Tingwall flights back to normal, pension fund over budget, new CAB website
SHETLAND’s inter-island flight services will be back to normal on Friday after Tingwall Airport’s fire engine was repaired.
Flights to and from the council owned airport have been disrupted this week following the vehicle’s mechanical fault.
Services were due to operate through Sumburgh Airport on Friday and Saturday, but Shetland Islands Council confirmed on Thursday afternoon that flights will go back to normal.
Work, meanwhile, is continuing on the inter-island ferry MV Daggriafter a fire in its engine room earlier this week.
Sea trials are being started on the Yell Sound vessel, with a further update due on Friday.
SHETLAND Islands Council’s pension fund is estimated to have spent more than it earned in 2018/19.
A report presented to the local authority’s pension committee and board on Thursday said the draft revenue outturn position for the fund was an under achievement of £991,000.
The pension fund, which sees employee contributions invested by fund managers, pays benefits to over 1,600 pensioners and dependants each month.
Among the overspends in 2018/19 was the value of lump sums paid out to retirees during the year, which was nearly £800,000 more than expected.
However, there were some over achievements, with investments income £218,000 more than estimated.
The fund’s investments increased in value by £38 million over the 2018/19 financial year to an overall value at the end of March 2019 of £497 million.
THE LOCAL Citizen’s Advice Bureau has revamped its website.
The site, which links directly to the national Advice for Scotland website, offers information in issues like benefits, work, debt, housing and immigration.
Manager Karen Eunson said: “We’re delighted that we’ve been able to make it easier for folk to access self-help.
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“The Advice for Scotland site is clearly set out and contains detailed advice on common queries people have about their rights at work or as a consumer. It also has tools you can use to check your benefit entitlement or to get help with budgeting.
“This doesn’t mean we are changing our existing service though. People can still come and get face-to-face advice from our office in Market House. The website is just an additional platform people can use if they wish to.”
Eunson also encouraged anyone considering volunteering to check out the website.
“Shetland CAB relies on trained volunteers to deliver front line advice and the new website provides an easy way for folk to apply to join the CAB team and help their fellow citizens,” she said.
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