NEWS FROM ORKNEY ISLANDS COUNCIL
“Strong voice” from the islands in referendum debate
Scotland’s three Islands Councils – Orkney, Shetland and Comhairle nan Eilean Siar – have laid out their vision for a stronger future following the Independence Referendum of 2014. Read more.
Ferry tied up from Thursday morning
The Orkney Ferries vessel Earl Thorfinn will be tied up from tomorrow morning (Thursday, June 13) for up to a week. Read more.
A brighter future for children in foster care
Orkney Health and Care has partnered up with Scotland wide organisation Aberlour Fostering to become one of six areas in the UK to explore a fresh approach to how children are looked after in foster care. Read more.
For all news from Orkney Islands Council visit the 'News' tab at the top of this page.
Adverse weather alerts
OIC Updates: Links to information on disruptions to Council services and Churchill Barrier and school closures - as well as other handy numbers for when the weather is making life unpredictable.
What's New?
Pools Changeover Information
The new swimming pool at Picky is nearing completion, and is expected to be handed over to the Council at the end of May.
The existing Kirkwall Swimming Pool will close very shortly after this handover, and following that - for a period of approximately two weeks - there will be no swimming pool provision in Kirkwall.
In addition to the expected two week closure, there will be some unavoidable interruption, and a reduction in the times available for public swimming, at the existing pool during the run up to the handover. See the 'Pools Changeover Information' page for updates.
Have your say on Orkney’s Community Plan
Organisations involved in planning services for Orkney have put their draft Community Plan out for consultation.
The partner agencies, which include Orkney Islands Council, NHS Orkney, the Police and Fire Services, Highlands and Islands Enterprise and Voluntary Action Orkney, collectively form the Orkney Community Planning Partnership (OCPP).
The Community Plan encompasses their long-term vision for Orkney. It also includes a draft Single Outcome Agreement with the Scottish Government.
This roadmap sets out what organisations involved in OCPP hope to achieve over the next three years and beyond as their contribution to Orkney’s local priorities and to the Scotland-wide ambitions of the Scottish Government. Read more.
Welfare reform advice available
The Council and Orkney Housing Association Limited are providing advice for tenants who may be affected by changes to the UK Government’s Housing Benefit rules.
Under the new rules, tenants of working age who receive Housing Benefit will be assessed for the number of bedrooms they have in their property, if they rent from either a local authority or a housing association.
If tenants are deemed to have one spare bedroom, their Housing Benefit will be reduced by an average of £10 per week. If they have two spare bedrooms, the benefit will be reduced by £20 on average per week. The “under-occupancy” rules do not apply to pensioners. Read more.
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We hope you like our new Home Page banner image. The picture of the cruise ships MSC Magnifica and the Seven Seas Voyager on a recent visit to Orkney was taken by Magnus Budge.