Coronation holiday approved for Aberdeenshire staff and schools
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Staff and pupils in Aberdeenshire will get an extra day off to mark the coronation of King Charles – despite concerns kids will miss another day of school.
Back in November, the UK and Scottish Governments announced there would be an extended long weekend to mark the royal event.
While the coronation ceremony itself will take place on Saturday, May 6, an additional bank holiday was approved to take place two days later on Monday, May 8.
Council officers had recommended the holiday be approved.
They said it would “allow an opportunity for families and communities to come together to welcome His Majesty to the throne”.
Officers also claimed it would “mark an important day in our nation’s long history”.
Members of the local authority’s business services committee met earlier today to consider the additional holiday.
Council leader and committee chairman, councillor Mark Findlater, backed the proposal, saying it was “a really important event for all of us”.
He added: “It is a once in a generation event and I think we have to celebrate it.”
However SNP group leader, councillor Gwyneth Petrie, said she was “not comfortable” with the plan.
While she didn’t oppose the holiday, she raised some concern about youngsters missing out on another vital day of school.
She explained: “I don’t think any of us will stand and say that we shouldn’t be celebrating the coronation or that we shouldn’t ask for that.
“But the coronation is being held on a Saturday so I have some concern around why that needs to extend into the Monday and a business day.”
“There are costs to the council and we will have to absorb those but what is not taken into account is the wider cost to this, particularly in regards to education.”
Ms Petrie noted that pupils across the region have already missed out on a number of school days this year due to school strikes and other royal events including the platinum jubilee.
“I just think there is a wider concern about another day off for these children,” Ms Petrie added.
But she supported the holiday for the council’s workforce, saying it would be a “welcome break” for many.
However she noted that some residents won’t get the day off and would have to find alternative childcare arrangements.
Director of business services, Ritchie Johnston, told the committee that some council teams would have to work on the coronation day to provide essential services.
The local authority will have to stump up an extra £163,000 to pay its staff for working on the holiday.
But he said efforts would be made to try and ensure workers can watch the ceremony where possible.
Mr Johnston explained: “Where we can do so we will be flexible in terms of seeing if it can be built into activities sessions, whether that’s in libraries or care homes.
“This will ensure staff can watch it and enjoy it, and build it into their normal daily routine.”
