Coronavirus (Covid-19) - Latest news
Here’s an update on recycling collection arrangements for the week ahead – from Monday 30 November.
The first Orkney Community Halls Training Event to be held online due to the ongoing pandemic restrictions has been hailed a success.
Letters are being sent to all Orkney Islands Council’s council house tenants seeking views on a proposed rent increase for 2021-2022.
Orkney Islands Councillors have agreed a new funding package to support an ambitious and visionary action plan for Orkney’s economic recovery post COVID-19.
Here’s an update on recycling collection arrangements for the week ahead – from Monday 23 November.
Fans of Aikerness Beach in Evie are being advised the public toilet there is now operating shorter opening hours, from midday to 4pm daily.
Orkney’s Marine Services is enjoying a surge in oil industry activity despite the worldwide coronavirus pandemic.
Young carers in Orkney have been putting their time during a pandemic to good use – getting creative and producing a calendar, which is now for sale at a number of local outlets.
The recycling centre at St Margaret’s Hope will re-open on Tuesday 24 November.
Funding is now available from a new Scottish Government support scheme for businesses that have had to close or significantly change their operations because of Covid-19 restrictions.
Monday (16 November) marks the start of week two of our new recycling collection arrangements.
The Leader of Orkney Islands Council has called on the Scottish Government for a further relaxation of Covid-19 rules to allow people in the county to visit one another’s homes.
Unable to gather the school for a Remembrance ceremony, Stromness Academy found a different way to remember.
The Kirkwall Travel Centre is due to reopen on Monday (November 9) complete with a CCTV system - in a bid to stamp out the anti-social behaviour which has plagued the public facility.
St Magnus Cathedral will be lighting up red on Wednesday 11 November to help raise awareness of the annual Scottish Poppy Appeal.
Orkney Health and Care is part of the fabric of our community and our teams of skilled carers make a world of difference to the lives of the people who use our service.
Orkney Health and Care (OHAC) are on the recruitment hunt for people who may be thinking of a career in care.
The Board of Orkney Ferries has renewed an appeal to the Scottish Government for emergency funding to offset the severe impact the Covid-19 pandemic is having on the company.
Next week our waste team will be collecting paper and card in the kerbside recycling collections.
Orkney Islands Council is to provide two new Covid-19 business support measures.
Orkney Islands Council is warning that an “intolerable” level of vandalism at the St Magnus Lane Public Toilets will lead to their closure if it does not stop.
In common with the rest of the nation, Remembrance Sunday and Armistice Day commemorations in public will be minimised this year with people in Orkney encouraged to “Remember at Home” instead.
Fortnightly recycling collections will begin again in November – with two types of recyclable materials picked up from the kerbside every two weeks.
Kerbside recycling collections are to start again in Westray and Shapinsay next month.
Applications can now be made for support from the Scottish Government’s new £48 million fund to help businesses affected by temporary restrictions to slow the spread of coronavirus.
Next week (beginning Monday 26 October) kerbside recycling will be back to tins and cans.
Orkney Islands Council is advising that special collections for the non-linked Islands of Orkney will begin again after being suspended due to the pandemic.
Orkney Islands Council is re-opening a further six public toilets.
For the week beginning 19 October, the waste team will be collecting plastic bottles in the kerbside recycling.
Orkney Islands Council are advising that this year’s Visual Artist and Craft Maker Award (VACMA) will be offering a slightly different service.
From today (Monday 12 October), anyone in employment, or self-employed, who gets one of the low-income benefits listed below will be able to claim a £500 self-isolation support payment from the Scottish Welfare Fund, if they are asked to self-isolate by the Test and Protect service.
The annual Orkney Community Halls Training Event is due to be held online for the first time later this month due to ongoing pandemic restrictions.
Starting Monday 12 October, kerbside recycling will revert back to glass collection.
Young children from St Andrews Nursery and older members of the East Mainland community are joining forces in a new pen pal initiative called “Bridging the Gap”.
The Leader of Orkney Islands Council has welcomed the opportunity for further engagement with the Scottish Government on the potential for a more localised approach to coronavirus restrictions.
The “groundbreaking” local delivery of the Orkney Dementia Strategy has moved a step forward with the adoption of the “exemplar” document.
From today, Monday 5 October Stromness Library, Warehouse Buildings will be taking bookings for Public Access PCs and the George Mackay Brown Room.
The fourth Annual Performance Report 2019/2020 for the Orkney Integration Joint Board has outlined significant highlights over the past year, while detailing key challenges and priorities moving forward.
Orkney’s unpaid carers - described as the county’s “unsung heroes” – are being encouraged to access emotional, practical and financial support services available to them.
Four young people from Orkney have shared their experiences at a national political level on how the Covid-19 pandemic has impacted on career and employment opportunities.
The waste team will be collecting, for the week beginning 28 September, metals and cans in the kerbside recycling.
The chance to take a virtual tour of buildings across Orkney is on offer this weekend.
The Scottish Government’s scheme Eat Out to Help Out that was introduced into school canteens within Orkney when they opened in August was gratefully received.
The Council notes the Ba Committee has cancelled the Ba for this year and therefore we are reminding property owners/managers that the council will not be placing barriers outside properties as it has done in previous years.
Plastic bottles will be collected during kerbside recycling for the week beginning 21 September 2020.
Much has been very different over the last few months and the Council is proud of how many of its keyworkers have continued to provide a service throughout the pandemic.
Updated Covid-19 guidance for tourism and hospitality businesses has been published by the Scottish Government.
Kerbside recycling will continue in the four week cycle of collections, with next week reverting back to glass collection.
Orkney Islands Council is delighted to announce that from Monday 14 September the reception at the Warehouse Building in Stromness will open to the public, to deal with customer services enquiries (payments, blue badges etc.) and police counter enquiries.
Press Release from Orkney’s Economic Recovery Steering Group
A new group has been tasked with building and driving forward a strategy for Orkney’s recovery from the economic impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Voters are being encouraged to cast their vote by post in the North Isles by-election.
The by-election on Thursday 1 October is being held to elect a councillor to represent the ward on Orkney Islands Council.
From Monday 7 September Orkney Islands Councils Sport and Leisure Service will taking bookings for their sport and leisure facilities ahead of their reopening during the week commencing 14 September.
Orkney Islands Council would like to thank parents and carers for their swift response to the request for information on their childcare needs.
Orkney Islands Councils Sport and Leisure Service welcomes the Scottish Governments announcement that sport facilities can begin to re-open from the 31 August.
The Community Learning Guide for Autumn 2020 contains a comprehensive programme of courses drawn together by the Council’s Community Learning and Development service.
Following the First Ministers announcement last week that indoor sport and leisure facilities can reopen from the 31 August subject to Scottish Government guidance, Orkney Islands Council will continue to plan for re-opening from 14 September in line with previous timescales.
Over 80 families and individuals in Orkney are now better connected thanks to the first phase of a Scottish Government-funded scheme to get clinically vulnerable people online.
Due to operational issues as a result of Covid-19, the switchboard and reception desk will now require to be closed to the public between 1-2pm, Monday to Friday. To compensate for the closure during the lunchtime period, we will open the reception each day until 4pm rather than 3pm. Our emergency contact numbers will be available on the recorded message via 01856 873535 and on our website www.orkney.gov.uk
Orkney Islands Council is delighted to announce that school canteens have signed up for the Eat Out to Help Out Scheme.
From Monday 24 August, commercial recycling and cardboard collections will resume.
Three grants from Orkney Islands Council to help local businesses affected by the Covid-19 crisis are now open for applications.
The Hatston and Garson Household Waste Recycling Centres can now accept scrap metal and inert waste once again.
Orkney Islands Council is planning to re-open a further 14 public toilets over the days ahead – many of them in the North and South Isles.
Orkney Library and Archive
Orkney Library and Archive, in Kirkwall, will reopen to the public on Monday 17 August, with some restrictions in place.
Kerbside recycling will continue in the four week cycle of collections, with next week reverting back to glass collection.
The Orkney Museum will re-open its doors on Thursday 13 August for a new temporary exhibition.
Orkney Islands Council has welcomed a 'significant u-turn' following today’s announcement by the Scottish Education Secretary John Swinney that all downgraded exam awards will be withdrawn.
Work is continuing within Orkney Islands Council to ensure families in Orkney have access to childcare, including the provision of increased free childcare hours in most nursery settings from this month (August).
Pre-school and nursery settings in Orkney will reopen in full on August 17 following the recent Scottish Government announcement.
Friday 7 August saw the last day of the Orkney Coronavirus Community Support Hub being situated at the Pickaquoy Centre, now that shielding has paused in Scotland
The annual Riding of the Marches is one of many events that have had to be cancelled this year because of the Covid-19 crisis.
Orkney Islands Council has pushed back the reopening of some leisure facilities following the recent changes in guidance from the Scottish Government.
The Board of Orkney Ferries has made a direct appeal to the Scottish Government for emergency funding to offset the damaging impact on the company of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Schools in Orkney will reopen in full during August following the Scottish Government announcement last week.
Ministers have signed off on a plan which will see pupils back in the classroom by the middle of the month.
Orkney Islands Council is delighted to confirm that from Monday 3 August grass pitches will be reopened for bookings.
From Tuesday 4 August both Hatston and Garson Household Waste Recycling Centres will again be able to accept waste electrical and electronic equipment.
Public toilets at a number of rural and outer isles sites will re-open next week (from Monday, August 3)
Public toilets at four more sites will re-open on Monday 27 July.
Bus timetables for Orkney Mainland and the linked South Isles return to normal from Monday 27 July.
Orkney Islands Council will be collecting glass bottles and jars during next week’s kerbside collections starting on Monday 20 July.
Orkney Islands Council is advising people to be prepared for the possibility of short delays when using the Household Waste Recycling Centres at Hatston and Garson.
Orkney Ferries are reminding customers that all travel on their ferries needs to be booked in advance, whether the booking is for foot passengers only or with a vehicle.
Orkney Islands Council is planning to start re-opening public toilets later this week.
In line with guidance from the Depute Registrar General and the Scottish Government, registration services are provided in Orkney subject to the following restrictions:
St Magnus Cathedral will reopen for private prayer and reflection from Tuesday 21 July.
Whilst Scotland slowly eases its way out of lockdown a number of restrictions and requirements, aimed at keeping staff and site users safe, are still in place, impacting on the ways in which we can operate.
Our Hatston and Garson household waste recycling centres will be accepting black bag waste from Tuesday 14 July – along with garden waste, cardboard and bulky household waste.
Orkney Islands Council’s Education, Leisure and Housing Service is currently working to reopen their 3G pitches from the 13 July in line with the Scottish Government Route Map.
The Community Support Hub call centre at the Pickaquoy Centre is changing its opening hours from Monday 13 July, to Monday to Friday, 10:00 - 14:00.
Orkney Islands Council is advising that there are only a few days left to apply for a grant from the Small Business Grant Fund or the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant Fund.
The deadline is 5pm on Friday 10 July.
Our recycling centres at Hatston and Garson will be accepting bulky household waste from Tuesday, July 7 – in addition to garden waste and cardboard.
A number of Orkney Islands Council’s housing services will soon be available again, in line with the gradual easing of lockdown restrictions.
Orkney Ferries is set to bring in enhanced timetables from Monday 6 July following consultation with Community Councils in the North and South Isles.
Businesses in Orkney who have previously received financial assistance through Scottish Government business grant schemes or the Council's Business Hardship Support Fund are to receive an additional payment from the Council's £5m Coronavirus Support Fund.
Orkney Islands Council is to provide two support services for the children of Category 1 key workers over the summer holiday period.
Orkney Islands Council’s collection of sculpture can now be viewed online as part of a nationwide Art UK project.
Two Stromness Academy pupils have been successful in winning a £4,000 grant for the Samaritans of Orkney.
Orkney Islands Council is reminding the community that face coverings will become mandatory on public transport from Monday (22 June) in line with Scottish Government requirements.
The Leader of Orkney Islands Council is warning that Scottish Government objectives for the reopening of schools will be ‘undeliverable’ in the county.
Orkney Islands Council's recycling centres at Hatston and Garson will be accepting heavy corrugated cardboard - as well as garden waste - from Tuesday 23 June.
Over the last two weeks Hatston and Garson Household Waste Recycling Centres have collected a large amount of garden waste and are expecting more to come.
Kerbside recycling collections are to continue with the current four-week cycle of single material types for households in Orkney Mainland, Burray and South Ronaldsay.
Orkney Islands Council is warning local people that, despite the potential lifting of some national travel restrictions this week by the Scottish Government, opportunities to travel locally by bus, plane and ferry will still be limited due to capacity constraints arising from social distancing.
Birthday Honours list delayed to allow for Covid-19 recognition
The Queen’s Birthday Honours List has been delayed until the autumn this year to allow for recognition of people who have made “exceptional contribution” to the national Covid-19 response.
S2 pupils at Stromness Academy have created their own virtual newspaper – Lockdown Lowdown – documenting the biggest news story of the century so far.
The Community Support Hub call centre at the Pickaquoy Centre is changing its opening hours from Monday, June 29 to Monday to Friday, 09:00 -17:00.
Orkney Islands Council is encouraging all companies who provide contracted services to the council to apply for assistance under the Supplier Relief Scheme.
Orkney Local Emergency Co-ordination Group – OLECG, made up of representatives from a broad range of organisations, including the emergency and public services, transport providers, the utilities and voluntary sector, continue to meet virtually during this pandemic.
