North councils have axed almost 5,000 full-time jobs during spending squeeze
In the first part of this week’s P&J series on local government finance, Calum Ross today finds out how council workforces have shrunk in recent years.
Shetland Islands Council
Senior officials discussed moving the proposed site of the UK’s first spaceport
Top officials have discussed moving the proposed site of the UK’s first spaceport, it can be revealed.
Better connection on the way for the North Isles
Shetland Islands Council has secured almost £2million funding to extend their existing fibre network on the two most northerly isles in the UK.
North and north-east taxpayers foot the bill for £125,000 of council flights
Taxpayers have paid out hundreds of thousands of pounds to send councillors and officers to far-flung locations such as Florida, Greenland and Slovenia in the past two years.
Funeral poverty fears as further hike planned to ‘scandalous’ charges
As part of the P&J’s week-long series on the challenges grieving families face when a loved one dies, Calum Ross today investigates the soaring cost of funerals.
Revealed: Dozens of local cemeteries on the brink of running out of graves
Graveyards are on the brink of running out of space for new burials in dozens of communities across the north and north-east, it can be revealed.
NHS waste from across north Scotland being sent to Shetland for incineration
Shetland Islands Council is incinerating hundreds of tons of NHS clinical waste from health boards across Scotland – including the Highland and Grampian – to help ease a national backlog.
Highland Council spends £1.2m on ‘gagging orders’
Cash-strapped Highland Council has splashed out almost £1.2million on “secret settlements” with staff – sparking calls for greater scrutiny of public funds.
Shetland hit by more scam bank calls
Trading standards officers in Shetland have issued a warning after the islands have been hit by another wave of scam bank calls.
Major refurbishment of Shetland’s ferry linkspans to begin next year
A major project will begin next year to replace all of Shetland’s ferry linkspans.
Road closure in Shetland as repair works underway
Shetland Islands Council has announced work has begun to bring about temporary repairs to a sea wall in Lerwick in the wake of recent storm damage.
Big Lottery fund to provide helping hand to Shetland residents
A representative from the Big Lottery Fund is to provide some vital advice to Shetland residents eager to raise some money towards their next project.
Concern over ‘vast disparity’ in classroom assistant numbers
Concerns have been raised after new figures exposed a “vast disparity” in the number of classroom assistants in schools across Scotland.
Travelodge’s attempts to build hotel in Lerwick rejected by local authority
Travelodge’s attempts to build a hotel in Lerwick in partnership with Shetland Islands Council (SIC) have been rebuffed by the local authority.
Fair Isle plane suffers engine failure shortly after take-off
A pilot has been praised for his quick thinking when a council plane was forced to turn back to Fair Isle after suffering engine failure shortly after take-off.
Shetland space centre plans win ‘highly significant’ backing
Shetland has moved a major step towards hosting its own space centre – just days after plans for a satellite-launching site in Sutherland won backing.
Bus and ferry timetable changes to cost Shetland Islands Council £47,000
Altering bus and ferry times to make them fit better around the new school timetable will cost Shetland Islands Council around £47,000 a year.
Shetland names 10 projects for growth
Ten projects which could generate more than 600 jobs through increased productivity and economic growth have been identified by Shetland Islands Council (SIC) ahead of negotiations with government on securing an islands deal.
Shetland Islands Council issues appeal to concerned private water supply users
An appeal has been issued by Shetland Islands Council relating to those who may have concerns over their private water supplies drying up during the current spell of dry weather.
Shetland Islands Council ‘not interested’ in introducing a visitor tax on tourists
Shetland Islands Council (SIC) would not be interested in following in the footsteps of European cities like Paris and Barcelona by imposing a ‘visitor tax’ on tourists if it was given the power to do so, according to leader Steven Coutts.
Rolled-out recycling in Shetland won’t be delayed by problems at sorting shed
The planned roll-out of recycling throughout Shetland will not be delayed by problems with the sorting shed at Gremista, with collections due to start next month in the north and west Mainland.
Free school transport axed by Shetland councillors
Shetland councillors have approved plans to cut free public transport for senior secondary pupils attending schools outside their catchment area.
Drop-in sessions to take place for Re-Create Scalloway project
The fishing village of Scalloway on Shetland is set to have its image and landscape revamped.
Hopes raised as ministers decide to put northern isles ferries out to tender
Hopes have been raised that the northern isles could soon secure improved ferry services after it was confirmed that the routes will be put out to tender again.
Shetland Council’s chairman ‘very pleased’ with decision to merge further education sector
The chairman of Shetland Islands Council’s education and families committee said he is “very pleased” with a decision from councillors to approve the idea of merging Shetland’s further education sector.
Steven Coutts appointed leader of Shetland Islands Council on permanent basis
Steven Coutts has been appointed the new leader of Shetland Islands Council on a permanent basis.
Shetland Council to begin work on South Commercial Street flagstones
Shetland Islands Council has announced that essential work will begin next week to repair flagstones on South Commercial Street.
Sullom Voe masterplan approved by Shetland councillors
Shetland Islands Council’s development committee has given its approval for a Sullom Voe masterplan which could potentially lift the blanket ban on aquaculture in the harbour area.
Ex-Shetland Islands Council leader Cecil Smith reflects on his term after stepping down
Outgoing Shetland Islands Council leader Cecil Smith says “a lot of good things” have come out of his time as a council member - and maintains that “personal reasons”, rather than political fallouts, were behind his decision to step aside.
Shetland political leader quits post for “personal reasons”
The under-fire political leader of Shetland Islands Council has resigned.
Shetland Islands Council leader Cecil Smiths resigns
Shetland Islands councillor Cecil Smith has resigned as leader of the local authority.
Shetland ambulance and fire services likely to operate from same building by the end of the year
Ambulance services in Shetland are likely to be dispatched from Lerwick Fire Station as of later this year.