Supplementary Agenda Document Pack - Moray Council - 25/02/2026
Moray Council · 25 February 2026
Back to Moray Council — 25 February 2026 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
Page 1
Moray Council Wednesday, 25 February 2026 The undernoted report(s) has been added to the agenda for the meeting of Moray Council at 14:00, in terms of Section 50B (4)(b) of the Local Government (Access to Information) Act 1985 by reason of special circumstances on the Chair accepting the report as urgent business. NOTE REFERRED TO:- 11a. Workforce Arrangements on 15 June 2026 Report by Executive Director Finance, Strategy and Transformation 3 - 10 Page 1
Page 2
Page 2
Page 3
Report to: Moray Council Meeting Date: 25 February 2026 Report by: Executive Director Finance, Strategy and Transformation Author: Head of People, Change and Community Strategy/Service Manager Organisational Development and Change Contact Email: hr@moray.gov.uk Subject: Workforce Arrangements for 15 June 2026 1. PURPOSE ☒ For Decision ☐ For Information 1.1 The purpose of this report is to ask Committee to agree the workforce arrangements for Monday 15 June 2026. The First Minister of Scotland has proposed that this day is designated a national bank holiday to mark Scotland’s participation in the World Cup for the first time since 1998 and the proposal has been agreed by the King. 1.2 This report is submitted to Committee in terms of Section III B (24) and (25) of the Council’s Scheme of Administration relating to formulating, supervising implementation and reviewing the employment policies and practices of the Council. 2. REASON FOR URGENCY 2.2 This report is submitted to Committee in terms of the Local Government (Access to Information) Act 1985, on the Chair certifying that, in her opinion it requires to be considered on the grounds of urgency in order to give early consideration to the workforce arrangements for Monday 15 June 2026. 3. SUMMARY 3.1 The designation of Monday 15 June 2026 as a national bank holiday as proposed by the First Minister of Scotland to allow individuals, businesses and other organisations in Scotland to celebrate after the men’s team play their opening game against Haiti in Boston has been agreed by the King. Item 11a. Page 3
Page 4
3.2 3.3 3.4 Council is asked to agree the workforce arrangements for this day. A range of options is outlined in the report from no additional public holiday or annual leave arrangements to allocation of an additional public holiday. The recommendation from CLT is that given the negative impact to budget, normal leave arrangements should apply where employees may request the day off with managers encouraged to grant leave where possible within the exigencies of the service. Previously, when bank holidays have been designated by Government, the Council has agreed to an additional days leave rather than an additional public holiday. This has been the case for a number of royal events, going back to 2011 and most recently for the King’s Coronation in May 2023. 4. RECOMMENDATIONS 4.1 It is recommended that Council agree that there is no additional public holiday or annual leave arrangements with normal agreed leave arrangements applying to Monday 15 June 2026, with managers encouraged to grant leave where possible within the exigencies of the service. Katrina McGillivray Service Manager Organisational Development and Change 5. BACKGROUND AND CONTEXT 5.1 It has been agreed that Monday 15 June 2026 is designated a national bank holiday to mark Scotland’s participation in the World Cup for the first time since 1998. 5.2 The Council currently recognises seven Public Holidays where services operate on a minimal level and employees who are required to work receive double time plus a compensatory day’s leave. These are 1 and 2 January; Good Friday, May Day and 25, 26 and 31 December. Any allocation of additional days as public holidays is a matter of discretion for the employer and there is no statutory or contractual entitlement to additional Public Holidays. 5.3 The range of options which have been considered in relation to previous bank holidays remain relevant to the current situation and are outlined in the table below. Options – Table 1 Option Detail Advantages Disadvantages (a) No public holiday or additional day of leave (no special arrangements made) No additional cost to Council Decision required on necessary service levels to determine what leave can be granted. Negative impact from any refusal of leave. Page 4
Page 5
Some services would not be able to offer this option e.g. school staff and others where services cannot be reduced would be unable to take this day as leave. Possible adverse effect on employee morale and may be an increase in sickness absence on that day. (b) Support more applications for annual leave that day and run restricted services where needed. Many employees who wish to take the day off could do so. The Council can maintain a service to the public. No additional costs from additional leave. As (a) above. (c) Designate as an additional public holiday Allows the majority of employees time off. Positive effect on employee morale. Incentive to those who are required to work. Additional cost of enhanced rates for staff required to work and relief time to enable time off in lieu. There would also be lost time for employees who are not working but who are not replaced. Ref para 7.4 for costs. (d) Allocate all employees an additional day of annual leave, fixed to 15 June 2026 (pro-rata for part- time employees) Allows the majority of employees time off. Lower cost as no enhanced rates for staff required to work. Same practice as for Diamond Jubilee, Royal Wedding, Platinum Jubilee and King’s Coronation and no Possible dispute from staff/unions over whether enhancements should apply as govt have designated as public holiday. Possible ill-feeling re unenhanced rates of pay with resulting reluctance to work and no incentive for those Page 5
Page 6
significant issues arose. required to work, although these did not cause difficulties in relation to the Royal Wedding, Diamond Jubilee, Platinum Jubilee or King’s Coronation holiday. Ref para 7.4 for costs. 5.4 5.5 There has been agreement to allocate additional annual leave in the past when there have been occasions for which a bank holiday has been designated. For example, most recently, the King’s Coronation in May 2023 and the Platinum Jubilee in June 2022. On these occasions, the Council allocated all employees an additional day of annual leave, fixed to the relevant date for each event. This was allocated on a pro – rata basis for part- time employees and staff who were unable to take the day because they did not work that day or for other service reasons, were given the extra day as annual leave to be taken at another time. The costs when allocating an additional day’s leave are in respect of those services that cannot close as those employees who are required to work will take the additional day’s leave at another time and will require cover at that point. This is estimated at £51k for the additional day of leave including on-costs. 5.6 There is no universal approach being taken by other Councils to the designation of a bank holiday on Monday 15th June 2026. Where papers are being presented, some are recommending granting the holiday, others are recommending no holiday and there are others where no recommendation is being made. 5.7 It should be noted that in the event of any additional day of annual leave or public holiday the following particular considerations are relevant for schools and would need determination: whether, i) all schools allocate an occasional day holiday on 15 June 2026; ii) to draw the day from the existing number of school holiday days; or iii) to seek consent for the exceptional closure of all Moray schools on Monday 15 June 2026, under the terms of section 133 (4) of the Education (Scotland) Act 1980. 6. PROPOSALS 6.1 The balanced budget being recommended for Council approval on 25 February does not include any provision for the additional cost of recognising 15th June as a Public Holiday nor of adding an extra day to annual leave. It is proposed that Council agree to the recommendation of CLT which is that given the budget situation, normal leave arrangements should apply to Monday 15 June 2026, where employees may request the day off and managers encouraged to grant leave where possible within the exigencies of the service. Page 6
Page 7
6.2 Whilst recent common practice has been to allocate an additional day of annual leave for designated bank holidays, it is considered more appropriate on this occasion to maintain normal practice in relation to leave arrangements, rather than allocate an additional day of annual leave. 7. SUMMARY OF IMPLICATIONS 7.1 The table below shows whether risks and implications apply if the recommendations are agreed: SUBJECT YES NO Corporate Plan and 10 Year Plan (Local Outcome Improvement Plan) x Policy and Legal x Financial x Risk x Staffing x Best Value and Transformation x Property x Information Communications Technology/Digital x Equalities. Social Inclusion and Economic Impact x Climate Change and Biodiversity Impact x 7.2 Corporate Plan and 10 Year Plan (Local Outcomes Improvement Plan (LOIP)) Improved Collaborative Leadership, as part of continuous improvement through Best Value, will better enable the Council to fulfil the ambitions set out in its strategic plans. a) Links to Council Corporate Plan – The proposals in this report support and contribute to improved outcomes for communities as outlined in the following Council Plan strategic priorities: ☐ Tackle Poverty and Inequality. ☐ Build Stronger Greener Vibrant Economy. ☐ Build Thriving, resilient, empowered Communities. b) Links to Local Outcomes Improvement Plan – The proposals in this report support and contribute to improved outcomes for communities as outlined in the following Local Outcomes Improvement Plan priorities: ☐ Developing a diverse, inclusive, and sustainable economy ☐ Building a better future for our children and young people in Moray. ☐ Empowering and connecting communities. ☐ Improving wellbeing of our population 7.3 Policy and Legal There are no policy or legal implications from this report. Page 7
Page 8
7.4 Option Cost No public holiday or additional leave No additional cost Support more applications for leave, restricted services where needed No additional cost Designate as additional public holiday £97k (approx.) Enhanced payments plus compensatory day’s leave for those required to work. Additional annual leave day £51k (approx.) (based on those who worked May Day 2025, inc on costs) Where another employee is required to work to ensure continuity of service with cover required when employees take the day at an alternative time. NB A day of pay for the whole workforce is estimated at £840k; for most employees there would not be an additional cost but would represent lost time. 7.5 Risk There is a risk that not allocating additional annual leave, or refusal of normal leave requests may increase unauthorised and/or sickness absence. Service Managers should deal with any concerns in accordance with agreed Council Policies and Procedures. Where it is possible to deploy increased flexibility in working arrangements, e.g. starting later, swapping shifts, making time up at another time, managers should consider whether this could mitigate the potential risk of increased unauthorised and/or sickness absence. 7.6 Staffing As set out in the report. No additional staffing implications. 7.7 Best Value and Transformation None arising from this report. 7.8 Property None arising from this report. 7.9 Information Communications/Technology/Digital None arising from this report. 7.10 Equalities, Social Inclusion and Economic Impact None arising from this report. In the event of additional annual leave, part time employees would be allocated leave on a pro rata basis whether or not they would be due to work on the designated date in order to comply with the relevant legislation. Page 8
Page 9
7.11 Climate Change and Biodiversity Impacts None arising from this report. 8. CONSULTATION 8.1 This report has been prepared in consultation with CLT. 9. BACKGROUND PAPERS 9.1 20230131 Kings Coronation Bank Holiday May 2023) ECOD Committee on 11 August 2021 (paragraph 16 (i) and (ii) of the minute). Platinum Jubilee. Report to Policy and Resources Committee on 13 September 2011 on Diamond Jubilee. Report to Policy and Resources Committee 10 February 2011 on Royal Wedding. Page 9
Page 10
Page 10