UNRELEASED AND NEVER-BEFORE SEEN FOOTAGE
Thursday 31st December at 9pm on BBC ALBA
BBC ALBA brings viewers inside the unique story of one man, his music and the country that embraced him with the documentary special "Johnny Cash” which is to be transmitted on Hogmanay at 9pm.
The film sheds new light on the life and legacy of the "Man in Black”, giving viewers unprecedented access to a wealth of rare materials, including never-before-seen footage and photos, intimate interviews with Cash's family, children, and several life-long friends, and 27 of Johnny Cash's recordings, many used in the programme for the first time.
At the time of his death in 2003, no other entertainer in history had brought together people of such diverse creeds, politics, and persuasions as Johnny Cash. With hits spanning six decades from the 1950s into the 21st century, Cash sought to advocate his beliefs and unify people through his music.
Wading into the controversies of his time, Cash was a man who believed in God but was a friend to the Devil, a patriot and a drug addict, a friend to Presidents and an ally to prisoners. His America was not red, white or blue; it was black.
The documentary explores the prominent themes of Cash's life including love of the land, freedom, justice, family, faith and redemption through exclusive interviews, photos and unreleased music and footage.
Interviews include Cash's sister Joanne, son John Carter Cash and daughters Cindy Cash and Rosanne Cash, childhood friends and fellow band mates as well as Bob Dylan, Sheryl Crow, Al Gore, Loretta Lynn, Snoop Dogg, Steve Earle, and Merle Haggard, all of whom are connected to Cash in surprising ways.
The special features 27 of Cash's songs as well as unreleased and never-before seen footage including the 1965 "Johnny Cash Show" featuring a solo performance of "Five Feet High and Rising," outtakes from the recording studio with Cash and Bob Dylan from his elusive ‘Eat the Document’ documentary and rehearsal footage for a Highwaymen recording session.
The Cash family, Johnny's sister, son, and other relatives, take viewers to rural Dyess, Arkansas to Cash's childhood home and visit brother Jack's grave which elicits a moving, impromptu singing of "Will The Circle Be Unbroken."
Johnny Cash has been produced by Ann Morrison at MacTV and will be transmitted on BBC ALBA on Thursday, 31st December at 9pm.
Thursday, 17 December 2009
Wednesday, 16 December 2009
UNITE says "Diageo workers' courageous fight wins them a better deal"
A much-improved and unconditional offer from Diageo has been accepted by its Scottish workforce, Unite the union said.
The union and the workers had been fighting for a fairer redundancy deal to compensate the hundreds of workers set to lose their jobs with the distillers as it forces through its restructuring plans next year.
After months of campaigning, and amid the threat of industrial action by the workers to hit the company early in 2010, Diageo agreed to increase the termination payments by £4000 to £9000 per person, and remove altogether its previous conditions that the payment would be based on productivity and attendance. Diageo has also opened up the pension scheme to allow part of the packages to be paid in to workers' pension pots, enhancing both the retirement lump sum and the pension.
Workers voted on the proposals in workplace ballots at the Kilmarnock, Shieldhall and Port Dundas plants. The offer was accepted by almost four to one.
Jennie Formby, Unite national officer for the food and drinks sector, said that there was widespread sadness that Diageo would not listen to reason on its plant closures but that the workers deserved every credit for the fight for fairness:
"The final package is one that provides benefits for members that are second to none. But we firmly believe that without the courage and determination of the workers, and the excellent leadership of their union stewards, we would not have seen any movement from the company. The fighting spirit the workers demonstrated throughout the whole campaign let Diageo know that they simply could not walk away from these communities without fair and proper compensation.
"Every site had a very clear majority to accept, with Kilmarnock as the largest site showing an 80% acceptance, which is a very clear endorsement of the proposals.
"Of course we are very disappointed not to have been able to save sites from closure, but this is a painful reminder that it is only too easy in the UK for companies to close sites in this way. We have advised Diageo management of the result and also confirmed that our campaign is now formally at an end."
The union and the workers had been fighting for a fairer redundancy deal to compensate the hundreds of workers set to lose their jobs with the distillers as it forces through its restructuring plans next year.
After months of campaigning, and amid the threat of industrial action by the workers to hit the company early in 2010, Diageo agreed to increase the termination payments by £4000 to £9000 per person, and remove altogether its previous conditions that the payment would be based on productivity and attendance. Diageo has also opened up the pension scheme to allow part of the packages to be paid in to workers' pension pots, enhancing both the retirement lump sum and the pension.
Workers voted on the proposals in workplace ballots at the Kilmarnock, Shieldhall and Port Dundas plants. The offer was accepted by almost four to one.
Jennie Formby, Unite national officer for the food and drinks sector, said that there was widespread sadness that Diageo would not listen to reason on its plant closures but that the workers deserved every credit for the fight for fairness:
"The final package is one that provides benefits for members that are second to none. But we firmly believe that without the courage and determination of the workers, and the excellent leadership of their union stewards, we would not have seen any movement from the company. The fighting spirit the workers demonstrated throughout the whole campaign let Diageo know that they simply could not walk away from these communities without fair and proper compensation.
"Every site had a very clear majority to accept, with Kilmarnock as the largest site showing an 80% acceptance, which is a very clear endorsement of the proposals.
"Of course we are very disappointed not to have been able to save sites from closure, but this is a painful reminder that it is only too easy in the UK for companies to close sites in this way. We have advised Diageo management of the result and also confirmed that our campaign is now formally at an end."
Mather says "UK GOVERNMENT SLAMS DOOR ON SECTION OF SCOTTISH TOURISM INDUSTRY"
TREASURY QUIZZED OVER HOLIDAY LETS DEBACLE
SNP Business and Enterprise spokesperson at Westminster Mike Weir MP has heavily criticised the UK Government after it emerged in the finer print of the Pre-Budget Report (PBR) that the Treasury is threatening the survival of small self-catering businesses across Scotland by refusing to classify operating such an enterprise as a trade.
The definition given in the UK Government's PBR means that those operating bed and breakfast businesses are classified as having a trade while those who run self-catering lets are classed as landlords.
Mr Weir has tabled a series of emergency questions to the Treasury in a bid to uncover why the UK Government is pursuing this action. He has also tabled an EDM in parliament. His actions are vigorously supported by Jim Mather, MSP for Argyll & Bute.
Mike Weir said:
"This is a huge disappointment for the tourism industry in Scotland.
6000 small holiday letting businesses across Scotland are a vital part of our rural economy. They cannot be allowed to suffer as a result of this technocratic stitch-up.
People who run self-catering lets are professionals offering a whole host of services from cleaning to providing information on local attractions. They must often conform to strict quality standards to gain VisitScotland ratings. To suggest that they operate the same service as residential landlords and are less skilled than people who also offer a simple meal is insulting and wrong."
Jim Mather stated
"The SNP Government at Holyrood has helped many self-catering operators with its small business bonus, only for the Treasury to pull the rug from under their feet with this sort of ill-considered proposal.
These proposed changes will put many businesses at risk and jeopardise the valuable local trade that holiday lets generate for pubs, restaurants, shops, newsagents and other local businesses - often in remote rural areas where jobs and customers are at a premium. This is a serious threat and one that informed sources would have identified.
With our tourist authorities putting their energies into improving the standard of welcome that visitors to Scotland experience in bright, welcoming, well-equipped and furnished accommodation, it is unthinkable that the Treasury appears prepared with this proposal to slam the door on those in the front line.
This is "the nightmare before Christmas" for many small businesses and the Treasury has to seriously re-consider the consequences of this. I will certainly be taking the matter forward with my colleagues and supporting the efforts of Mike Weir."
SNP Business and Enterprise spokesperson at Westminster Mike Weir MP has heavily criticised the UK Government after it emerged in the finer print of the Pre-Budget Report (PBR) that the Treasury is threatening the survival of small self-catering businesses across Scotland by refusing to classify operating such an enterprise as a trade.
The definition given in the UK Government's PBR means that those operating bed and breakfast businesses are classified as having a trade while those who run self-catering lets are classed as landlords.
Mr Weir has tabled a series of emergency questions to the Treasury in a bid to uncover why the UK Government is pursuing this action. He has also tabled an EDM in parliament. His actions are vigorously supported by Jim Mather, MSP for Argyll & Bute.
Mike Weir said:
"This is a huge disappointment for the tourism industry in Scotland.
6000 small holiday letting businesses across Scotland are a vital part of our rural economy. They cannot be allowed to suffer as a result of this technocratic stitch-up.
People who run self-catering lets are professionals offering a whole host of services from cleaning to providing information on local attractions. They must often conform to strict quality standards to gain VisitScotland ratings. To suggest that they operate the same service as residential landlords and are less skilled than people who also offer a simple meal is insulting and wrong."
Jim Mather stated
"The SNP Government at Holyrood has helped many self-catering operators with its small business bonus, only for the Treasury to pull the rug from under their feet with this sort of ill-considered proposal.
These proposed changes will put many businesses at risk and jeopardise the valuable local trade that holiday lets generate for pubs, restaurants, shops, newsagents and other local businesses - often in remote rural areas where jobs and customers are at a premium. This is a serious threat and one that informed sources would have identified.
With our tourist authorities putting their energies into improving the standard of welcome that visitors to Scotland experience in bright, welcoming, well-equipped and furnished accommodation, it is unthinkable that the Treasury appears prepared with this proposal to slam the door on those in the front line.
This is "the nightmare before Christmas" for many small businesses and the Treasury has to seriously re-consider the consequences of this. I will certainly be taking the matter forward with my colleagues and supporting the efforts of Mike Weir."
"Right to Buy" could be suspended
COUNCIL AND ITS PARTNERS TO CONSULT ON PRESSURED AREA DESIGNATION PROPOSAL
Argyll and Bute Council and local Housing Associations, who together comprise the housing partnership HOMEArgyll, are preparing an application to the Scottish Government for Pressured Area Designation (PAD) for areas of acute housing shortage within Argyll and Bute.
If successful, some tenants - i.e. those who commenced their tenancy after 30th September 2002 - in the designated areas may have the Right To Buy their home suspended, initially for a period of five years.
The proposal is being considered as a way of helping to address the significant shortage of affordable housing in a number of communities across Argyll and Bute.
Any suspension of Right To Buy would mean that a number of houses, which could otherwise have been sold off to sitting tenants, will continue to be available for let to those local families and individuals who are considered to be in the greatest housing need.
Argyll and Bute Council’s Housing and Communities Spokesperson, Councillor George Freeman, said:
“We need to consider all the options that are available to us to try and increase the supply of affordable housing across Argyll and Bute.
“Some areas are suffering from serious shortages of affordable rented accommodation, which is having an impact on individuals and families on housing waiting lists throughout the region.
“Although the PAD proposal will not impact on the majority of tenants across Argyll and Bute, I believe that the process we are considering will hopefully prove an effective measure in helping to ensure that there are more affordable properties available for those who need them.”
The Council has now completed its initial analysis of housing need data and supporting evidence and identified the potential areas for inclusion in the PAD application.
Together with housing association partners, the authority is now undertaking a period of consultation with social sector tenants, waiting list applicants, and local residents in general.
Anyone with an interest in this issue is invited to contact the Council at the address below and express their view via phone, email or letter by 15th January 2010.
Housing association tenants who have queries regarding their own tenancy and their eligibility status for Right To Buy should contact their local housing association office in the first instance.
When the consultation exercise has been completed, a report will be submitted to the Council’s Executive and to members of the Argyll and Bute Strategic Housing & Communities Forum, as well as the boards of the individual Housing Associations.
Only when this has been done will any decision as to whether or not to submit an application to the Scottish Government for Ministerial approval be taken.
If the application is eventually submitted and approved, not all Housing Association tenants will be affected, even within the designated areas.
In addition, all eligible Right To Buy tenants will retain that right – it will simply be suspended, in the first instance, for five years.
The areas to be considered for PAD, based on current and historic housing needs and demand assessments, are:
COWAL - Ardentinny; Benmore; Blairmore; Colintraive; Dunoon/Kirn; Glendaruel; Innellan; Kames/Tighnabruiach; Kilmun; Lochgoilhead; Millhouse; Sandban; Strachur; Strone; Toward
BUTE - Kilchattan/Kingarth
MID ARGYLL - Lochgilphead; Ardrishaig; Cairnbaan; Craignish/Ardfern; Crarae; Crinan; Eredine; Inveraray; Kilmartin; Tayvallich
KINTYRE - Gigha; Macrihanish; Penninver
ISLAY, JURA & COLONSAY - Ballygrant; Bowmore; Bridgend; Bruichladdich; Keills/Port Askaig; Port Charlotte; Port Ellen; Portnahaven; Jura; Colonsay
LORN - Oban; Appin; Balvicar; Barcaldine; Benderloch; Bonawe; Clachan Seil; Connel; North Connel; Dalmally; Dunbeg; Kilchrennan; Kilmore; Kilmelford; Kilninver; Lochawe; Taynuilt; Lismore; Luing; Port Appin
MULL & IONA - Bunessan; Craignure; Dervaig; Fionnphort; Salen; Tobermory; Iona
COLL & TIREE - Coll; Tiree
HELENSBURGH & LOMOND - Arrochar; Cardross; Kilcreggan; Helensburgh; Luss; Rhu
For further information regarding the PAD process, or to provide comments on the proposed submission please contact:
Allan Brandie, Research & Development Officer, Argyll and Bute Council, Dolphin Hall, Manse Avenue, Dunoon, Argyll, PA23 8DQ
Tel: 01369 70 8679.
EMAIL: allan.brandie@argyll-bute.gov.uk)
The full text of the draft PAD submission isavailable online at www.argyll-bute.gov.uk
• The HOMEArgyll partners are Argyll and Bute Council, Argyll Community Housing Association, Dunbritton Housing Association, Fyne Homes and West Highland Housing Association.
• The Housing (Scotland) Act 2001 allows Scottish Ministers to designate any part of a local authority area as a ‘pressured area’ for up to five years at a time, where the demand for social housing outstrips supply and it can be shown that this situation will be adversely affected by tenants exercising their right to buy. The result of the designation is to suspend the right to buy for certain tenants living in the area for a period of up to five years.
• Since the introduction of the Right To Buy in 1980, over 5,600 former Council homes have been sold throughout Argyll and Bute, amounting to over 50% of the original stock.
• The Council transferred its housing stock to the Registered Social Landlord - Argyll Community Housing Association (ACHA) - in 2006. Since then, the number of homes sold through Right To Buy has continued to deplete the affordable homes available to meet local needs.
• In total, the Registered Social Landlord sector in Argyll and Bute currently provides less than 7,900 social rented properties, and on average there are only 800 lets available annually to meet the needs of the local communities. There are some 3,000 households on the HOMEArgyll waiting list.
• In addition, the number of households suffering the most severe form of housing need, i.e. those households deemed to be homeless for whatever reason, continues to increase year on year.
• The shortage of affordable housing both in the social and owner occupied sector has resulted in a high level of demand for accommodation in those areas.
• To tackle this problem Argyll and Bute Council and its Registered Social Landlord partners believe that applying for Pressured Area Designation, under the terms of the Housing (Scotland) Act 2001, would make a contribution to help stabilise affordable housing stock numbers and help meet local housing needs.
• Twelve local authorities across Scotland have already successfully applied to use the Pressured Area mechanism – East Renfrewshire, Highland, South Ayrshire, Moray, Fife, Dumfries and Galloway, Perth and Kinross, Aberdeen, North Ayrshire, Aberdeenshire, North Lanarkshire and Stirling.
Argyll and Bute Council and local Housing Associations, who together comprise the housing partnership HOMEArgyll, are preparing an application to the Scottish Government for Pressured Area Designation (PAD) for areas of acute housing shortage within Argyll and Bute.
If successful, some tenants - i.e. those who commenced their tenancy after 30th September 2002 - in the designated areas may have the Right To Buy their home suspended, initially for a period of five years.
The proposal is being considered as a way of helping to address the significant shortage of affordable housing in a number of communities across Argyll and Bute.
Any suspension of Right To Buy would mean that a number of houses, which could otherwise have been sold off to sitting tenants, will continue to be available for let to those local families and individuals who are considered to be in the greatest housing need.
Argyll and Bute Council’s Housing and Communities Spokesperson, Councillor George Freeman, said:
“We need to consider all the options that are available to us to try and increase the supply of affordable housing across Argyll and Bute.
“Some areas are suffering from serious shortages of affordable rented accommodation, which is having an impact on individuals and families on housing waiting lists throughout the region.
“Although the PAD proposal will not impact on the majority of tenants across Argyll and Bute, I believe that the process we are considering will hopefully prove an effective measure in helping to ensure that there are more affordable properties available for those who need them.”
The Council has now completed its initial analysis of housing need data and supporting evidence and identified the potential areas for inclusion in the PAD application.
Together with housing association partners, the authority is now undertaking a period of consultation with social sector tenants, waiting list applicants, and local residents in general.
Anyone with an interest in this issue is invited to contact the Council at the address below and express their view via phone, email or letter by 15th January 2010.
Housing association tenants who have queries regarding their own tenancy and their eligibility status for Right To Buy should contact their local housing association office in the first instance.
When the consultation exercise has been completed, a report will be submitted to the Council’s Executive and to members of the Argyll and Bute Strategic Housing & Communities Forum, as well as the boards of the individual Housing Associations.
Only when this has been done will any decision as to whether or not to submit an application to the Scottish Government for Ministerial approval be taken.
If the application is eventually submitted and approved, not all Housing Association tenants will be affected, even within the designated areas.
In addition, all eligible Right To Buy tenants will retain that right – it will simply be suspended, in the first instance, for five years.
The areas to be considered for PAD, based on current and historic housing needs and demand assessments, are:
COWAL - Ardentinny; Benmore; Blairmore; Colintraive; Dunoon/Kirn; Glendaruel; Innellan; Kames/Tighnabruiach; Kilmun; Lochgoilhead; Millhouse; Sandban; Strachur; Strone; Toward
BUTE - Kilchattan/Kingarth
MID ARGYLL - Lochgilphead; Ardrishaig; Cairnbaan; Craignish/Ardfern; Crarae; Crinan; Eredine; Inveraray; Kilmartin; Tayvallich
KINTYRE - Gigha; Macrihanish; Penninver
ISLAY, JURA & COLONSAY - Ballygrant; Bowmore; Bridgend; Bruichladdich; Keills/Port Askaig; Port Charlotte; Port Ellen; Portnahaven; Jura; Colonsay
LORN - Oban; Appin; Balvicar; Barcaldine; Benderloch; Bonawe; Clachan Seil; Connel; North Connel; Dalmally; Dunbeg; Kilchrennan; Kilmore; Kilmelford; Kilninver; Lochawe; Taynuilt; Lismore; Luing; Port Appin
MULL & IONA - Bunessan; Craignure; Dervaig; Fionnphort; Salen; Tobermory; Iona
COLL & TIREE - Coll; Tiree
HELENSBURGH & LOMOND - Arrochar; Cardross; Kilcreggan; Helensburgh; Luss; Rhu
For further information regarding the PAD process, or to provide comments on the proposed submission please contact:
Allan Brandie, Research & Development Officer, Argyll and Bute Council, Dolphin Hall, Manse Avenue, Dunoon, Argyll, PA23 8DQ
Tel: 01369 70 8679.
EMAIL: allan.brandie@argyll-bute.gov.uk)
The full text of the draft PAD submission isavailable online at www.argyll-bute.gov.uk
• The HOMEArgyll partners are Argyll and Bute Council, Argyll Community Housing Association, Dunbritton Housing Association, Fyne Homes and West Highland Housing Association.
• The Housing (Scotland) Act 2001 allows Scottish Ministers to designate any part of a local authority area as a ‘pressured area’ for up to five years at a time, where the demand for social housing outstrips supply and it can be shown that this situation will be adversely affected by tenants exercising their right to buy. The result of the designation is to suspend the right to buy for certain tenants living in the area for a period of up to five years.
• Since the introduction of the Right To Buy in 1980, over 5,600 former Council homes have been sold throughout Argyll and Bute, amounting to over 50% of the original stock.
• The Council transferred its housing stock to the Registered Social Landlord - Argyll Community Housing Association (ACHA) - in 2006. Since then, the number of homes sold through Right To Buy has continued to deplete the affordable homes available to meet local needs.
• In total, the Registered Social Landlord sector in Argyll and Bute currently provides less than 7,900 social rented properties, and on average there are only 800 lets available annually to meet the needs of the local communities. There are some 3,000 households on the HOMEArgyll waiting list.
• In addition, the number of households suffering the most severe form of housing need, i.e. those households deemed to be homeless for whatever reason, continues to increase year on year.
• The shortage of affordable housing both in the social and owner occupied sector has resulted in a high level of demand for accommodation in those areas.
• To tackle this problem Argyll and Bute Council and its Registered Social Landlord partners believe that applying for Pressured Area Designation, under the terms of the Housing (Scotland) Act 2001, would make a contribution to help stabilise affordable housing stock numbers and help meet local housing needs.
• Twelve local authorities across Scotland have already successfully applied to use the Pressured Area mechanism – East Renfrewshire, Highland, South Ayrshire, Moray, Fife, Dumfries and Galloway, Perth and Kinross, Aberdeen, North Ayrshire, Aberdeenshire, North Lanarkshire and Stirling.
Tuesday, 15 December 2009
Business Gateway to help small businesses with self assessment
Entrepreneurs throughout Argyll & Bute will soon have the chance to access invaluable business support via a free online workshop.
This exciting new pilot scheme run by Business Gateway is specially designed to help all of Argyll & Bute’s self employed to meet their self assessment deadline, a necessary element for all businesses.
With the online tax return of 31st January fast approaching, Business Gateway will be ensuring that those who sign up to watch the broadcast will be given practical support to help them complete their tax return correctly and on time.
It will also allow people who live in rural areas to fully access this support without leaving their home or office.
All of Business Gateway’s Highlands and Islands offices are coming together to deliver the webcast, which will broadcast twice on Tuesday, 14 January and will provide first class advice on self assessment.
Whether you are an existing business owner that wants to brush up on your tax knowledge, or you have recently became your own boss and need to learn how to complete your self assessment, this workshop will give you the skills you need.
The live 45 minute webcasts will be presented by former BBC and Newsnight reporter Simon Willis, who will be interviewing and raising vital issues with a tax expert from Her Majesty’s Customs and Revenue.
Viewers will be able to submit questions throughout the broadcast which will be dealt with in a Q&A section towards the end of the workshop. This will allow local business owners to raise the problems or issues they are facing and receive instant expert advice.
Kate Fraser, Senior Development officer, Business Gateway said: “We acknowledge that for many local business owners travelling to our workshops can be difficult due to their rural location, especially during the winter months. This is an attempt to solve that problem and give everyone in the area the opportunity to benefit from our services.
“We are very excited about this new development and hope that this pilot broadcast is a success. It is great that we are able to introduce new ideas and initiatives that will help and support even more local businesses.”
In order to bring this service to local business owners, Business Gateway has teamed up with DP Digital Media, the technology branch of Inverness based company Developing Partners.
To register for the webcast which will be shown live at 12.30 p.m and again at 7 p.m, email irene@developmentpartners.co.uk
Business Gateway provides practical help, advice and support for new and growing businesses throughout Scotland. To find out more about how it can help you set up and develop your own business visit www.bgateway.com or call 0845 609 6611
This exciting new pilot scheme run by Business Gateway is specially designed to help all of Argyll & Bute’s self employed to meet their self assessment deadline, a necessary element for all businesses.
With the online tax return of 31st January fast approaching, Business Gateway will be ensuring that those who sign up to watch the broadcast will be given practical support to help them complete their tax return correctly and on time.
It will also allow people who live in rural areas to fully access this support without leaving their home or office.
All of Business Gateway’s Highlands and Islands offices are coming together to deliver the webcast, which will broadcast twice on Tuesday, 14 January and will provide first class advice on self assessment.
Whether you are an existing business owner that wants to brush up on your tax knowledge, or you have recently became your own boss and need to learn how to complete your self assessment, this workshop will give you the skills you need.
The live 45 minute webcasts will be presented by former BBC and Newsnight reporter Simon Willis, who will be interviewing and raising vital issues with a tax expert from Her Majesty’s Customs and Revenue.
Viewers will be able to submit questions throughout the broadcast which will be dealt with in a Q&A section towards the end of the workshop. This will allow local business owners to raise the problems or issues they are facing and receive instant expert advice.
Kate Fraser, Senior Development officer, Business Gateway said: “We acknowledge that for many local business owners travelling to our workshops can be difficult due to their rural location, especially during the winter months. This is an attempt to solve that problem and give everyone in the area the opportunity to benefit from our services.
“We are very excited about this new development and hope that this pilot broadcast is a success. It is great that we are able to introduce new ideas and initiatives that will help and support even more local businesses.”
In order to bring this service to local business owners, Business Gateway has teamed up with DP Digital Media, the technology branch of Inverness based company Developing Partners.
To register for the webcast which will be shown live at 12.30 p.m and again at 7 p.m, email irene@developmentpartners.co.uk
Business Gateway provides practical help, advice and support for new and growing businesses throughout Scotland. To find out more about how it can help you set up and develop your own business visit www.bgateway.com or call 0845 609 6611
Monday, 14 December 2009
ARGYLL AND BUTE LIFTS SUNDAY LICENSING RESTRICTIONS
Argyll and Bute’s Licensing Board has agreed to allow the sale of alcohol in off licenses from 10am on a Sunday.
The decision was made following consultation with the Local Licensing Forum.
Any license holder who wishes to open from 10am on a Sunday is now being asked to write to the Licensing Board as soon as possible, applying for a variation to their hours.
This procedure would normally carry a fee of £160. However, as a one-off gesture, the Board has agreed to reduce that fee to £20.
Previously, Argyll and Butegenerally restricted alcohol sales to after 12.30pm on a Sunday, a policy which a few other Licensing Boards across Scotland still have.
However the Board’s Chairman, Councillor Daniel Kelly, said various consequences of that policy were brought to the Board’s attention which persuaded members to review the situation.
“One of these was that off license outlets in Argyll and Bute felt they were being unfairly disadvantaged,” Councillor Kelly said.
“Some of our neighbouring authorities allow earlier opening, and local license holders felt they were losing trade over the borders.
“In addition, people in Argyll and Bute often have to travel a significant distance to their local shops. Some were setting off early on a Sunday morning, buying their groceries and then discovering that they couldn’t get a bottle of wine until 12.30pm.”
Another area of concern was Argyll and Bute’s standing as one of Scotland’s most popular yachting destinations.
“We had reports from shops and off licenses around the coast that boats were coming in on a Sunday to restock their provisions, only to discover that they couldn’t buy alcohol until after 12.30pm. Often, they were having to leave before then to catch the tide,” Councillor Kelly said.
“So, after consultation and careful consideration, the Board has now agreed to amend its current policy. From the next Board meeting on February 4 2010, we will be prepared to consider applications for 10am opening on Sundays.
“We have always known that certain decisions we have taken in the past might need to be reviewed at a later date, and this was one such occasion. We will of course continue to monitor the impact of all our policies on license holders, their customers and the wider Argyll and Bute community.”
Any license holder who wishes to apply for a variation to Sunday hours should write to the Clerk to the Licensing Board, Argyll and Bute Council, Kilmory, Lochgilphead PA31 8RT. The £20 fee should be included in the envelope.
Applications to be considered at the February 4th meeting must be received by the Board no later than Thursday, January 7 2010 to allow for the statutory 21 day advertising period.
The decision was made following consultation with the Local Licensing Forum.
Any license holder who wishes to open from 10am on a Sunday is now being asked to write to the Licensing Board as soon as possible, applying for a variation to their hours.
This procedure would normally carry a fee of £160. However, as a one-off gesture, the Board has agreed to reduce that fee to £20.
Previously, Argyll and Butegenerally restricted alcohol sales to after 12.30pm on a Sunday, a policy which a few other Licensing Boards across Scotland still have.
However the Board’s Chairman, Councillor Daniel Kelly, said various consequences of that policy were brought to the Board’s attention which persuaded members to review the situation.
“One of these was that off license outlets in Argyll and Bute felt they were being unfairly disadvantaged,” Councillor Kelly said.
“Some of our neighbouring authorities allow earlier opening, and local license holders felt they were losing trade over the borders.
“In addition, people in Argyll and Bute often have to travel a significant distance to their local shops. Some were setting off early on a Sunday morning, buying their groceries and then discovering that they couldn’t get a bottle of wine until 12.30pm.”
Another area of concern was Argyll and Bute’s standing as one of Scotland’s most popular yachting destinations.
“We had reports from shops and off licenses around the coast that boats were coming in on a Sunday to restock their provisions, only to discover that they couldn’t buy alcohol until after 12.30pm. Often, they were having to leave before then to catch the tide,” Councillor Kelly said.
“So, after consultation and careful consideration, the Board has now agreed to amend its current policy. From the next Board meeting on February 4 2010, we will be prepared to consider applications for 10am opening on Sundays.
“We have always known that certain decisions we have taken in the past might need to be reviewed at a later date, and this was one such occasion. We will of course continue to monitor the impact of all our policies on license holders, their customers and the wider Argyll and Bute community.”
Any license holder who wishes to apply for a variation to Sunday hours should write to the Clerk to the Licensing Board, Argyll and Bute Council, Kilmory, Lochgilphead PA31 8RT. The £20 fee should be included in the envelope.
Applications to be considered at the February 4th meeting must be received by the Board no later than Thursday, January 7 2010 to allow for the statutory 21 day advertising period.
NFUS SEES POTENTIAL IN CROFTING REFORM BILL
NFU Scotland has welcomed the launch the new Crofting Reform Bill in Inverness today (Thursday, 10 December) and looks forward to helping the Scottish Government shape a Bill that truly delivers for active crofters.
The Union believes that the Bill is significantly improved since its publication in draft form in May 2009, but still contains areas of concerns for its 700-crofting members. NFUS has pledged to work with Scottish Government to ensure that the final Bill put forward for parliamentary approval will better tackle issues such as absenteeism and croft abandonment.
Scottish Environment Minister, Roseanna Cunningham, launched the Bill. Speaking at its launch, the Chair of the Union’s Crofting, Highlands and Islands Working Group, Mrs Jo Durno said:
“The Bill, in itself, will not be the salvation of crofting but it does have the potential to support our objectives of keeping croft land in active crofting.
“Our crofting members have given us a clear steer on legislative changes they think are needed to deliver their vision for crofting in the 21st century. Some of those are addressed in the Bill while others merit further discussion. We are committed to working with the Scottish Government to ensure that the planned legislative changes deliver for active crofters and take crofting communities forward.
“The Minister had already reacted positively to concerns voiced by many of our members prior to today’s publication of the Bill. It was already agreed that an occupancy requirement, which would mean houses built on former croft land have to be used as main residences, would not be included in the Bill. It was also previously confirmed that there are no plans to end the Crofting Counties Agricultural Grants Scheme and the Croft House Grants Scheme. These are schemes that deliver vital funding into crofting communities.
“These previous announcements addressed some of the primary concerns that our crofting members had expressed when consulted in the summer of 2009 on the draft bill and which we raised in a private meeting with the Minister this summer.
“At the Minister’s request, we have also fed in the thoughts on alternative approaches to tackling thorny subjects such as absenteeism as well as croft abandonment and neglect. NFUS still holds reservations that the Bill fails to properly look at these areas. To help shape the Bill, we will be offering further evidence as Stage 1 of the Bill’s approval proceeds through the Scottish Parliament.”
The Union believes that the Bill is significantly improved since its publication in draft form in May 2009, but still contains areas of concerns for its 700-crofting members. NFUS has pledged to work with Scottish Government to ensure that the final Bill put forward for parliamentary approval will better tackle issues such as absenteeism and croft abandonment.
Scottish Environment Minister, Roseanna Cunningham, launched the Bill. Speaking at its launch, the Chair of the Union’s Crofting, Highlands and Islands Working Group, Mrs Jo Durno said:
“The Bill, in itself, will not be the salvation of crofting but it does have the potential to support our objectives of keeping croft land in active crofting.
“Our crofting members have given us a clear steer on legislative changes they think are needed to deliver their vision for crofting in the 21st century. Some of those are addressed in the Bill while others merit further discussion. We are committed to working with the Scottish Government to ensure that the planned legislative changes deliver for active crofters and take crofting communities forward.
“The Minister had already reacted positively to concerns voiced by many of our members prior to today’s publication of the Bill. It was already agreed that an occupancy requirement, which would mean houses built on former croft land have to be used as main residences, would not be included in the Bill. It was also previously confirmed that there are no plans to end the Crofting Counties Agricultural Grants Scheme and the Croft House Grants Scheme. These are schemes that deliver vital funding into crofting communities.
“These previous announcements addressed some of the primary concerns that our crofting members had expressed when consulted in the summer of 2009 on the draft bill and which we raised in a private meeting with the Minister this summer.
“At the Minister’s request, we have also fed in the thoughts on alternative approaches to tackling thorny subjects such as absenteeism as well as croft abandonment and neglect. NFUS still holds reservations that the Bill fails to properly look at these areas. To help shape the Bill, we will be offering further evidence as Stage 1 of the Bill’s approval proceeds through the Scottish Parliament.”
NOLLAIG BHON GHÀIDHEALTACHD – A HIGHLAND CHRISTMAS ON BBC ALBA
BBC ALBA invites you to join the Channel this Christmas Eve for a very special Gaelic ecumenical service from Ness Bank Church, Inverness.
Rev KD MacLeod (Church of Scotland) will lead the service, with readings and prayers from Rev Ronnie Morrison (Free Church) and Father James MacNeil (Catholic Church).
Soloists Kathleen MacInnes, Maggie MacDonald and James Graham are accompanied by local musicians The Caledonian Canal Ceilidh Trail, who will perform a medley of Christmas classics. Pupils from the Inverness Gaelic Primary School (Bun-sgoil Ghàidhlig Inbhir Nis), the Inverness Gaelic Choir and the Ness Bank Congregation join together to sing favourite Gaelic carols. The carols are subtitled in Gaelic so viewers at home are able to join in.
Christmas is a time for family and friends, but not everyone is able to spend Christmas Day at home with their loved ones. The programme will cover some of the work that The Salvation Army in Inverness is doing to help the homeless and less fortunate, as well as joining The Highland Hospice and Marie Curie Cancer Care team to learn about the services they provide for families over the Christmas period.
The pipes and drums of The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards, currently stationed in Germany, send their Christmas messages home to love ones, with Trooper Ben Duncan piping us into Christmas Day.
Nollaig bhon Ghàidhealtachd is produced by Eyeline Media for BBC ALBA and will be transmitted on Christmas Eve, Thursday 24th December at 11pm and repeated on Christmas Day at 3.25pm. A special recording will also be played out on Radio nan Gàidheal on Christmas Day at 12.03pm.
Rev KD MacLeod (Church of Scotland) will lead the service, with readings and prayers from Rev Ronnie Morrison (Free Church) and Father James MacNeil (Catholic Church).
Soloists Kathleen MacInnes, Maggie MacDonald and James Graham are accompanied by local musicians The Caledonian Canal Ceilidh Trail, who will perform a medley of Christmas classics. Pupils from the Inverness Gaelic Primary School (Bun-sgoil Ghàidhlig Inbhir Nis), the Inverness Gaelic Choir and the Ness Bank Congregation join together to sing favourite Gaelic carols. The carols are subtitled in Gaelic so viewers at home are able to join in.
Christmas is a time for family and friends, but not everyone is able to spend Christmas Day at home with their loved ones. The programme will cover some of the work that The Salvation Army in Inverness is doing to help the homeless and less fortunate, as well as joining The Highland Hospice and Marie Curie Cancer Care team to learn about the services they provide for families over the Christmas period.
The pipes and drums of The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards, currently stationed in Germany, send their Christmas messages home to love ones, with Trooper Ben Duncan piping us into Christmas Day.
Nollaig bhon Ghàidhealtachd is produced by Eyeline Media for BBC ALBA and will be transmitted on Christmas Eve, Thursday 24th December at 11pm and repeated on Christmas Day at 3.25pm. A special recording will also be played out on Radio nan Gàidheal on Christmas Day at 12.03pm.
NOLLAIG BHON GHÀIDHEALTACHD – A HIGHLAND CHRISTMAS ON BBC ALBA
BBC ALBA invites you to join the Channel this Christmas Eve for a very special Gaelic ecumenical service from Ness Bank Church, Inverness.
Rev KD MacLeod (Church of Scotland) will lead the service, with readings and prayers from Rev Ronnie Morrison (Free Church) and Father James MacNeil (Catholic Church).
Soloists Kathleen MacInnes, Maggie MacDonald and James Graham are accompanied by local musicians The Caledonian Canal Ceilidh Trail, who will perform a medley of Christmas classics. Pupils from the Inverness Gaelic Primary School (Bun-sgoil Ghàidhlig Inbhir Nis), the Inverness Gaelic Choir and the Ness Bank Congregation join together to sing favourite Gaelic carols. The carols are subtitled in Gaelic so viewers at home are able to join in.
Christmas is a time for family and friends, but not everyone is able to spend Christmas Day at home with their loved ones. The programme will cover some of the work that The Salvation Army in Inverness is doing to help the homeless and less fortunate, as well as joining The Highland Hospice and Marie Curie Cancer Care team to learn about the services they provide for families over the Christmas period.
The pipes and drums of The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards, currently stationed in Germany, send their Christmas messages home to love ones, with Trooper Ben Duncan piping us into Christmas Day.
Nollaig bhon Ghàidhealtachd is produced by Eyeline Media for BBC ALBA and will be transmitted on Christmas Eve, Thursday 24th December at 11pm and repeated on Christmas Day at 3.25pm. A special recording will also be played out on Radio nan Gàidheal on Christmas Day at 12.03pm.
Rev KD MacLeod (Church of Scotland) will lead the service, with readings and prayers from Rev Ronnie Morrison (Free Church) and Father James MacNeil (Catholic Church).
Soloists Kathleen MacInnes, Maggie MacDonald and James Graham are accompanied by local musicians The Caledonian Canal Ceilidh Trail, who will perform a medley of Christmas classics. Pupils from the Inverness Gaelic Primary School (Bun-sgoil Ghàidhlig Inbhir Nis), the Inverness Gaelic Choir and the Ness Bank Congregation join together to sing favourite Gaelic carols. The carols are subtitled in Gaelic so viewers at home are able to join in.
Christmas is a time for family and friends, but not everyone is able to spend Christmas Day at home with their loved ones. The programme will cover some of the work that The Salvation Army in Inverness is doing to help the homeless and less fortunate, as well as joining The Highland Hospice and Marie Curie Cancer Care team to learn about the services they provide for families over the Christmas period.
The pipes and drums of The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards, currently stationed in Germany, send their Christmas messages home to love ones, with Trooper Ben Duncan piping us into Christmas Day.
Nollaig bhon Ghàidhealtachd is produced by Eyeline Media for BBC ALBA and will be transmitted on Christmas Eve, Thursday 24th December at 11pm and repeated on Christmas Day at 3.25pm. A special recording will also be played out on Radio nan Gàidheal on Christmas Day at 12.03pm.
Bothan air a’ Phrèiridh on BBC ALBA, 25th Dec at 9pm
Bothan air a’ Phrèiridh (Cabin on the Prairies) is a fascinating new documentary, a Gaelic road trip going back to the mid 20th century yet firmly rooted in the 21st century.
It’s a journey of discovery on an emigrant’s road to the ‘Far West’ of Canada and back again, portraying family stories and separations both overseas and at home.
The hour-long documentary on BBC ALBA, from the writer’s personal perspective, follows the return of a Benbecula-born Gael, Ewen MacKay (Isle of Skye-based joiner and father of six), to the Canadian prairie homestead where his mother, Bealag MacKay was born at the beginning of the ‘Dirty Thirties’ out in the Canadian West.
Bealag’s father, Seonaidh Paterson, had emigrated in 1924 to the Canadian province of Alberta, a year after the Marloch had sailed from Lochboisdale, South Uist, with hundreds bound for the same destination.
Once set up on his prairie homestead, Seonaidh married Flora MacLellan, also from South Uist, who later died when Bealag was only an infant. So Bealag grew up in Alberta, on the farm of her mother’s sister’s family in Clandonald. Her father was mostly absent during this time, turning his hand to various odd jobs to make ends meet from farming his own land, to working as a lumberman, to winning medals and prize money in local rodeo events as a ‘steer wrestling’ (bulldogging) Gaelic Cowboy.
By the end of the 1930s though, the Gaelic Cowboy suddenly left and brought his daughter back across the North Atlantic to live with relatives in Benbecula, a distant homeland she had never seen.
A young girl with little Gaelic at first, Bealag remained in Benbecula throughout the 1940s and beyond, marrying a local man, Iain MacKay, and going on to raise a family of five of whom Ewen is the youngest. Seonaidh also remained on the Islands and in his remaining days, stayed in the house of his daughter Bealag and her husband Iain. In his last conscious hours, he called out in Gaelic that his beloved prairie horses were escaping from his failing grasp.
Iain MacPherson, a friend of Ewen MacKay from his years living in the Isle of Skye, first met Ewen’s mother Bealag on a New Year trip to Benbecula. Pulling out her Alberta birth certificate and her father’s rodeo cup, she had told him part of her life story of coming and going.
In the documentary, Ewen along with Iain (an Alberta native like Bealag) set off in search of both the final and initial threads of the tale from the Western Isles and the Isle of Skye to the endless prairie of Red Deer and the dusty hills of Clandonald.
Bothan air a’ Phrèiridh has been produced for BBC ALBA by Pelicula Films, written and presented by Iain S MacPherson and directed by Mark Littlewood. The hour long documentary will be transmitted on BBC ALBA on Friday 25 December at 9pm.
It’s a journey of discovery on an emigrant’s road to the ‘Far West’ of Canada and back again, portraying family stories and separations both overseas and at home.
The hour-long documentary on BBC ALBA, from the writer’s personal perspective, follows the return of a Benbecula-born Gael, Ewen MacKay (Isle of Skye-based joiner and father of six), to the Canadian prairie homestead where his mother, Bealag MacKay was born at the beginning of the ‘Dirty Thirties’ out in the Canadian West.
Bealag’s father, Seonaidh Paterson, had emigrated in 1924 to the Canadian province of Alberta, a year after the Marloch had sailed from Lochboisdale, South Uist, with hundreds bound for the same destination.
Once set up on his prairie homestead, Seonaidh married Flora MacLellan, also from South Uist, who later died when Bealag was only an infant. So Bealag grew up in Alberta, on the farm of her mother’s sister’s family in Clandonald. Her father was mostly absent during this time, turning his hand to various odd jobs to make ends meet from farming his own land, to working as a lumberman, to winning medals and prize money in local rodeo events as a ‘steer wrestling’ (bulldogging) Gaelic Cowboy.
By the end of the 1930s though, the Gaelic Cowboy suddenly left and brought his daughter back across the North Atlantic to live with relatives in Benbecula, a distant homeland she had never seen.
A young girl with little Gaelic at first, Bealag remained in Benbecula throughout the 1940s and beyond, marrying a local man, Iain MacKay, and going on to raise a family of five of whom Ewen is the youngest. Seonaidh also remained on the Islands and in his remaining days, stayed in the house of his daughter Bealag and her husband Iain. In his last conscious hours, he called out in Gaelic that his beloved prairie horses were escaping from his failing grasp.
Iain MacPherson, a friend of Ewen MacKay from his years living in the Isle of Skye, first met Ewen’s mother Bealag on a New Year trip to Benbecula. Pulling out her Alberta birth certificate and her father’s rodeo cup, she had told him part of her life story of coming and going.
In the documentary, Ewen along with Iain (an Alberta native like Bealag) set off in search of both the final and initial threads of the tale from the Western Isles and the Isle of Skye to the endless prairie of Red Deer and the dusty hills of Clandonald.
Bothan air a’ Phrèiridh has been produced for BBC ALBA by Pelicula Films, written and presented by Iain S MacPherson and directed by Mark Littlewood. The hour long documentary will be transmitted on BBC ALBA on Friday 25 December at 9pm.
Jamie McGrigor MSP - speech on Rural Broadband
Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con): I congratulate my good friend Murdo Fraser on bringing to the chamber today's extremely important debate and on prompting the Government to send an e-mail this afternoon to tell us of 71 upgrades, the first of which will be finished by March 2010. I thought that that e-mail might pre-empt my speech but, having looked at the list, I see that it does not include any of the exchanges that I am going to complain about.
The minister will be aware, as the constituency MSP for Argyll and Bute and from the repeated correspondence that he has had with members such as me, that there are far too many rural communities in the Highlands and Islands that still receive an inferior service and poorer value for money in comparison with their urban equivalents.
One constituent in rural Argyll told me this week that she is paying a whopping £40.54 per month for broadband through Avanti, which she finds does not work half the time. When she rings Avanti to complain, the company tells her that, because it is raining either in London or in Argyll—which is quite often—the satellite is not working. Furthermore, she receives no refund for any lack of service, she is bound into a minimum one-year contract, and even when the system is working it is often so slow that sometimes the service times out before things download.
Watching BBC iPlayer, which people in the cities take for granted, can be a frustrating experience that leaves people tearing their hair out. That is surely unacceptable, and sadly—judging from my mailbag—such an occurrence is not an isolated case. I am led to believe that the cheapest Avanti option is £23.50 per month, which is much more expensive than many of the competitive city broadband packages and an amount that means that the package is out of reach for many people on low incomes. Indeed, the fact that the uptake of Avanti broadband by those who previously indicated an interest is only around 50 per cent suggests that cost is putting people off.
Another constituent in Argyll tells me that, despite the fact that he lives only 100m from the BT exchange, his broadband provider can only give him 2 megabits per second. His neighbour, who is with a different provider and thus uses a different line from the exchange, can get 8 megabits per second. Such inconsistency understandably annoys and dismays people; they just feel conned.
I will briefly mention the continuing and passionate campaign of my constituents in Northbay on the island of Barra to secure a better broadband service for their community than the one that is currently provided by the connected communities broadband network, which is owned and managed by Highlands and Islands Enterprise. My constituents on Barra continue to make the case to me that the con com wireless solution has just not worked for them; they want the local BT exchange to be upgraded. One of my constituents said to me, "What kind of con is con com?"
My constituents in the rural and island parts of my region want efforts redoubled to secure affordable, fast and reliable broadband for all. That must mean working with BT and urging it at every opportunity to renew and upgrade the BT telephone exchanges. I am glad that 71 exchanges are being upgraded, but there are still many more. Upgrading the exchanges will enable BT to cope with the demand that exists in communities throughout rural Scotland.
BT seems to be saving money by getting rid of rural telephone boxes, which it says there is no longer any need for. The upgrading of rural exchanges is a new, modern need that BT can fulfil, and I hope that the Government will encourage it to do so.
The minister will be aware, as the constituency MSP for Argyll and Bute and from the repeated correspondence that he has had with members such as me, that there are far too many rural communities in the Highlands and Islands that still receive an inferior service and poorer value for money in comparison with their urban equivalents.
One constituent in rural Argyll told me this week that she is paying a whopping £40.54 per month for broadband through Avanti, which she finds does not work half the time. When she rings Avanti to complain, the company tells her that, because it is raining either in London or in Argyll—which is quite often—the satellite is not working. Furthermore, she receives no refund for any lack of service, she is bound into a minimum one-year contract, and even when the system is working it is often so slow that sometimes the service times out before things download.
Watching BBC iPlayer, which people in the cities take for granted, can be a frustrating experience that leaves people tearing their hair out. That is surely unacceptable, and sadly—judging from my mailbag—such an occurrence is not an isolated case. I am led to believe that the cheapest Avanti option is £23.50 per month, which is much more expensive than many of the competitive city broadband packages and an amount that means that the package is out of reach for many people on low incomes. Indeed, the fact that the uptake of Avanti broadband by those who previously indicated an interest is only around 50 per cent suggests that cost is putting people off.
Another constituent in Argyll tells me that, despite the fact that he lives only 100m from the BT exchange, his broadband provider can only give him 2 megabits per second. His neighbour, who is with a different provider and thus uses a different line from the exchange, can get 8 megabits per second. Such inconsistency understandably annoys and dismays people; they just feel conned.
I will briefly mention the continuing and passionate campaign of my constituents in Northbay on the island of Barra to secure a better broadband service for their community than the one that is currently provided by the connected communities broadband network, which is owned and managed by Highlands and Islands Enterprise. My constituents on Barra continue to make the case to me that the con com wireless solution has just not worked for them; they want the local BT exchange to be upgraded. One of my constituents said to me, "What kind of con is con com?"
My constituents in the rural and island parts of my region want efforts redoubled to secure affordable, fast and reliable broadband for all. That must mean working with BT and urging it at every opportunity to renew and upgrade the BT telephone exchanges. I am glad that 71 exchanges are being upgraded, but there are still many more. Upgrading the exchanges will enable BT to cope with the demand that exists in communities throughout rural Scotland.
BT seems to be saving money by getting rid of rural telephone boxes, which it says there is no longer any need for. The upgrading of rural exchanges is a new, modern need that BT can fulfil, and I hope that the Government will encourage it to do so.
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