THERE should be no additional bank holiday in Argyll and Bute for Scotland’s opening World Cup match, council officials have recommended.
The holiday was recently announced for Monday, June 15, the day after the national team plays its first game at the men’s tournament since 1998 against Haiti.
However, a report to Argyll and Bute Council has recommended that council staff, including school-based workers, should not be given that day off.
Employees will be able to apply for annual leave through the usual methods if they wish to be off work that day.
A report will go before the full council at its meeting on Wednesday, February 25, with councillors recommended to agree not to designate the holiday.
Executive director Kirsty Flanagan said: “When an additional bank holiday is granted, it cannot be applied to all council employees. Schools, for example, must comply with legislation on teaching days.
“Advice from COSLA (Convention of Scottish Local Authorities) was provided to councils on the occasion of the Coronation (in May 2023) relating to the statutory requirement for teaching days.
“This stated that there was national agreement for local authorities to apply for an extension from the requirement to provide 190 days of schooling should the local authority decide to award an additional day to accommodate the additional holiday.
“The council, on that occasion, took the decision to close schools and to award an additional day’s annual leave to teaching and support staff.
“In terms of other essential services, these must continue to be delivered, and so arrangements would have to be put in place, were the council minded to award the holiday.
“On previous occasions when an additional bank holiday has been proposed, such as for the recent Coronation, the council did not designate this as a public holiday, so no public holiday enhancements for staff who were still required to work applied. Employees required to work on the day received additional pay at plain time for the hours they worked.”
Ms Flanagan added: “The additional cost of paying employees to carry out essential work on a public holiday was estimated previously at £23,000. This estimate is based on the average number of hours claimed the last time there was a public holiday calculated at plain time.
“Any change would require communication across customers, staff, pupils and their families to provide clarity on service delivery.
“The council is facing a challenging financial outlook and considering options to close a significant budget deficit. The financial and reputational impacts associated with the award of additional holiday for public sector staff must be balanced with the benefits it would provide.
“On balance, it is recommended that an additional day’s holiday is not provided. Instead, employees who wish to mark the occasion may request annual leave in line with normal procedures.
“Managers will be encouraged to offer flexibility where possible, while ensuring minimum service levels are maintained.”
