Cost of Bank Holiday for Scotland’s World Cup game revealed as Fife set to miss out
Fife Councillors will be asked not to grant an additional bank holiday to mark Scotland’s participation in this summer’s World Cup.
The decision is due to be made at a Cabinet Committee meeting on Thursday (March 5) where members will be told that allowing the holiday would cost the local authority an extra £275,000 as well as an “unquantifiable cost” in lost productivity.
The King announced last month that a Scottish bank holiday will be held on June 15 to mark the nation’s return to the World Cup.
The declaration came after First Minister John Swinney had asked for the day after Scotland’s debut game – they play Haiti in Boston at 2am UK time – to be a special holiday.
It will be up to local authorities as to whether to grant the bank holiday which would allow schools to close.
In a report to go in front of the committee, Sharon McKenzie, head of HR, has recommended it is not signed off.
“Granting the additional day as a public holiday would incur costs, and the cost of an additional day of leave would be unquantifiable,” she said.
“Whilst recognising the significance of the event and acknowledging the national excitement for Scotland’s opening match of the World Cup, there are significant operational realities associated with granting an additional holiday.”
The report goes onto explain that closing school was problematic and the council also was in danger of failing to provide the statutory 1140 hours of early learning and childcare for eligible children if they honoured the bank holiday.
It added: “Education and children’s services management have confirmed their strong preference not to close schools given the operational difficulties this would cause.
“There is no option to give teaching staff and term-time workers an additional day of annual leave so any decision to grant the bank holiday would mean schools would have to close. Essential services would need to continue to operate and there would be no recognition for those working on the actual day of the match (Sunday, June 14), potentially causing dissatisfaction in the workforce.”
Choosing not to grant the holiday is one of three options outlined in the report.
The others are recognising June 15 as a public holiday granting an additional day of annual leave to be taken on June 15 where possible.