Council considers a day off for jubilee

Stirling Council workers including teachers - could be given an extra day off next year to mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.

But some staff, mainly in nurseries, may have to work on regardless, at an additional cost to the council of £42,500.

The UK and Scottish Governments plan to mark the jubilee in June next year, but councils are being left to decide for themselves how to mark the occasion.

Councillors at a full meeting of Stirling Council tomorrow (Thursday), will consider awarding an additional fixed annual leave day for all employees on Friday June 3, 2022.

If approved, there would be an additional cost of around £42,500 within Early Learning and Childcare settings as, so far, the Scottish Government have indicated these would need to remain open to meet the 1140 hours free childcare requirement.

Given the 2022/23 budget won’t be set until early next year, the sum would have to be allocated from the council’s General Fund reserves.

The council previously awarded an additional fixed day of annual leave in recognition of the Royal Wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton on April 2011 and the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee on June 5, 2012.

In a report due before tomorrow’s meeting, human resources officers said: “Services have indicated no operational implications in regards to this proposal.

“The position across other authorities is mixed. Of 10 responses, five had no current position, three were unlikely to award an additional day’s leave, and two will require employees to use their annual leave.”

COSLA (Convention of Scottish Local Authorities) is said to be currently collating an updated position.

Falkirk Council intend to move their early May bank holiday to Thursday June 2 and provide an extra set annual leave day for Friday June 3, however, officers are still considering this decision in regards to education. Clackmannanshire Council are said to still be considering options.

Stirling Council employees are contractually entitled to a specified number of annual leave days, plus seven set public holidays, and there is no contractual entitlement to the additional day on Friday June 3.

Awarding an additional bank holiday or annual leave day would result in a reduction in teaching days from 190 to 189. In these circumstances permission would still need to be sought from the Scottish Government for an additional day’s closure in schools.

Officers say the Scottish Government has indicated that, if requested by councils, this permission would be granted - but their recent advice on Early Learning and Childcare settings is that there will be no option to request an additional day’s closure.

The HR officials’ report adds: “In view of the recent impact of the pandemic on employees, it may be helpful to consider the positive impact in awarding employees one fixed additional day’s annual leave.

“Trade unions have been consulted and have expressed a view that they would support it.”