Council / Councillors kick out World Cup bank holiday proposal
SHETLAND’s elected members have unanimously decided against introducing an additional bank holiday for council staff to mark Scotland’s participation in the football World Cup.
This is particularly because the cost of doing so was estimated at £140,000.
One councillor called it “absurd” and another described it as “bizarre” – but the general consensus was that the SIC should not be shouldering a bill of £140,000 for a World Cup bank holiday when it has its own financial challenges.
Earlier this month the Scottish Government confirmed an extra bank holiday on Monday 15 June to mark Scotland’s first appearance at the World Cup since 1998.
With the World Cup being held in the US, Canada and Mexico, Scotland’s first group game against Haiti kicks off at 2am UK time on Sunday 14 June.
Scotland will then play Morocco on 19 June at 11pm UK time and then Brazil on 24 June, against 11pm UK time.
It is up to each council in Scotland how to approach national holidays.
But SIC leader Emma Macdonald said at meeting of the full council of Wednesday that doing so would come at a “significant cost” – adding that it is easy to call on others to get into the spirit when it is not your own money.
Introducing the item, chief executive Maggie Sandison said it was her recommendation that the additional bank holiday for SIC staff – unfunded by the government – is not approved.
Another factor is the impact it could have on services, including ferries.
Leading the decision against the bank holiday was depute leader Gary Robinson.
He referenced the Scottish Government’s Verity House agreement of 2023, which aimed to create a more “collaborative approach” to working with local government.
Robinson said: “We have the choice here – we can add to our unsustainability, or we could say no to this holiday”.
During debate, councillors were quick to dismiss the idea of a bank holiday – even if some were self-professed football fans.
Shetland Central member Davie Sandison said he remembered getting up at 3am when he was younger to watch World Cup games and suggested that continues to be the “best policy”.
Lerwick South councillor Neil Pearson also said that given the first match kicks off at 2am on Sunday 14 June, there is plenty of recuperation time.
North Isles member Robert Thomson also said the SIC should not spending money on things like a World Cup bank holiday especially when later in the meeting councillors would be setting council tax and housing rent rates later in the meeting.
Ian Scott, who represents Shetland Central, said the holiday was “absurd” but also took aim at the public holiday on the day after Lerwick’s Up Helly Aa.
His view was that the day after Up Helly Aa does not justify a public holiday across Shetland.
Robinson meanwhile quipped that if qualification for tournament is the bar for a day off, he was nearly of the view that Scott agreeing with the chief executive on something – the World Cup holiday – “probably meets the bar too”.
Shetland South member Allison Duncan also poured some pessimism on Scotland’s chances at the World Cup.
Depute convener Bryan Peterson, who was chairing the meeting, said in response that he hoped the team are not too disappointed but “other countries are available, including Norway”.
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