Latest News

Many of Orkney’s most vulnerable families are to receive a £200 direct payment to those children receiving free school meals - £100 from the Scottish Government COVID Spring Hardship Payment and a further top up payment of £100 thanks to an Orkney Islands Council grant agreed by councillors.

The Notice of Election for the Scottish Parliamentary election was published today (Monday 15 March).

The election will be held on Thursday 6 May to elect MSPs to the Scottish Parliament.   

Orkney Islands Council is warning folk to be on their guard in respect of a TV Licensing scam currently on the go.

There was a double celebration at St Andrews Primary School on Monday this week (15 March) - with the reopening of the school in full meaning all pupils and staff were able to witness the turf cutting ceremony to mark the start of major extension and refurbishment works.

A report to the Council's Monitoring and Audit Committee has set out the findings of an investigation into the ordering of stone from outwith Orkney for Cursiter Quarry - and made recommendations to prevent failings in the process from occurring again.

Polling cards will be arriving through Orkney letterboxes next week from around Thursday 18 March for all those eligible to vote at the forthcoming Scottish Parliament election on 6 May – and you will see that two of our regular Polling Stations have moved.

There will be a feast fit for Saint Patrick himself on the menu throughout schools in Orkney on Wednesday 17 March – St Patrick’s Day.

The Scottish Government has published new guidance which supports “meaningful contact” to resume between care home residents and their loved ones from this month, March 2021.

The Council’s care home staff have been working hard to ensure the latest guidance is met to allow loved ones to have an enhanced level of contact from this month.

The deadline date for submission of comments to the Scottish Government on proposed plans for a six turbine, council-owned wind farm at Wee Fea in Lyness, has been further extended until May 31.