs for 16 to 24 year olds on Universal Credit who are at risk of long term unemployment.
For employers making claims under the Furlough Scheme make sure your claims are entered in time. Claims for furlough days in August 2021 must be made by 14 September 2021.
Scottish Trades Union Congress General Secretary Roz Foyer said: "There is a long way to go before this virus is behind us. Vaccination does not provide total security from infection and we know that long COVID can affect people of all ages.
6,711 new cases of COVID-19 reported. 58,534 new tests for COVID-19 that reported results 12.1% of these were positive.
A planned Family Music Day in Inverness has been postponed, High Life Highland has said. Due to take place on September 11 in Bellfield Park, a decision was taken following careful monitoring of the evolving Covid-19 situation across the Highlands.
A video showcasing the range of activities on offer, positive parent feedback, and photographs of pupils participating in the Summer of Hope programme is now available to watch on the Council's YouTube channel. The Scottish Government announced £20m nationally to help us 'Get Into Summer' as part of the recovery from Covid-19.
LOCHMADDY, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd., (August, 30th) sold 2,297 store lambs. Lambs (2297) averaged £73.32 (up £9.72 on the year) and sold to £105 gross for a Suffolk Cross from Trumisgarry.
Families in Scotland may be eligible for Tax-Free Childcare to help pay for breakfast and after school clubs as children go back to school. Families are eligible to save money on their childcare and benefit from a government top-up worth up to £2,000 every year, or up to £4,000 a year if a child is disabled.
The Highland Council, Economy and Infrastructure Committee has yesterday (1 September 2021) approved an updated Rural Housing Supplementary Guidance. The guidance aims to support Highland's recovery from the COVID pandemic, promote community-led housing and woodland crofts, and to strengthen rural communities and deliver on the Scottish Government re-population agenda.
Tens of thousands of rural and island homes and businesses in Scotland are set to access the UK's fastest and most reliable broadband. Scottish Government investment of £384 million through the Reaching 100% programme (R100) will see building of full fibre connections begin in September 2021 around Oban, Argyll and Bute, and Portlethen and Newtonhill, Aberdeenshire.
Almost 300 additional ambulance service staff are being recruited through a £20 million Scottish Government funding injection made over last year and this year as the NHS continues to remobilise. The latest recruitment tranche unveiled today will see dozens of paramedics, technicians, patient transport staff and advanced professionals taken on in the North and North-east of Scotland.
Fishing businesses and marine organisations have been awarded funding to mitigate the impacts of Brexit and help the sector recover from effects of COVID-19. The financial support of almost £800,000 - part of the £14 million Marine Fund Scotland - was announced by Rural Affairs Secretary Mairi Gougeon in a food and drink debate in the Scottish Parliament.
Highland Council's £480K investment in the Recovery, Improvement and Transformation Fund to support the local authority's transition to net zero emissions is progressing well. Members of Highland Council’s Economy and Infrastructure Committee were yesterday (1 September 2021) provided with an update on the progress being made by the Climate Change and Energy Team.
