The Council is appealing for registered private landlords who hold family accommodation which would be suitable for Afghan families, to come forward.

Councillors recently gave their support to assisting Afghan households if at all possible, and agreed to approve seeking two private rental sector properties as part of the UK-wide resettlement programme.

Orkney Islands Council has welcomed news HIAL and the Prospect workers union have established a ‘mutually agreeable approach for the modernisation of air traffic services at HIAL’s airports’, with Prospect agreeing to suspend all industrial action from 12.00 today, Monday 25 October 2021, while talks on the implementation of HIAL’s Air Traffic Management System (ATMS) continue.

Orkney Islands Council’s Political Leader, James Stockan, has been shortlisted as ‘Leader of the Year’ in a national councillor awards scheme.

Flagstone repairs are due to be carried out in Stromness over the coming months, starting on Monday 25 October through to mid-March 2022, with a suspension during the Christmas period.

These works, which are being carried out by BDS Surfacing Ltd on behalf of the Council, will cover sections of John Street, Victoria Street, Graham Place, Dundas Street, Alfred Street, South End and Ness Road. This will lead to sections of the street being closed at times - these will be signposted and kept to an absolute minimum.

The drop in temperatures has reminded us that winter is on the way and in preparation the Orkney Local Emergency Co-ordinating Group (OLECG) has met to ensure partners are winter ready.

The group involves representatives from a broad range of organisations, including the emergency and public services, transport providers, the utilities and voluntary sector, and they gathered together virtually on Wednesday (20 October) to discuss winter readiness and ensure resilience plans are in order.