Cost rules out day off for Highland Council staff for Royal wedding

Given the financial plight facing them, Highland Councillors have decided that it is not appropriate for them to sanction an additional day off for staff to celebrate the Royal wedding on Friday 29 April between Prince William and Kate Middleton.

The ruling by the Council’s Resources Committee includes schools, which will be open on this day. 

Should any non-school staff wish the day off they can request annual leave or flexi leave and Services would be encouraged to support these requests wherever possible, subject to the needs of the Service.  There will be no automatic entitlement to leave requests being granted. 

The Committee ruled out granting a fixed public holiday, which was estimated to cost the Council £200,000 in paying enhanced payments to staff required to maintain essential services. They also decided against granting staff an additional day of leave, which was estimated to cost £100,000. 

Councillor Carolyn Wilson, Chairman of the Resources Committee, recommended that the Council could not afford to grant staff a day’s additional holiday and this was unanimously agreed by the committee. 

She said: “We wish the couple every good wish and I am sure our staff will see this happy occasion over and over again on their televisions.  However, given the cutbacks we have had to make in recent times and will have to make in the future, it is not appropriate that we incur this extra expenditure to compensate staff, who will have to provide essential cover on this day.”