Council / Improved pay offer, Knab demolition contract, ZetTrans and more
COUNCIL workers across Scotland are set for a much improved pay rise after unions accepted the latest local government pay offer.
The key details of the improved offer are:
- An increase of £2,000 for those earning up to £20,500
- An increase of £1,925 for those earning between £20,500 to £39,000
- A five per cent increase for those earning between £39,000 to £60,000
- A maximum increase of £3,000 for those earning above £60,000
There are other improvements including an extra day of annual leave.
Johanna Baxter, Unison Scotland head of local government said: “Unison members have spoken and voted overwhelmingly to accept the improved pay offer and we will now press COSLA to get this money into members pay packets as quickly as possible.
“But let’s be very clear – it was only because Unison members took, and were prepared to take, industrial action that this improved pay offer was even made.
“If they hadn’t stood up to their employer they would have been forced to accept a derisory two per cent increase. It was their collective strength that forced the Scottish Government to accept they had a role to play and come up with more money but it should never have got to that.”
THE CONTRACT for the demolition of buildings at the former Anderson High School site has awarded.
Central Demolition Ltd, from Bonnybridge in the Falkirk area, has secured the £1.34 million contract. A total of five tenders were received.
A number of former school buildings will be demolished on the site to make way for the Knab redevelopment, which will see housing build on the site.
One of the buildings due to remain is the science block, which is the subject of a community asset transfer request from the New Life Church.
A change of use application for the building will go in front of Shetland Islands Council’s planning committee next week, with the planning service recommending that the application be approved subject to conditions.
LOCAL transport partnership ZetTrans has been told to address a lack of performance reporting as a “matter of urgency”.
It was one recommendation included in ZetTrans’ audited accounts for 2021/22.
Auditor Deloitte wrote in the report: “The lack of any performance reporting since 2018/19 is a significant issue as the Partnership is unable to demonstrate that it is meeting its objectives and using resources effectively.
“We recommend that this be addressed as a matter of urgency.”
Deloitte’s Pat Kenny said at a ZetTrans meeting on Thursday there was another recommendation regarding the lack of a medium term financial plan.
ZetTrans chairperson Moraig Lyall said both of the issues are to be addressed within the next year.
She said performance reporting in transport has been “very difficult over these last couple of years, given the difference in people’s travel patterns during the Covid pandemic”.
The report in general highlighted that there was an unmodified audit opinion.
Meanwhile Thursday’s meeting heard that recently re-tendered bus contracts saw costs rise by around 20 per cent.
Shetland South member Robbie McGregor also called for a report on issues with bus services in his ward.
He said the situation related to children standing on buses for “long periods of time” and the arrival times to school.
Lead officer Michael Craigie said a future report on network performance reporting will gather data on how buses are being used.
THE COSTS of new short-term let licences in Shetland have been set in stone following a meeting of the full council on Wednesday.
It comes after some accommodation providers in Shetland said in a recent consultation that they were concerned the extra cost of the newly required licence may mean it is no longer worthwhile for them to rent out properties.
The cost of a licence to rent out a secondary home in Shetland will sit at between £189 and £208.
Legislation introduced by the Scottish Government regarding the licensing of short-term lets – such as Airbnb rentals and self-catering cottages – is due to come into force on 1 October this year.
The new provisions have been put in place to ensure basic safety standards are met across all short-term lets operating in Scotland, and to address concerns of local communities by providing some discretionary powers to licensing authorities.
But councillors on the policy and resources committee said earlier this week they were concerned that temporary exemptions offered by the scheme, for example for events of significance like the Tall Ships or the folk festival, have to be for a period of up to six continuous weeks – not dotted around the year.
But members were told while representation was made to the Scottish Government on this, the opportunity to force change may be gone.
Locally, Shetland Islands Council’s environmental health team will manage the licence process. There are exclusions for premises such as hotels and hostels.
A report to councillors said there have historically been few complaints with short-term lets in Shetland, resulting in a desire for a “relatively light touch approach” locally.
The local fees are thought to be among the lowest in Scotland and they will only cover the costs of the scheme in Shetland.
The list of fees can be found in appendix one of this council meeting agenda item.
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