LOCAL NEWS 17 MAY 2023

 

Radical response needed from councils to avoid “deeper cuts”

Scotland’s councils must “radically change how they operate” to avoid worse services and deeper cuts – a new report from Audit Scotland has warned.

Through it’s publication: Local Government in Scotland: Overview 2023 –  Audit Scotland is calling for the Scottish Goverment and COSLA – the Council of Scottish Local Authorities – to finalise the planned new deal for local government.

In March, the Highland Council agreed a balanced budget as part of a package of investment and savings to address a £49.2M budget gap which included a four per cent increase in Council Tax.

However,  the acting chair of Audit Scotland’s account commission, Tim McKay said that councils have gone beyond the point where making saving is enough.

He said: “The New Deal for local government, agreed between the Scottish Government and COSLA, is long overdue. Putting this in place will give councils longer-term financial stability, supporting them to make decisions and make the fundamental changes that are urgently needed.

“Councils have gone beyond the point where making savings is enough.

“If the change needed doesn’t happen now, some services will continue to get worse or deeper cuts will be made.

“This will impact communities and individuals that are already at crisis point with the effects of inequality and persistently high poverty.”

Statistics from the Audit Scotland report underline the severe challenges placing people at crisis point.

CalMac defends launch of new ticketing platform

West coast ferry operator CalMac has this afternoon defended the launch of its new booking and ticketing platform and rejected reports that it crashed on going live today.

CalMac’s new ticketing and booking platform went live on its website today, however, shortly after it launched, a report by STV new claimed that the site had crashed leaving customers unable to access the system.

In a statement sent to Radio Skye on Wednesday afternoon, CalMac Chief Executive Robbie Drummond said that transport company had processed more than 5,000 bookings within the first six hours of the platform launching.

He said the change of system had involved the transfer of more than 200,000 customer accounts and 145,000 bookings from its 26-year system, which he described as a major feat.

Mr Drummond said that some customers had experienced difficulties in accessing their customer accounts in the new system and that there had been issues with card transactions for a limited number of customers.

Though he added that CalMac’s digital team and engagement centre were responding to individual customer enquiries to support them through this transition.

CalMac responded to concerns raised about its new ticket platform

Attadale Gardens offers new audio tour

Visitors to Attadale Gardens in Strathcarron will have the chance to enhance their trip to the Wester Ross attraction thanks to a news audio tour app.

Using, the Geotourist smart travel which supports destinations and organisation throughout the world, guest to Attadale Garden will be guided by its custodian Joanna MacPherson through fascinating historical insights and information during their trip.

Joanna MacPherson spoke to Radio Skye on Wednesday about the exciting new development.

News by Adam Gordon.

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