NHS Highland has confirmed today that plans are fully in place to cope with the 24 hour Industrial Action planned from 00.01 hr on Wednesday 30th November.
Elaine Mead, Chief Executive for NHS Highland said: “Our priority at all times is to ensure we run a safe service including running emergency services. We would like to remind and reassure patients and the wider public that we have robust plans in place to meet all emergency services and our core clinical services. Our Core services will run as normal and includes cancer treatments, renal dialysis, emergency mental health and maternity services.
“We respect the right of our colleagues to take industrial action. They also have a right to picket during industrial action. Our Trade Union representatives have been cooperating with Senior Managers to make sure that any picket lines are located safely and conducted in line with relevant guidance.
“I would like to stress that any patient who has been asked to still attend for a scheduled appointment on Wednesday 30th should make sure that they do come in and attend. Staff taking strike action will not be picketing patients nor seeking to disrupt essential emergency services. “
Ray Stewart, NHS Highland Joint Trade Union Chair said “People attending many hospital services should expect to see our members picketing but they should not worry about this at all. Our briefing to pickets has been clear and that is to treat all members of the public and staff with respect.”
As part of NHS Highland’s Business Continuity Plans across the Board area a limited service will be run in hospitals. This means that to maintain safe services most non urgent activity including most outpatient clinics, day surgery and elective surgery has had to be postponed.
Planning has already begun to ensure that any patient who has had to be cancelled will be re-booked in a timely manner as a matter of priority.
Tuesday, 29 November 2011
BBC ALBA – WEEKLY PROGRAMME HIGHLIGHTS Saturday 3 December – Friday 9 December 2011
Title: Scottish Premier League - St Mirren v Inverness CT
The latest full-match coverage from the SPL as St Mirren host Inverness Caledonian Thistle at St Mirren Park, Paisley.
Transmitted: Saturday 3 December
Time: 5.30 – 7.30pm
Title: Belladrum 2011: Cridhe Tartan
Main stage highlights and unseen performances from Belladrum 2011: Texas, Deacon Blue, Teddy Thompson, Little Comets, Easy Star All-Stars, Rachel Sermanni and Frank Turner. Hosted by Fiona MacKenzie.
Transmitted: Saturday 3 December
Time: 8.55 – 9.55pm
Title: Pro 12 Live Rugby - Dragons V Glasgow
LIVE rugby from the RaboDirect Pro 12 league as Sean Lineen’s Glasgow Warriors side travel to face Newport Gwent Dragons at Rodney Parade, Newport.
Transmitted: Sunday 4 December
Time: 4.25 – 6.20pm
Title: Trusadh - Slighe Dhan Fhàsaich/Into The Wild
With the current worldwide population shift towards an urbanised existence, the benefits of getting back in touch with the natural landscape, and the lure of these wild remote places has never been greater. For many, living there has become a regular way of life, far from the comforts of modern living.
Amongst those we meet are a young family who spend each summer on the isolated island of Mingulay; an aspiring wildlife photographer and travel writer in remote Knoydart; a city based guidebook writer whose aim is to get people out to the wild places; two Skye sisters who have set up a wilderness boot camp; and some of the Stornoway Kayak Club as they explore the rugged Lewis coastline, and camp out on one of its many offshore islands.
In following these characters who have embraced these wild lands we'll look at whether there's a true wilderness left in an age where humans have altered so much of our landscape.
Transmitted: Monday 5 December
Time: 9.00 – 10.00pm
Title: Na Trads
The biggest night in Scottish traditional music returns to Perth Concert Hall for a second year with another brilliant line-up – the Trad Awards 2011.
Transmitted: Monday 5 December
Time: 10.00 – 11.30pm
Title: Soillse - Horseman of Everest
Gurmen, a sherpa widely respected for his high-altitude expertise, lives at 4,000 meters in the Himalayan valleys of Nepal. Every day he faces the dangers of the mountain and its treacherous climate. With dreams of a better future, he has a bold idea: to buy a trained horse and rent it to tourists.
Transmitted: Wednesday 7 December
Time: 9.00 – 9.55pm
The latest full-match coverage from the SPL as St Mirren host Inverness Caledonian Thistle at St Mirren Park, Paisley.
Transmitted: Saturday 3 December
Time: 5.30 – 7.30pm
Title: Belladrum 2011: Cridhe Tartan
Main stage highlights and unseen performances from Belladrum 2011: Texas, Deacon Blue, Teddy Thompson, Little Comets, Easy Star All-Stars, Rachel Sermanni and Frank Turner. Hosted by Fiona MacKenzie.
Transmitted: Saturday 3 December
Time: 8.55 – 9.55pm
Title: Pro 12 Live Rugby - Dragons V Glasgow
LIVE rugby from the RaboDirect Pro 12 league as Sean Lineen’s Glasgow Warriors side travel to face Newport Gwent Dragons at Rodney Parade, Newport.
Transmitted: Sunday 4 December
Time: 4.25 – 6.20pm
Title: Trusadh - Slighe Dhan Fhàsaich/Into The Wild
With the current worldwide population shift towards an urbanised existence, the benefits of getting back in touch with the natural landscape, and the lure of these wild remote places has never been greater. For many, living there has become a regular way of life, far from the comforts of modern living.
Amongst those we meet are a young family who spend each summer on the isolated island of Mingulay; an aspiring wildlife photographer and travel writer in remote Knoydart; a city based guidebook writer whose aim is to get people out to the wild places; two Skye sisters who have set up a wilderness boot camp; and some of the Stornoway Kayak Club as they explore the rugged Lewis coastline, and camp out on one of its many offshore islands.
In following these characters who have embraced these wild lands we'll look at whether there's a true wilderness left in an age where humans have altered so much of our landscape.
Transmitted: Monday 5 December
Time: 9.00 – 10.00pm
Title: Na Trads
The biggest night in Scottish traditional music returns to Perth Concert Hall for a second year with another brilliant line-up – the Trad Awards 2011.
Transmitted: Monday 5 December
Time: 10.00 – 11.30pm
Title: Soillse - Horseman of Everest
Gurmen, a sherpa widely respected for his high-altitude expertise, lives at 4,000 meters in the Himalayan valleys of Nepal. Every day he faces the dangers of the mountain and its treacherous climate. With dreams of a better future, he has a bold idea: to buy a trained horse and rent it to tourists.
Transmitted: Wednesday 7 December
Time: 9.00 – 9.55pm
FESTIVE FEAST ON BBC ALBA
BBC ALBA has today (Thursday, 17 November) unveiled a festive feast of programmes coming up over the Christmas and New Year period with family favourites and entertainment for all ages featuring compelling documentaries, live sport, traditional music and children’s programmes.
Documentary highlights include exclusive programmes on much loved celebrities such as Kenny Dalglish, Patsy Cline and Michelle MacManus, whilst sporting fans can enjoy live action from the RaboDirect PRO12 plus ‘as-live SPL fixtures throughout the festive period.
A special Christmas Eve service, broadcast at 11pm, will come from Martin’s Memorial Church in Stornoway and will feature music from Back Gaelic Choir, Ishbel Ann Martin, Donnie Murdo MacLeod and Mary Smith as well as young musicians from the Nicolson Institute all under the creative guidance of Calum Martin as Musical Director.
See in the New Year in style with BBC ALBA’s live Hogmanay Cèilidh starting at 11.30pm. John Carmichael and Kirsteen MacDonald will be hosting events at the Duisdale Hall on the Isle of Skye with hot new Gaelic group Mànran, Julie Fowlis and Eamon Doorly, Christine Primrose and Arthur Cormack, plus a host of other top performers. Fiona MacKenzie will complete the team from Am Praban Bar at Eilean Iarmain in Skye where she will be joined by the Angus Nicolson Trio.
Margaret Mary Murray, Head of Service for BBC ALBA, said: “We are looking forward to bringing viewers a fantastic mix of festive programming for all the family. BBC ALBA is now available on Freeview and Cable and we are delighted that, for the first time, our festive schedule can be enjoyed across the country at a time when audiences look out for entertaining television. Our Hogmanay Ceilidh will also broadcast live on Radio nan Gàidheal and will be available worldwide via the BBC iPlayer, extending our programming at this special time of the year to audiences across the UK and overseas.”
Highlights from this year’s festive season on BBC ALBA include:
Music
· Songs of the Pipers: Festive cèilidh from the National Piping Centre in Glasgow celebrating the connection between the Gaelic language and pipe music. Performances are from Mànran, Irish performers ‘The Armagh Pipers Club’ and Irish musician/composer Brian O’hEadhra, accompanied by Calum Stewart and Fiona MacKenzie (Christmas Eve, Sat 24 Dec, 9pm)
· Horo Gheallaidh / Celtic Music Sessions: World-class musicians from Celtic Connections festival featuring Rachel Sermanni and The Tannahill Weavers (Christmas Eve, Sat 24 Dec, 10pm)
· Celtic Connections - Tom Jones: Sixty minutes of top flight music from Celtic Connections including performances from Tom Jones, the Creole Choir from Cuba and lots more. (Christmas Day, Sun 25 Dec, 11pm)
· The Vatersay Boys – In Concert: The number one cèilidh band from the Highlands & Islands perform to a packed Glasgow Barrowland (New Year’s Eve, Sat 31 Dec, 9.30pm)
· Reed Music: The exciting, international world of one of the earliest musical forms, piping, bringing the amazing story of the instrument and its players to life (Mon, 2 Jan, 8.30pm)
Documentaries
· Michelle MacManus: Singer and presenter Michelle McManus travels to the Western Isles of Scotland on a journey of musical discovery (Christmas Day, Sun 25 Dec, 9pm)
· The Campbells: The Campbell family of Greepe Skye is one of the great singing dynasties of Gaelic music. This documentary explores their lives and features performances in venues including Dunvegan Hall and Glasgow’s Art Club during Celtic Connections 2011. (Christmas Day, Sun 25 Dec, 10pm)
· Turas Tony: Tony Kearney joins the Cairngorm Mountain Rescue Team for a testing Winter challenge (Boxing Day, Mon 26 Dec, 9pm)
· King Kenny: Reappointed manager of Liverpool FC this year as well as celebrating his 60th birthday, this tribute programme looks at the life and achievements of one of the most outstanding Scottish sportsmen (Wed 28 Dec, 9pm)
· Sweet Dreams - Patsy Cline: The life story of country singing sensation Patsy Cline (1932 - 1963) is told through a theatre production featuring some of her best loved songs (Fri 30 Dec, 9pm)
· Ishbel MacAskill - A special tribute to Ishbel MacAskill - an incredible lady who had a zest for life and an infectious positive outlook and who died suddenly in March. A Mother, A Grandmother, a Singer, a Lewis Woman and a Point woman through and through (New Year’s Eve, Sat 31 Dec, 10.30pm)
Sport
· RaboDirect PRO12 Rugby: live rugby action as Glasgow and Edinburgh battle it out over two matches for the 1872 Cup and vital competition points (Boxing Day, Mon 26 Dec, 5.30pm and New Year’s Day, Sun 1 Jan, 5.30pm)
· SPL ‘as-live’ coverage: continues throughout the festive period (Dundee Utd v Hibs, Christmas Eve, Sat 24 Dec, 5.30pm / Inverness CT v Hibs, Wed 28 Dec, 10pm)
· Sports Review of the Year: A round-up of BBC ALBA’s sporting highlights of the year including the World Island Games and Edinburgh and Glasgow’s campaign in European club rugby (Christmas Eve, Sat 24 Dec, 7.30pm)
Children’s programming
· Leon in Winter Times: Join Leon and Molly for a wintertime adventure with wicked storytellers, a kidnapped princess and a band of loyal friends who come to the rescue. A Christmas tale for all the family (Christmas Day, Sun 25 Dec, 5.05pm)
· Wallace & Gromit – Curse of the Were Rabbit: A mind altering experiment involving rabbits goes awry, leaving Wallace feeling a bit worse for ‘were.’ With the impending vegetable fair and a monstrous rabbit on the loose, it is up to Gromit to put things right (Christmas Day, Sun 25 Dec,5.35pm)
· Sgeulaiche: New animation series featuring original, spontaneous and funny stories written by children, for children (Fri, 6 Jan, 5.55pm)
Documentary highlights include exclusive programmes on much loved celebrities such as Kenny Dalglish, Patsy Cline and Michelle MacManus, whilst sporting fans can enjoy live action from the RaboDirect PRO12 plus ‘as-live SPL fixtures throughout the festive period.
A special Christmas Eve service, broadcast at 11pm, will come from Martin’s Memorial Church in Stornoway and will feature music from Back Gaelic Choir, Ishbel Ann Martin, Donnie Murdo MacLeod and Mary Smith as well as young musicians from the Nicolson Institute all under the creative guidance of Calum Martin as Musical Director.
See in the New Year in style with BBC ALBA’s live Hogmanay Cèilidh starting at 11.30pm. John Carmichael and Kirsteen MacDonald will be hosting events at the Duisdale Hall on the Isle of Skye with hot new Gaelic group Mànran, Julie Fowlis and Eamon Doorly, Christine Primrose and Arthur Cormack, plus a host of other top performers. Fiona MacKenzie will complete the team from Am Praban Bar at Eilean Iarmain in Skye where she will be joined by the Angus Nicolson Trio.
Margaret Mary Murray, Head of Service for BBC ALBA, said: “We are looking forward to bringing viewers a fantastic mix of festive programming for all the family. BBC ALBA is now available on Freeview and Cable and we are delighted that, for the first time, our festive schedule can be enjoyed across the country at a time when audiences look out for entertaining television. Our Hogmanay Ceilidh will also broadcast live on Radio nan Gàidheal and will be available worldwide via the BBC iPlayer, extending our programming at this special time of the year to audiences across the UK and overseas.”
Highlights from this year’s festive season on BBC ALBA include:
Music
· Songs of the Pipers: Festive cèilidh from the National Piping Centre in Glasgow celebrating the connection between the Gaelic language and pipe music. Performances are from Mànran, Irish performers ‘The Armagh Pipers Club’ and Irish musician/composer Brian O’hEadhra, accompanied by Calum Stewart and Fiona MacKenzie (Christmas Eve, Sat 24 Dec, 9pm)
· Horo Gheallaidh / Celtic Music Sessions: World-class musicians from Celtic Connections festival featuring Rachel Sermanni and The Tannahill Weavers (Christmas Eve, Sat 24 Dec, 10pm)
· Celtic Connections - Tom Jones: Sixty minutes of top flight music from Celtic Connections including performances from Tom Jones, the Creole Choir from Cuba and lots more. (Christmas Day, Sun 25 Dec, 11pm)
· The Vatersay Boys – In Concert: The number one cèilidh band from the Highlands & Islands perform to a packed Glasgow Barrowland (New Year’s Eve, Sat 31 Dec, 9.30pm)
· Reed Music: The exciting, international world of one of the earliest musical forms, piping, bringing the amazing story of the instrument and its players to life (Mon, 2 Jan, 8.30pm)
Documentaries
· Michelle MacManus: Singer and presenter Michelle McManus travels to the Western Isles of Scotland on a journey of musical discovery (Christmas Day, Sun 25 Dec, 9pm)
· The Campbells: The Campbell family of Greepe Skye is one of the great singing dynasties of Gaelic music. This documentary explores their lives and features performances in venues including Dunvegan Hall and Glasgow’s Art Club during Celtic Connections 2011. (Christmas Day, Sun 25 Dec, 10pm)
· Turas Tony: Tony Kearney joins the Cairngorm Mountain Rescue Team for a testing Winter challenge (Boxing Day, Mon 26 Dec, 9pm)
· King Kenny: Reappointed manager of Liverpool FC this year as well as celebrating his 60th birthday, this tribute programme looks at the life and achievements of one of the most outstanding Scottish sportsmen (Wed 28 Dec, 9pm)
· Sweet Dreams - Patsy Cline: The life story of country singing sensation Patsy Cline (1932 - 1963) is told through a theatre production featuring some of her best loved songs (Fri 30 Dec, 9pm)
· Ishbel MacAskill - A special tribute to Ishbel MacAskill - an incredible lady who had a zest for life and an infectious positive outlook and who died suddenly in March. A Mother, A Grandmother, a Singer, a Lewis Woman and a Point woman through and through (New Year’s Eve, Sat 31 Dec, 10.30pm)
Sport
· RaboDirect PRO12 Rugby: live rugby action as Glasgow and Edinburgh battle it out over two matches for the 1872 Cup and vital competition points (Boxing Day, Mon 26 Dec, 5.30pm and New Year’s Day, Sun 1 Jan, 5.30pm)
· SPL ‘as-live’ coverage: continues throughout the festive period (Dundee Utd v Hibs, Christmas Eve, Sat 24 Dec, 5.30pm / Inverness CT v Hibs, Wed 28 Dec, 10pm)
· Sports Review of the Year: A round-up of BBC ALBA’s sporting highlights of the year including the World Island Games and Edinburgh and Glasgow’s campaign in European club rugby (Christmas Eve, Sat 24 Dec, 7.30pm)
Children’s programming
· Leon in Winter Times: Join Leon and Molly for a wintertime adventure with wicked storytellers, a kidnapped princess and a band of loyal friends who come to the rescue. A Christmas tale for all the family (Christmas Day, Sun 25 Dec, 5.05pm)
· Wallace & Gromit – Curse of the Were Rabbit: A mind altering experiment involving rabbits goes awry, leaving Wallace feeling a bit worse for ‘were.’ With the impending vegetable fair and a monstrous rabbit on the loose, it is up to Gromit to put things right (Christmas Day, Sun 25 Dec,5.35pm)
· Sgeulaiche: New animation series featuring original, spontaneous and funny stories written by children, for children (Fri, 6 Jan, 5.55pm)
Monday, 28 November 2011
BBC ALBA – WEEKLY PROGRAMME HIGHLIGHTS Saturday 10 December – Friday 16 December 2011
Title: Scottish Premier League - St Johnstone v Motherwell
The latest full-match coverage from the SPL as St Johnstone host Motherwell at McDiarmid Park, Perth.
Transmitted: Saturday 10 December
Time: 5.30 – 7.30pm
Title: Piping Live! 2011
A taste of what can be seen during the annual Piping Live festival in Glasgow. From pipes and drums to ceilidh and folk bands, it's a lively, colourful and youthful gathering of national and international performers.
Transmitted: Saturday 10 December
Time: 9.00 – 10.00pm
Title: Vets: Gach Creutair Beò
We follow a busy day in the life of vet David Buckland as he makes his weekly visit to Barra, and he tries to fit everything in before the ferry leaves for Uist that evening. At Ardene House near Aberdeen, vet Graham Hunter examines a lame horse that needs delicate and complex surgery. The wonderful world of Scottish vets.
Transmitted: Monday 12 December
Time: 8.30 – 9.00pm
Title: Truckers: Draibhearan
Life behind the wheel for heavy goods vehicle drivers in the Highlands.
Transmitted: Tuesday 13 December
Time: 9.00 – 10.00pm
Title: Soillse - Danadas san Artaig/Broad Peak Base Jumping
The Arctic is one of the last wildernesses on earth and we follow six base jumpers as they travel there seeking the ultimate thrill of being the first to jump from the Arctic mountains.
Transmitted: Wednesday 14 December
Time: 9.00 – 9.55pm
Title: Grinn: Makeover
Lewis woman Greta Powell receives a makeover from the Grinn team. Presented by Donna MacLeod, Lynda MacMillan and John Comerford. Last in the series.
Transmitted: Friday 16 December 2011
Time: 8.30 – 9.00pm
Title: Triùir: Triplets
The Campbell sisters are the best known triplets in the Hebrides. But behind the incredible story of their dramatic birth and meeting the Queen, lies a tale of loss and separation, hardship and poverty, amid much laughter and tears.
Growing up on the island of Uist, their unique lives have been the subject of great scrutiny, starting with their well-documented birth, through their school days, work life, marriage and children. Now, on the eve of retirement, having experienced poverty, separation, family tragedy and loss, the return of youngest sister Theresa to the island gives them the chance to finally get what they have always longed for - the opportunity to be together.
Transmitted: Friday 16 December 2011
Time: 9.00 – 10.00pm
The latest full-match coverage from the SPL as St Johnstone host Motherwell at McDiarmid Park, Perth.
Transmitted: Saturday 10 December
Time: 5.30 – 7.30pm
Title: Piping Live! 2011
A taste of what can be seen during the annual Piping Live festival in Glasgow. From pipes and drums to ceilidh and folk bands, it's a lively, colourful and youthful gathering of national and international performers.
Transmitted: Saturday 10 December
Time: 9.00 – 10.00pm
Title: Vets: Gach Creutair Beò
We follow a busy day in the life of vet David Buckland as he makes his weekly visit to Barra, and he tries to fit everything in before the ferry leaves for Uist that evening. At Ardene House near Aberdeen, vet Graham Hunter examines a lame horse that needs delicate and complex surgery. The wonderful world of Scottish vets.
Transmitted: Monday 12 December
Time: 8.30 – 9.00pm
Title: Truckers: Draibhearan
Life behind the wheel for heavy goods vehicle drivers in the Highlands.
Transmitted: Tuesday 13 December
Time: 9.00 – 10.00pm
Title: Soillse - Danadas san Artaig/Broad Peak Base Jumping
The Arctic is one of the last wildernesses on earth and we follow six base jumpers as they travel there seeking the ultimate thrill of being the first to jump from the Arctic mountains.
Transmitted: Wednesday 14 December
Time: 9.00 – 9.55pm
Title: Grinn: Makeover
Lewis woman Greta Powell receives a makeover from the Grinn team. Presented by Donna MacLeod, Lynda MacMillan and John Comerford. Last in the series.
Transmitted: Friday 16 December 2011
Time: 8.30 – 9.00pm
Title: Triùir: Triplets
The Campbell sisters are the best known triplets in the Hebrides. But behind the incredible story of their dramatic birth and meeting the Queen, lies a tale of loss and separation, hardship and poverty, amid much laughter and tears.
Growing up on the island of Uist, their unique lives have been the subject of great scrutiny, starting with their well-documented birth, through their school days, work life, marriage and children. Now, on the eve of retirement, having experienced poverty, separation, family tragedy and loss, the return of youngest sister Theresa to the island gives them the chance to finally get what they have always longed for - the opportunity to be together.
Transmitted: Friday 16 December 2011
Time: 9.00 – 10.00pm
NHS Highland response to anticipated Industrial Action
In response to the anticipated Industrial Action on Wednesday 30th November, NHS Highland is already in the process of implementing our Business Continuity Plans across the Board area and have already taken the decision to plan to run a limited service in our hospitals.
Our priority and responsibility is at all times to ensure we run a safe service.
We will be maintaining all emergency services and core clinical services as identified in our Board Business Continuity Plan, which includes cancer treatments, renal dialysis, and emergency mental health and maternity services.
Anyone who is currently receiving a course of daily or weekly treatment will also not be affected.
However, to maintain safe services we will have to cancel most non urgent activity including most outpatient clinics, day surgery and elective surgery.
Elaine Mead, Chief Executive for NHS Highland said: “We have begun to identify exactly what will run and have started to contact patients directly to inform them if their appointment is cancelled on the 30th November. We are no longer booking non urgent appointments for that day, however if your appointment is urgent you will be seen.
“We are working closely with our staff to clarify all these arrangements. We are also working with our partner agencies, NHS24 and the Scottish Ambulance Service, to clarify what services they will be running.
“While we respect the right of colleagues to take industrial action we would like to reassure patients and the wider public that we have robust business continuity plans and there will be no disruption to emergency services and safe care.”
Planning has already begun to ensure that any patient who has had to be cancelled will be re-booked as a matter of priority.
If patients have any queries or concerns at this stage please contact NHS Highland using the contact telephone number on their appointment letter.
Our priority and responsibility is at all times to ensure we run a safe service.
We will be maintaining all emergency services and core clinical services as identified in our Board Business Continuity Plan, which includes cancer treatments, renal dialysis, and emergency mental health and maternity services.
Anyone who is currently receiving a course of daily or weekly treatment will also not be affected.
However, to maintain safe services we will have to cancel most non urgent activity including most outpatient clinics, day surgery and elective surgery.
Elaine Mead, Chief Executive for NHS Highland said: “We have begun to identify exactly what will run and have started to contact patients directly to inform them if their appointment is cancelled on the 30th November. We are no longer booking non urgent appointments for that day, however if your appointment is urgent you will be seen.
“We are working closely with our staff to clarify all these arrangements. We are also working with our partner agencies, NHS24 and the Scottish Ambulance Service, to clarify what services they will be running.
“While we respect the right of colleagues to take industrial action we would like to reassure patients and the wider public that we have robust business continuity plans and there will be no disruption to emergency services and safe care.”
Planning has already begun to ensure that any patient who has had to be cancelled will be re-booked as a matter of priority.
If patients have any queries or concerns at this stage please contact NHS Highland using the contact telephone number on their appointment letter.
National changes to impact local blue badge disabled parking scheme
The blue badge disabled parking programme is to undergo significant changes following the introduction of a new Scottish Government scheme.
Transport Scotland is co-ordinating the introduction in Scotland of a new national Blue Badge Improvement Service (BBIS), under which all councils in England, Scotland and Wales will have to source new fraud-proof badges via the BBIS and use a new single BBIS data sharing system.
The changes, which take effect from January 1 2012, will significantly increase the administrative burden for the council as well as the cost per badge.
The council’s Executive today agreed to raise the fee for new Blue Badges (and replacements) awarded after January 1 2012 to the maximum permissible amount (currently £20) to reflect the additional workload and cost of badge production.
Councillor Andrew Nisbet, Argyll and Bute’s spokesperson for social affairs, said the increase was an unavoidable result of the national initiative which is a response to widespread abuse of the current blue badge scheme.
“Our current fee will not even come close to covering the amount which the council will be invoiced for each new badge. Nor does it cover the significant cost of the implementation and ongoing administration of the new scheme,” he said.
“I very much regret having to bring in these increases. However, the increase will only take Argyll and Bute into line with the majority of other Scottish councils – some 60% of which already levy or plan to levy a £20 fee before the inception of this new scheme.
“It should be remembered that a Blue Badge lasts for three years, so the £20 fee is the equivalent of an annual charge of £6.67 in return for year-round free parking.”
News of the Government’s blue badge reform programme in February came just weeks after Argyll and Bute Council had completed a major overhaul of its own blue badge administration, making it easier for customers to apply through new postal and online channels.
Councillor Nisbet said: “We were really ahead of the game in this area. So for us the main change will be the improvement in anti-fraud capabilities.
“Nevertheless, implementing the new scheme by January 1 2012 is a legislative requirement, and one which we are well-placed to meet, given the fact that we re-engineered and streamlined our own processes so recently.
“We will be contacting our customers over the next few weeks through all available channels to alert them to the changes, talk them through the implications and help them with any queries they may have.”
At present, blue badge award and production is undertaken wholly by the council, using national statutory parameters for eligibility and badge design.
In 2010/11, 1,736 customers in Argyll and Bute were issued with either new or replacement blue badges. Each badge lasts for three years, and some 4,500 individuals in the region carry such a badge at any one time.
Transport Scotland is co-ordinating the introduction in Scotland of a new national Blue Badge Improvement Service (BBIS), under which all councils in England, Scotland and Wales will have to source new fraud-proof badges via the BBIS and use a new single BBIS data sharing system.
The changes, which take effect from January 1 2012, will significantly increase the administrative burden for the council as well as the cost per badge.
The council’s Executive today agreed to raise the fee for new Blue Badges (and replacements) awarded after January 1 2012 to the maximum permissible amount (currently £20) to reflect the additional workload and cost of badge production.
Councillor Andrew Nisbet, Argyll and Bute’s spokesperson for social affairs, said the increase was an unavoidable result of the national initiative which is a response to widespread abuse of the current blue badge scheme.
“Our current fee will not even come close to covering the amount which the council will be invoiced for each new badge. Nor does it cover the significant cost of the implementation and ongoing administration of the new scheme,” he said.
“I very much regret having to bring in these increases. However, the increase will only take Argyll and Bute into line with the majority of other Scottish councils – some 60% of which already levy or plan to levy a £20 fee before the inception of this new scheme.
“It should be remembered that a Blue Badge lasts for three years, so the £20 fee is the equivalent of an annual charge of £6.67 in return for year-round free parking.”
News of the Government’s blue badge reform programme in February came just weeks after Argyll and Bute Council had completed a major overhaul of its own blue badge administration, making it easier for customers to apply through new postal and online channels.
Councillor Nisbet said: “We were really ahead of the game in this area. So for us the main change will be the improvement in anti-fraud capabilities.
“Nevertheless, implementing the new scheme by January 1 2012 is a legislative requirement, and one which we are well-placed to meet, given the fact that we re-engineered and streamlined our own processes so recently.
“We will be contacting our customers over the next few weeks through all available channels to alert them to the changes, talk them through the implications and help them with any queries they may have.”
At present, blue badge award and production is undertaken wholly by the council, using national statutory parameters for eligibility and badge design.
In 2010/11, 1,736 customers in Argyll and Bute were issued with either new or replacement blue badges. Each badge lasts for three years, and some 4,500 individuals in the region carry such a badge at any one time.
NFUS SEEKS LEGAL OPINION ON SHEEP EID RULES
NFU Scotland is to seek a legal opinion on implementation of European rules and regulations that require the electronic tagging of sheep and recording their movements.
In response to requests from the membership, NFUS has prepared a brief for its lawyers regarding the difficulties many sheep farmers are having complying with Regulation 21/2004 which established a new system for the identification and registration of sheep. The rules came into force at the start of 2010.
NFU Scotland Chief Executive Scott Walker said:
“In response to the ongoing difficulties our members are experiencing when attempting to comply with the new rules around electronic tagging of sheep and movement reporting, we have instructed our solicitors to consider if we can challenge the rules and any financial penalties that may be imposed.
“Legal opinions, by their nature, are rarely definitive but we will study any legal feedback we receive very closely. There may be no case to pursue or there may be matters that we can take up in court – either here or in Europe. If we decide there is a case then given the likely time and considerable cost involved, such a decision would require very careful consideration and ratification by NFUS board of directors.
“The Union has taken up legal challenges in the past. These have been costly exercises but given the problems EID has caused, we can reassure our members that if there is a case that can be pursued through the courts then we do have a level of contingency funds in place if we do go down that route.
“We have made Scottish Government aware of the work we are undertaking as ultimately this is about establishing a workable, pragmatic traceability system for Scotland’s sheep.
“Our long term goal remains securing wholesale changes into the requirements that sheep keepers have to meet. That requires re-opening and reviewing the regulation. That remains our main focus and we have been in discussions with the European Commission on that throughout the current implementation phase for 21/2004.
“In the meantime, NFUS continues to facilitate meetings around the country between its members and Scottish Government officials regarding compliance with the existing set of rules. Members with queries or concerns are also being encouraged to contact their local Scottish Government Rural Payments and Inspections Directorate (SGRPID) office.”
In response to requests from the membership, NFUS has prepared a brief for its lawyers regarding the difficulties many sheep farmers are having complying with Regulation 21/2004 which established a new system for the identification and registration of sheep. The rules came into force at the start of 2010.
NFU Scotland Chief Executive Scott Walker said:
“In response to the ongoing difficulties our members are experiencing when attempting to comply with the new rules around electronic tagging of sheep and movement reporting, we have instructed our solicitors to consider if we can challenge the rules and any financial penalties that may be imposed.
“Legal opinions, by their nature, are rarely definitive but we will study any legal feedback we receive very closely. There may be no case to pursue or there may be matters that we can take up in court – either here or in Europe. If we decide there is a case then given the likely time and considerable cost involved, such a decision would require very careful consideration and ratification by NFUS board of directors.
“The Union has taken up legal challenges in the past. These have been costly exercises but given the problems EID has caused, we can reassure our members that if there is a case that can be pursued through the courts then we do have a level of contingency funds in place if we do go down that route.
“We have made Scottish Government aware of the work we are undertaking as ultimately this is about establishing a workable, pragmatic traceability system for Scotland’s sheep.
“Our long term goal remains securing wholesale changes into the requirements that sheep keepers have to meet. That requires re-opening and reviewing the regulation. That remains our main focus and we have been in discussions with the European Commission on that throughout the current implementation phase for 21/2004.
“In the meantime, NFUS continues to facilitate meetings around the country between its members and Scottish Government officials regarding compliance with the existing set of rules. Members with queries or concerns are also being encouraged to contact their local Scottish Government Rural Payments and Inspections Directorate (SGRPID) office.”
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
