A second preliminary hearing of a fatal accident inquiry into the death of a Loch Alsh fish farm worker is set to take place at Inverness Sheriff Court later this month.
Dornie resident, Clive Hendry (pictured), who was 58 at the time. drowned after he was crushed while transferring from a workboat to a barge at Mowi Scotland’s Ardintoul fish farm on February 18, 2020.
On Friday, the first initial hearing concerning Mr Hendry’s death was held at Inverness Sheriff Court.
A spokesperson for the Scottish Court and Tribunal Service told Radio Skye that a further preliminary hearing is set for 27th November at which substantive dates for the inquiry will be confirmed.
It followed on from the the prosecution and conviction of Mowi Scotland Limited for a breach of health and safety legislation in May 2023.
Clive’s partner of 28 years, Catriona Lockhart said she hoped that the tragedy would lead to changes which would make the fish farm industry a safe place to work.
A spokesperson for the Scottish Court and Tribunal Service told Radio Skye that a further preliminary hearing is set for 27th November at which substantive dates for the inquiry will be confirmed.
The committee of a Skye charity have paid tribute to its late chairman as unique and generous to anyone in need
Alasdair Nicolson established the Skye branch of Cancer Research UK alongside his wife Helen in 1986. The couple’s efforts helped to raise more than £1 million for cancer research
He died on October 24th after a long illness aged 81 and his funeral took place in Portree Monday.
The charity’s fundraising efforts have included regular events such as its annual sale of work auction in Staffin, which generated more than £24,000 in one day in 2019, to the recent edition – the North Skye tractor run from Uig to Staffin.
Alasdair and Helen Nicolson were both award The British Empire Medal in 2016 for their tireless work in the community
Praising Alasdair as their much-loved chairman, the committee said that Alasdair was generous towards anyone he knew was in need and added that he was unique, and will not be forgotten.
Scotland’s Finance secretary has failed to clarify whether next year’s freeze on council tax rates will have an impact on local authority jobs or services.
Addressing the matter at Holyrood this afternoon, Labour MSP Mark Griffin first asked the cabinet secretary for finance, Shona Robison what the estimated cost of the freeze would be and if the government could guarantee that this freeze wont lead to any redundancies, reduction of services, or increases in any other council charges
Responding to the question, the finance secretary did not provide any assurances.
The first minster has said that the freeze will benefit every council tax payer in Scotland at a time when rising prices are putting significant strain on household finances.
Council Leaders contend that the freeze on council tax is a serious breach of the verity house agreement between local government and the Scottish Goverment which was signed in June this year.
Councillor Derek Louden is the chair of the Highland Council’s Resources Committee: “Council tax freezes have a long term negative impact on local authority budgets and effectively widen the budget gap in the coming years.
The Highland Council is faces a budget gap of £60 to £70 million in the next financial year and up to £100 million over the next three years.
Radio Skye’s flagship charity drive Cram The Van begun today in what is its 10th year of supporting families across Skye and Lochalsh.
The Radio Skye YouthSPACE team delivered the famous red toy bins to shops from Kyle to Uig for the community to drop in brand-new toys that can be given to local families at Christmas time.
Over its ten years Cram the Van have donated thousands of new toys and gifts so this year the team at Radio Skye are hoping that people who can donate will, to help those who are in need.
This year’s 24 Hour Live Broadcast which kicked off the fundraising has already raised just over £1,500 with just over another £2500 still to find to make sure there is enough money to but gift vouchers and extra toys and toiletry gift packs.
Station Manager Suzy Lee said: “Christmas is a special time of year, its heart-breaking to think there are families who are not able to afford to buy presents for their children.
We know through our partnership with Skye and Lochalsh Citizens Advice Bureau that is has been yet another difficult year with people finding it hard to make ends meet. In the last three years we’ve seen our numbers triple, so we are just so pleased to be able to do our bit and encourage the community to take part.
She goes on to say ‘We are always overwhelmed by the support in the community, so many wonderful presents have been donated across the years, it’s a real honour to be part of the team delivering Cram the Van in its tenth year, we receive such lovely feed back from our partners.
Morag Hannah, Bureau Manger of Skye and Lochalsh Citizens Advice Bureau said: “Christmas is a magical time but its also a really expensive time, especially now, many children may have to go without this Christmas so if you’ve ever considered giving a gift to a child who might not have otherwise received one, now is the time.
In a broadcast for 24 Hour Live MSP Kate Forbes said ‘I’m absolutely behind Cram the Van Christmas Toy Appeal, in a year when families are struggling with the cost of living crisis, this is an opportunity to gift brand new toys to children. It’s a great appeal, but this year in particular, it might be more important than ever.”
They will have big red toy bins at the following locations around Skye and Lochalsh where you can drop them off:
Rankins, Uig
Portree Co-op (Woodpark Road)
Broadford Co-op
Kyle Co-op
Staffin Stores
Kyle Post Office
MacIntyre’s Toy Shop, Portree
RBS, Portree
Cozy Corner Café, Balmacara
Lochcarron Food Centre
Radio Skye Studio, Portree
The red bins will be out in shops for four weeks from Wednesday 1st November until Monday 6th December. These donations will be distributed to local families by our partners in good time for Christmas.
Click here for more information on the Radio Skye Cram the Van campaign.
Befriending Service Volunteers Needed
The Skye and Lochalsh Council of Voluntary Organisations are appealing for befriending volunteers on Skye
Volunteers are being sought to to visit to visit patients in Broadford Hospital who have limited social connections. Those volunteering would be able to commit to two visits a month for six months.
Befrienders are also needed to join a bank of volunteers to visit a person at home after hospital for a block of six weeks, making a minimum of three visits during that time.
Volunteers will not become involved in personal care and domestic tasks such as shopping or cleaning.
Interested parties contact Samantha-Jo McArthur at befrienders@slcvo.org.uk
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Highland Council budget: local authority facing “incredible pressures”
The leader of the Highland Council has said the local authority is facing incredible financial pressures which could led to job losses amid an unprecedented budget gap of up to £70 million next year.
The full council met today to discuss the budget shortfall which could be as much as £100 million between 2024 and 2027.
Members have a legal obligation to set a balanced budget and proposals will be developed and presented to Council for agreement at the end of February 2024.
Leader of the Council Raymond Bremner said: “While we understand the cost of living crisis for our communities, local authorities are also facing incredible cost pressures in the shape of inflation, high rates of interest and the need to fund pay settlements.
“We anticipate we will have an unprecedented budget gap next year of around £60-70m and a shortfall of around £100m over the next three years has been forecast.
He went on to add that without adequate funding, the council will have a choice of making service reductions or increasing income or a mixture of both.
Councillors Bremner said that service reductions would also mean job losses and that is something we are doing everything possible to avoid, as this would be disastrous for communities and our economy in the Highlands.”
The council is facing considerable uncertainty until the end of December around what the grant will be from the Scottish Government for 2024-25, and the funding to implement a Council Tax freeze.
Skye and Raasay member First Minister over council tax freeze
Skye and Raasay Councillor has slammed First Minister Humza Yousaf for running a “horse and coaches” through a key agreement with Scotland’s councils by placing a freeze on council tax
Speaking during today’s (Thursday’s) meeting of the full Highland Council, Skye and Raasay member Ruraidh Stewart contended that First Minister has undermined the verity house agreement between Scottish Local Authorities and the Government by announcing a freeze on rate in the next financial year.
Councillor Stewart said the First Minister has in essence closed the door on one of the few tools that local government has to release the budget pressures on us.
Humza Yousaf announced the decision to freeze council tax rates for the next financial year at the SNP autumn conference earlier this month.
Councillor Derek Louden, who chairs the Highland Council’s resources committee said: “Last year we set one of the lowest The council tax rates set last year by the Highland Council were one of lowest in Scotland in recognition of the cost of living crisis in our communities.
“Council tax freezes have a long term negative impact on local authority budgets and effectively widen the budget gap in the coming years.
“We will continue to work with our COSLA colleagues, to get clarification of the Scottish Government’s plans and how the cost of any freeze would be funded, both for next year and mitigation of the impact on future years’ budgets.”
Scottish Government £1 billion overspent on pay deals finds new report
The Scottish Government is facing a £1 billion hole due to significant challenges in managing the public sector workforce.
According to a new report by Audit Scotland, the Scottish budget and workforce numbers have grown significantly since devolution. But Scottish Government projections suggest it cannot afford to pay for public services in their current form.
The report found that pay deals agreed for 2022/23 and 2023/24 were £1.7 billion more than initially planned and these pay rises are locked into future budgets.
The Scottish Government has begun working with its public bodies to better understand how workforce reforms will impact services. But it needs better data on the size, cost and skillset of the workforce in over 100 of its public bodies to help support this process.
Stephen Boyle, Auditor General for Scotland, said: “Significant reform of the public sector – including its workforce – is needed to protect services over the long term.
“That means better workforce planning and wider changes to how staff work within and across organisations.”
He concluded: “An approach to reform purely focused on controlling workforce numbers will not address workforce pressures and is unlikely to balance the public finances.”
Peat and Diesel to play ‘Black Isle Belter’ shows
Western Isles stars Peat and Diesel are set to play at the Black Isle Showground over two days next May along with other star acts.
The ‘Black Isle Belter’ shows which will be their only outdoor gigs in the Highlands next year will be held over the bank holiday weekend of Saturday 25th May & Sunday 26th May 2024.
On the Saturday, Peat and Diesel will be join by the View for their First Highland show in years, while on the Sunday, which will be a family day they will be accompanied by chart toppers The Feeling.
Sunday’s show will a family day and in conjunction with Peat and Diesel’s main sponsor Highland Industrial Supplies, and charity partners MFR’s Cash for Kids and Mikeysline.
Tickets were set to be on sale from 10am this Friday via the Peat and Diesel website.
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