They are: Business representatives - Tracey Phillips and Liz Stevenson and Community representatives - Gail Anderson; Lorraine Bichan and Harvey Johnston.

They join reappointed members – Beccy May and Steven Sinclair as business representatives and community representative Beverly Clubley.

The Orkney Museum will close to the public in January to allow the team to carry out a programme of vital behind-the-scenes work.

It’s nearing Christmas, and that can only mean one thing – it’s time to reveal the most popular baby names in Orkney!

A roundup of road works underway or soon to start around Orkney to take you through to early in the new year:

Rockin’ Around the Orkney waters just became that bit safer for Kirkwall RNLI crew and seafarers thanks to the generosity of Council staff who raised around £800 through a festive raffle and Christmas jumper day.

A donation was made to the crew today, Wednesday, on behalf of the Council by the Democratic Services team, who organised this year’s festive fundraiser.

Orkney Islands Council has been advised by the Scottish Government today (21 December) that they have approved planning permission for a six-turbine Council owned wind farm on Faray in the North Isles. 

The project is part of the wider Orkney's Community Wind Farm Project, with similar developments also under consideration at Wee Fea in Hoy, and at Quanterness, just outside Kirkwall, both of which received planning approval in December 2021.

Local repair work on the MV Eynhallow’s seized engine is continuing.  The spare parts that are required for the repair arrived today (21 December).

It is expected that work will continue into next week, with the earliest return to service the 30 December. However, this will be updated as required.

Stromness Primary School pupils who wrote sympathy letters and messages of support to King Charles III after reflecting on the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II – are delighted after receiving a reply from Buckingham Palace.

The P4/5 class say it’s like “Christmas come early” after the Royal delivery this week.

It is estimated that there are over one million cases of food poisoning in the UK every year, and without attention to food hygiene, this doesn’t stop during the festive season.

To save your loved ones from a nasty bout of food poisoning over Christmas, follow these top tips to keep your festive season truly the most wonderful time of the year.

A plea from the President of the Sandwick Community Association was answered by the Council’s gritter team at the weekend – meaning around 55 over 70s from the area were able to enjoy a hot, tasty, free Christmas lunch.

President Steven Sinclair said: “The wintry weather left the car park at the Sandwick Hall a sheet of ice and it would have been too dangerous for folk to have attended at the dinner on Sunday, or for the onward delivery of meals on wheels.